We've received multiple calls over the last week at work with what appear to be "throw-away" phone numbers. Searches yield little to no results other than possible locations for the area codes, and email at you-mail etc...
These calls are always left on our answering machine during hours our store is closed, and they ALL leave identical messages that go something like this (as verbatim as I could get):
"hey, yo, umm I'm making this call 'cause I want to test the audio separator audio. ahh, so please don't put me on speaker phone I just want only your voice to be heard, uh" then some garbled noise, then "that's exactly why I wanted you to do, just [some inaudible words], and I'm almost at 30 seconds and that should be enough... okay, thank you okay"
NEXT
it sounds as you are transferred to an automated operator that says:
"you have reached the Canadian embassy in Havana, we are currently ?closed? to continue to hold please press 1"
NEXT
it SEEMS as if you are being disconnected by another automated operator that says:
"please hold, your call has been disconnected due to communication problems, please stay on the line..."
NEXT
you are graced with some background noises and conversations and a very long pause,
AND THEN
an apparently Hispanic woman comes on and starts saying:
"hello?" *waits* "hello?" *waits again* "hallo?" and then goes on to say a few sentences in what I believe may be Spanish or Portuguese (not sure, I'm quite rusty), but they do mention Havana I believe at one point; then you hear a background conversation in the same language, and
FINALLY the call disconnects.
As I said, EVERY single one of these messages is from a different phone number and caller ID name, BUT all messages were IDENTICAL, obviously some sort of recording.
All names and numbers that came through (so far) with this:
1)
HENDRICKS, MARY
281-630-3747
2)
VIRGINIA MURRAY
347-760-9431
3)
BELLVILLE, TX
979-608-8382
We've saved the messages, and I've even recorded a copy to my cell phone and saved it just in case, though the poor audio quality only ends up worse by holding the speaker of one phone to the other's microphone (old school :P )
I have not been able to find any similar reference to this type of call anywhere online, so I thought I'd post it here.
I have the EXACT same message. I first got them from a series of numbers to my cell phone, then to our 800 number. We suspected they were intended to make the call recipient curious enough to call the number back (which we ever do) so they can start some sort of scam. I just set my cell phone to block any future calls from those numbers. I'm working with the 800 service to get inbound calls blocked there too. Still have no idea where or how they originate.
7)
Sunday 12/07/2014 - 10:01AM
12/07 10:01AM
NEW YORK CALL
914-729-4835
I am no longer able to save these messages as our answering machine is out of memory and can not store any more calls.
I am having to delete them as we need our customers to be able to leave messages more than some scam artist(s)...
This is getting ridiculous, there doesn't seem to be any way to put a stop to these calls.
We are going to be scrutinizing over every phone bill coming in to see if any strange charges show up. Hopefully these jerks aren't able to "hijack" our phone lines with these weird calls.
We are also checking to see if they are coming in via our 800 line, that dumps right into our primary local business line.
We do not have the answering machine covering our other 4 lines as they are roll-overs.
I will update again if I find anything new out.
I wish 800 notes allowed tagging of multiple phone lines, this would make it easier for others who are getting these calls to see this...
I've used this site enough that I figured I might as well create an account here. Since I originally posted this I felt I should have done so to begin with.
Hopefully that will allow me to cross reference better.
I'm also reposting my whole original post with update here so that maybe search engines will help find it:
We've received multiple calls over the last week at work with what appear to be "throw-away" phone numbers. Searches yield little to no results other than possible locations for the area codes, and email at you-mail etc...
These calls are always left on our answering machine during hours our store is closed, and they ALL leave identical messages that go something like this (as verbatim as I could get):
"hey, yo, umm I'm making this call 'cause I want to test the audio separator audio. ahh, so please don't put me on speaker phone I just want only your voice to be heard, uh" then some garbled noise, then "that's exactly why I wanted you to do, just [some inaudible words], and I'm almost at 30 seconds and that should be enough... okay, thank you okay"
NEXT
it sounds as you are transferred to an automated operator that says:
"you have reached the Canadian embassy in Havana, we are currently ?closed? to continue to hold please press 1"
NEXT
it SEEMS as if you are being disconnected by another automated operator that says:
"please hold, your call has been disconnected due to communication problems, please stay on the line..."
NEXT
you are graced with some background noises and conversations and a very long pause,
AND THEN
an apparently Hispanic woman comes on and starts saying:
"hello?" *waits* "hello?" *waits again* "hallo?" and then goes on to say a few sentences in what I believe may be Spanish or Portuguese (not sure, I'm quite rusty), but they do mention Havana I believe at one point; then you hear a background conversation in the same language, and
FINALLY the call disconnects.
As I said, EVERY single one of these messages is from a different phone number and caller ID name, BUT all messages were IDENTICAL, obviously some sort of recording.
All names and numbers that came through (so far) with this:
1)
Friday 11/07/2014 - 7:37AM
HENDRICKS, MARY
281-630-3747
2)
Saturday 11/22/2014 - 7:59AM
VIRGINIA MURRAY
347-760-9431
We've saved the messages, and I've even recorded a copy to my cell phone and saved it just in case, though the poor audio quality only ends up worse by holding the speaker of one phone to the other's microphone (old school :P )
I have not been able to find any similar reference to this type of call anywhere online, so I thought I'd post it here.
I have been receiving these for a few months and since my number is a measured service via VirtualPBX, each recorded message costs me money.
Today, I sent another email to VirtualPBX's support line, reported it my local BBB as a fraud alert, and also just filled an online complaint with the FCC. https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us
Typically you can "follow the money" to find the reason for deceptive practices, but I don't see any commodity or value in these calls to anyone. Maybe our phone companies receive enough revenue that they subscribe to these somehow?