Best report
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Oct 12, 2008
I spent 22 years working in Psychological Operations for a branch of our government. Please read on, and you'll be enlightened as to the source of these callers and how to deal with them.
When these people call, this a call from an offshore entity trying to get credit card info. IT IS NOT A CALL FROM AT&T. I repeat, THIS IS NOT AT&T.
They use a cloaking device that gives out this false number they are calling from so you won't really see the actual number coming into your Caller ID.
916-221-3660 is a number that was "pirated" and the original party having this number received so many irate calls from people (as evidenced here on this post) the REAL owner of 916-221-3660 typically switches and/or has no idea someone is using his/her identity to perpetuate a crime.
If you answer this caller (anyone calling from 916 or a Florida area code) often you'll hear a recorded message. And if you are gullible enough to listen to the "pitch," you will be instructed to either wait on the line for a "representative" or you will be instructed to "press 1" to reach someone in "account services."
Next comes the pitch. Usually these crooks will ask if you want to lower your credit card interest rates and save hundreds of dollars on interest. If you are an idiot and say "yes," they ask what your balance is, then they ask for your credit card number so they can get to work for you by either reducing your debt, reducing your rate.
Another "famous trick" is the caller says your vehicle warranty is about to expire and they can sell you and extended warranty for another 2 years, for a very reasonable price... Again, the unsuspecting person gives out their credit card info, and boom, you just got ripped off.
Bottom line, if you get a call from an odd area code you don't recognize, do one of two things. These are good ways to put the screws back on them... This is what I do... Guaranteed they will never call back
#1. Act like you are very happy they called and give them the idea, "Oh thank you for helping me out. My credit card is in my wallet in my car. Can you hold for just a few seconds while I run out and get that for you? I'll be right back." I leave the receiver of my phone aimed at an old tape record I keep by the phone where I have mixed a concoction of "music on hold."
#1. On my tape is the audio from one of the many annoying Billy Mays commercials, I am using OXY CLEAN.
#2. I have downloaded the music "Jeopardy Clock" from iTunes
#3. On my tape is, "Funky Town" by Alvin and the Chipmunks, iTunes
#4. Tex Ritter, "I've Got Spurs, That Jingle Jangle, Jingle." iTunes
#5. Hava Nagila, iTunes
#6. La Cucuracha (by Chicano Chant) iTunes
#7. Back in the Saddle Again, Gene Autry, iTunes
and then, I simply loop "Jeopardy Clock" 5 more recordings.
OR, TRY THIS.... Disquise your voice and say, "My name is Major James Ellis and I'm with the consumer fraud divison of (name of your state). A data trace has been commissioned on this call to determine the trace-back phone line of the destination source. Do I have you permission to record the rest of this conversation?"
Either one of the two above methods for responding to these bogus callers (who are nothing more than crooks) will ensure you will be dropped from their database.
I hope this helps. The MUSIC ON HOLD trick is VERY good for discouraging these people, so if you can access iTunes, record my recommendations above. That music (and especially Billy Mays) will discourage them from ever bothering you again.
Roy In Runnels County Texas
When these people call, this a call from an offshore entity trying to get credit card info. IT IS NOT A CALL FROM AT&T. I repeat, THIS IS NOT AT&T.
They use a cloaking device that gives out this false number they are calling from so you won't really see the actual number coming into your Caller ID.
916-221-3660 is a number that was "pirated" and the original party having this number received so many irate calls from people (as evidenced here on this post) the REAL owner of 916-221-3660 typically switches and/or has no idea someone is using his/her identity to perpetuate a crime.
If you answer this caller (anyone calling from 916 or a Florida area code) often you'll hear a recorded message. And if you are gullible enough to listen to the "pitch," you will be instructed to either wait on the line for a "representative" or you will be instructed to "press 1" to reach someone in "account services."
Next comes the pitch. Usually these crooks will ask if you want to lower your credit card interest rates and save hundreds of dollars on interest. If you are an idiot and say "yes," they ask what your balance is, then they ask for your credit card number so they can get to work for you by either reducing your debt, reducing your rate.
Another "famous trick" is the caller says your vehicle warranty is about to expire and they can sell you and extended warranty for another 2 years, for a very reasonable price... Again, the unsuspecting person gives out their credit card info, and boom, you just got ripped off.
Bottom line, if you get a call from an odd area code you don't recognize, do one of two things. These are good ways to put the screws back on them... This is what I do... Guaranteed they will never call back
#1. Act like you are very happy they called and give them the idea, "Oh thank you for helping me out. My credit card is in my wallet in my car. Can you hold for just a few seconds while I run out and get that for you? I'll be right back." I leave the receiver of my phone aimed at an old tape record I keep by the phone where I have mixed a concoction of "music on hold."
#1. On my tape is the audio from one of the many annoying Billy Mays commercials, I am using OXY CLEAN.
#2. I have downloaded the music "Jeopardy Clock" from iTunes
#3. On my tape is, "Funky Town" by Alvin and the Chipmunks, iTunes
#4. Tex Ritter, "I've Got Spurs, That Jingle Jangle, Jingle." iTunes
#5. Hava Nagila, iTunes
#6. La Cucuracha (by Chicano Chant) iTunes
#7. Back in the Saddle Again, Gene Autry, iTunes
and then, I simply loop "Jeopardy Clock" 5 more recordings.
OR, TRY THIS.... Disquise your voice and say, "My name is Major James Ellis and I'm with the consumer fraud divison of (name of your state). A data trace has been commissioned on this call to determine the trace-back phone line of the destination source. Do I have you permission to record the rest of this conversation?"
Either one of the two above methods for responding to these bogus callers (who are nothing more than crooks) will ensure you will be dropped from their database.
I hope this helps. The MUSIC ON HOLD trick is VERY good for discouraging these people, so if you can access iTunes, record my recommendations above. That music (and especially Billy Mays) will discourage them from ever bothering you again.
Roy In Runnels County Texas