I work at a Real Estate company, and over the past several months we keep getting phone calls from different women calling from 415-316-0480, 415-316-0485, 415-316-0489, 415-316-0491, 415-316-0497, and now 415-316-0498. They ask if we have any apartments available at certain addresses that we manage, and if we do ask a bunch of detailed questions about the units and the lease terms (and don't appear too bright as they ask the same questions twice and one couldn't figure out how to determine what 1.5x the rent was for a security deposit).
I wasn't suspicious at first, but when these women call they always say they're going to move in the next two months (today she said November or December) and they always call about the same three properties that we manage (and have recently advertised units for lease at). They will never leave their phone number or schedule an appointment to view the available unit.
When I ask where they're calling from, they either say "my house" or "my cell." On 10/21/15 "Angelica" called from 415-316-0489, and then three minutes later called from 415-316-0491 to ask a follow-up question about the unit we discussed. When I confronted her as to where she's calling from and read off all the similar numbers to her, she said she was calling from her cell because she's moving. I told her that she is definitely not calling from the same cell phone, because we are talking on 0491 and three minutes earlier she called me from 0489. She told me to have a better day and hung up.
On 10/23/15 "Alexandria" called from 415-316-0497 asking how much a studio apartment costs at a specific address. I told her that the leasing agent is not available and that I will take a message. She refused to leave a number and asked when the leasing agent will be in tomorrow. I told her I don't know, and she said she would call back because she's "pretty busy."
Just now, on 10/26/15, "Debra" called from 415-316-0498 asking about studios or one bedrooms at the same specific address. I asked her how she got our name, and she said she didn't know because she's calling for her husband. I told her the leasing agent is not in, and I will take a message for her. She hesitated and asked if the agent will be in tomorrow morning. I said yes, and she said she'll call back then.
According to an online search of 415-316-0491 (http://www.checkownerofphone.com/ownerof-415-316-0491.html), this is a scam where they list apartments with legit details but their scam contact information.
And we received another call today, 10/27/15. This time from 415-316-0551. The woman (who sounded similar to the supposedly different women who've called from the other numbers) asked about studios or one bedrooms at a specific address (one of the three previously asked about). I said the leasing agent is out but that I will take down her name and number. She said her name is "Robin Ross" and actually told me her number was 415-316-0551. I asked her how she heard about our company, and she said that she didn't know because she's calling for her husband.
I called back the number a couple hours later, and I only got a busy tone.
These people are calling from Apartments.com, or their parent company, CoStar Group, Inc., or one of their affiliates. They call me twice a day and I never answer. Once in a while I will answer and ask if they can hold for a moment and then I'll hit the mute button and set my phone down to see how long it takes them to hang up. I block the numbers they call from but then they call from another number.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Just now, on 10/27/15, "Jason" called about apartments available at the same specific address. I asked him where he was calling from and he said his cell phone. I told him that I know that he's not calling from his cell phone because we receive calls from (I read him off all of the different numbers), and everyone asks the exact same questions and has the same script. He said he didn't know what I was talking about and he's calling from his cell phone. I told him that whenever I dial the number back the call doesn't go through, so I know they're not all randomly calling me from their cell phones. I asked him who is paying him to make this call, and he said that he doesn't know what I'm talking about and if I don't have any apartments available he will take his money elsewhere and hung up. I'm going to start rejecting any call with a 415-316 prefix and send it to voicemail because I am tired of their pathetic games. This is harassment at this point.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Just now, on 10/27/15, "Jason" called about apartments available at the same specific address. I asked him where he was calling from and he said his cell phone. I told him that I know that he's not calling from his cell phone because we receive calls from (I read him off all of the different numbers), and everyone asks the exact same questions and has the same script. He said he didn't know what I was talking about and he's calling from his cell phone. I told him that whenever I dial the number back the call doesn't go through, so I know they're not all randomly calling me from their cell phones. I asked him who is paying him to make this call, and he said that he doesn't know what I'm talking about and if I don't have any apartments available he will take his money elsewhere and hung up. I'm going to start rejecting any call with a 415-316 prefix and send it to voicemail because I am tired of their pathetic games. This is harassment at this point.