So I got a call yesterday from a guy who I have never heard of who knew my name! And he was asking me about a neighbor of mine who I had never heard of either. It freaked me out so bad! It still is freaking me out. Someone knows who I am and knows my phone # and where I live and I don't know who they are!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yep, been there, done that. Turns out it was my mother giving out my phone number, name, address, and all the rest of it. But then, I've already determined that she's a wack job, so this shouldn't be too surprising.
You? No idea. I only know it wasn't me who gave it away. Shh! Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
That's a little weird - but not too weird - remember there are these wonderful things called phonebooks - lists of names and phone numbers and addresses.
[ May 06, 2005, 11:54 AM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Huh. I forgot about those. I've been unlisted for so long... Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
Oh by the way we are unlisted....
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Doesn't mean there isn't a web listing somewhere with your info on it.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Or a reverse lookup directory. Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Seriously, I wouldn't get too worried about it unless he keeps calling or said weird/threatening things.
*sends calming vibes*
Did you ask him how he got your name and number? Are you sure it wasn't someone from church?
[ May 06, 2005, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
He said he got it from the "directory"... I dont' think he's from my church...
Thank you for the calming vibes. *calms down a little*
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
A possibility that might make you feel better...
Collection agencies do something called skiptracing, when they're trying to locate someone. One of the things they do is take the last known address, and there's a database that gives them the five closest names and numbers. They figure that way they'll hit a neighbor, and might get lucky and find someone who knows where the person they're looking for moved to, or is willing to pass along a message. It could just have been someone doing that. They won't tell you, of course, that your neighbor owes them moeny. For one thing it's illegal, and for another you might not be willing to pass on the message that way.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
I've had people call me, know who I was and everything, and I would be kind of weirded out. Than I would realise it was someone I knew after talking for a few minutes. Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Ha. I've made scary phone calls to my brother's girlfriend using a code to block my # on the caller ID...I'm sure I scared the hell out of her... Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
They're only allowed to call neighbors once, by the way.
I had a collection agency lawyer call my sister-in-law's MOTHER. She does not have the same name as me. Her daughter has the same name as I used to have... that's all.
It was embarrassing, because her parents are rich and "sophisticated."
-Katarain
Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
So if it was a collection agency would they say they got my phone number from a directory?
If it was a collection agency, that makes me feel better. Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Most people know why strangers call them about neighbors, I think. That's why I think it's a tactic to embarrass the person behind on their bills.
-Katarain
Posted by Sid Meier (Member # 6965) on :
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!
Your neahbor ir probly going to disappear into the night and when you ask the police about they'll smile nicely and say they'll look into it and then one day at midnight they'll come knocking on your door, burst in once your about to get it sedate you so you cant scream and drag you limply into the van. From there all of your records will be purged and you'll never have existed.
Cours' its probly nothing to worry about....
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
Way to reinforce the calming vibes, Sid. Just for that, I'm instructing my minions to plant a Risk 2210 board in your room...
That's interesting about the skip-tracing angle, I wouldn't have thought of that.
UW, if it's a one-time thing, I wouldn't worry. If it keeps happening, then it could be a problem.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
How about a funny scarey phone call story.
My grandmother (my father's mother) passed away many years ago.
After she did, my wife and I moved into her old house before we got our financial feet under us.
It turns out that the cost of changing the name on the phone she had was twice as expesnive as adding our names to the listing, so we kept it.
A few years went by and my father added Caller ID to his phone when it was still new.
He enjoyed confusing people by answering the phone by saying "Hello Jim" or Jane or whomever it was that was calling.
Then I called him.
He looked at the little screen and yelped. Here was a phone call from his dead mother.
Later he told his sister, my Aunt, about the call. She just shook her head and said, "She always did like you best."
Posted by Sid Meier (Member # 6965) on :
quote: Way to reinforce the calming vibes, Sid. [Roll Eyes] Just for that, I'm instructing my minions to plant a Risk 2210 board in your room... [Wink]
Okay, that was both really mean and really funny at the same time.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
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My work here is done...