Dec 17, 2014
Someone using this number called my cell phone this morning. I don't have my voicemail set up at all on this phone (which causes the phone to hang up on callers if I don't want to take a call) and I don't call unknown numbers back without checking them myself.
However, this time I made an exception because, although there is, at present, only one report in 800notes for this number and few, if any, other additional reports that come up by searching the Internet, I found that at least one reverse number app on my iPad found many lookups for this number and supposedly dozens of unfavorable reports that caused the spam rating to shoot up.
So, this time, I made an exception and called the number back. (Don't try doing this yourself! I know what I am doing and can keep my identity secret WITHOUT resorting to hacking or any other illegal methods. And, no, I DON'T use the "star code" to hide my identity -- that's well-known not to work on calls to toll free numbers, and, although less well-known, it can be circumvented even when calling regular numbers.)
The number answers with an IVR recording, first in a male voice and then in a female voice. (An "IVR" is a interactive menu, like the one where you hear "Dial 1 for this, Dial 2 for that, etc.) However, the IVR never says the name of the telemarketer you are calling. But it does make it clear that the number belongs to a telemarketer. One of the choices given is to press a number to put yourself on their own "Do Not Call" list. Another choice is to press another number to be transferred to the 800 number of a federal agency that regulates all such calls! (Yeah, sure!)
The totality of the circumstances as I see them suggest to me that this may be some sort of highly sophisticated social engineering scam to steal personal information from you. If anyone has any additional information to add, please do so.