The old "supplies prices are going up" telemarketing scam.

[Russ]

Just got one. I didn't think this old ruse was still alive.

Her: Could I speak to the person in charge of your credit card machine?
Me: That's me.
Her: Good. Just calling to see if it's working correctly.
Me: Works just fine, thank you.
Her: Okay, if you do have any problems, just call the toll-free number that's on the sticker on the side of the machine.
Me: Okay.
Her: Oh, and BTW, I'm also calling because, blah, blah, blah, paper prices going up, blah, blah, blah, market conditions, blah, blah, blah, authorized to ship two cases at old prices, blah, blah, blah, can only do this once, blah, blah, blah........
Me: Laughing loud enough to bust her eardrum; that's great! I DON'T HAVE A MACHINE!
Her: Click.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Geekbabe]

<< Just got one. I didn't think this old ruse was still alive.

Her: Could I speak to the person in charge of your credit card machine?
Me: That's me.
Her: Good. Just calling to see if it's working correctly.
Me: Works just fine, thank you.
Her: Okay, if you do have any problems, just call the toll-free number that's on the sticker on the side of the machine.
Me: Okay.
Her: Oh, and BTW, I'm also calling because, blah, blah, blah, paper prices going up, blah, blah, blah, market conditions, blah, blah, blah, authorized to ship two cases at old prices, blah, blah, blah, can only do this once, blah, blah, blah........
Me: Laughing loud enough to bust her eardrum; that's great! I DON'T HAVE A MACHINE!
Her: Click.

Russ, NCNE >>



You're having way too much fun out there today,phone has been dead here today !,no telemarketers to torture

 

[wfbberzerker]

i dont get it.

 

[Russ]

wfbberzerker,

These boiler room outfits call businesses that might use things like cash register tape, ink ribbons etc. They then pretend to be the provider of the equipment and supplies for the devices. If they get an idiot who falls for it and says yes, they ship a box of crap to the business COD and hope it goes to somebody stupid enough to pay for it.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Cyberian]

<< These boiler room outfits call businesses that might use things like cash register tape, ink ribbons etc. They then pretend to be the provider of the equipment and supplies for the devices. If they get an idiot who falls for it and says yes, they ship a box of crap to the business COD and hope it goes to somebody stupid enough to pay for it. >>

Holy crap!
This scam has been going on longer than half the members here have been alive!

 

[kranky]

The one I keep getting doesn't refer to the credit card machine, but it runs like this:

"Hello, Mr. kranky, and thanks for returning the reply card from Engineering Future magazine asking about our computer supplies. As we said in our ad, we'll be sending you out a free GlobalJunkCo (made up name) coffee cup just for checking out our catalog. We hope that when you are enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning, you'll think of us here at GlobalJunkCo. All I need to do is confirm your mailing address so I can get that free coffee cup right out to you. And along with that, we're running a special on computer screen cleaning kits this week, and I can get you 20 kits for only $39.99. These are our top-quality kits, and they are 60% off for new customers this week only. Will 20 kits be enough, or will you want 40? If you order 40, there's no shipping charge and we'll include a free clock/radio just for trying them out."

Notes: There is no Engineering Future magazine. I had never returned any "reply cards" and there was no ad. The kits are a pair of moist towelettes, worth about 10 cents each. The clock/radio thing is to get you to hopefully waste your company's money on the junk so you can take home the clock/radio on the sly. When the angry buyer finds out the "kits" are just crap, they'll never be able to track down GlobalJunkCo to get a refund.