Fraudulent phone call

[smartestnumber5]

About once every day or two my cell phone rings but then stops after just one ring. I always check to see who it was and it always says "no number." Today I got the one ring like always and it said "no number" like always, but then a few minutes later it started ringing for real and still said "no number". I figured I'd answer and see why the heck I'm getting all of these weird calls. (In the past I used to get a ton of recorded messages that would say "We're looking for John Doe (not me). If this isn't him, please push 1." Except, you can't push one when you're listening to a message. Eventually I got the calls in person a few times and pushed 1 and the calls stopped. So I figured it might be something like that again).

So I answer and the person says "Can I talk to MY FIRST NAME?" Since it was a no number and they didn't use my last name and they didn't sound very professional I was suspicious right away thinking it was a salesperson or something.

Me: "Yes, who is this?"
Her: "This is Deborah."
Me: "Uh huh?"
*Pause*
Her: "Is this MY FIRST NAME?"
Me: (getting a little annoyed) "Yes, why are you calling?"
Her: "I have important business with you at University Health Services. I need you to verify your zip code."
Me: (I have been waiting for a doctor's call from the health services; softening a bit, but wondering why she's so damn unprofessional sounding) "Oh, is this Dr. X's office?"
Her: "It's not his office, but....(couldn't hear because of static).
Me: (Dr. X is a woman. Wouldn't the people calling on behalf of her know that?) "Who is this again?"
Her: "It's about a medical bill that is in collections in the amount of $59. Can you verify your zip code?"
Me: (Get a bit nervous at the mention of the word "collections." But wait, who is this person. She said she's from the health service, if the bill were at collections why the health services be calling me? And why is there no number showing up?) "Umm, can you tell me what doctor this bill is from?"
Her: (snippy) "I've given you all of the details. Now if you'll just verify your zip code."
Me: *hung up*

I tried to call the number back a few minutes later to see who would answer, but since no number showed up there was no number to call. I guess it's some kind of fraud scam going on. They're pretty smart to bring up collections--that'll get anyone nervous and ready to do whatever to keep their credit clean! They should really get a more professional sounding criminal to do the calling though.

Of course, there's a tiny part of me that keeps thinking, what if it really was collections and something is ruining my credit right now? Damn these scammers!

 

[Aidensmom]

That sounded like a real collections call to me. I'm not saying it is really your bill, but collections agency reps can be extremely rude and misleading. We get calls quite often for someone else who has the same name as I do from collection agencies, and some twist every little thing you ask them.

 

[Towncrier]

I used to get tons of call from a collection agency for someone named Scott. It didn't take me long to figure out what happened and why I was getting the calls. They splitup the area code in NE Ohio when they needed more numbers and I ended up with Scott's "old" phone number. It only took me a couple of minutes to find out that he still had the same number, just a new area code. So now when people call for Scott, I can tell them how to dial the correct number. Funny thing is that the collection agency and banks couldn't figure out what had happened, but I (who had nothing to gain) was able to determine the problem.

Good luck getting those collection agencies off your back. They can be a royal pain.

 

[doombuggy3]

Wait for them to call again...It could be collections or it could be fraud that happened to me when I first got my new cell phone. This company HARASSED me, they'd pull the same thing, is this John Doe? They harassed me so much I finally said my name is suchandsuch and I'm not who you're looking for. BIG MISTAKE. They called me a few days later asking for me. I don't have my cell listed on any of my cards or anything as a contact. Sure enough, I reported them to the FCC for harassment because I asked them to stop calling and they were a fraud company. I was SO glad I didn't give them any personal information.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Sounds like a scam to me. A collections company will send a letter. If you're not getting letters, then I'd say it's probably not legit.

 

[mickeyfan2]

When DH and I first got married and got our new apartment we kept getting calls for the Adams family from collection companies. We repeatedly told them that we were not the Adams and not to call back. Well they kept on calling. So we called the phone company and said we wanted our number changed and have no forwarding of our old phone. We stated the reason we wanted this was the annoying calls. They said we would have to pay to get a new number. We said fine. Later that day they called us back and said that they would change our number for free. Seems the Adams family owed the phone company money too and the number was not suppose to be issued that soon after it was disconnected.

 

[Becky2005]

Weird.

I get ones occassionally that say "RESTRICTED" so I don't answer that because the only people that have my cell phone # is the kid's school, my parents, my DD & my DH. And the school would not call my cell phone without trying to call my home phone first (I was home when it happened. About scared me to death because my cell phone started ringing. I think it might have even been before I took the kids to school so was really early one time!).

It's only happened twice and magically neither time did they leave a voicemail so must not have been an urgent call.

I would also say SCAM. I wouldn't worry about it, you could always pull your credit report up if you are worried that you are delinquent in any payment but I doubt that's it. More than likely you would already be aware of it.

 

[minnieandme]

Sounds like a scam to me. A collections company will send a letter. If you're not getting letters, then I'd say it's probably not legit.

Not only that, but they didn't even say your full name. It it really were a collections dept, the number would show up and they would ask for you "John or Jane Doe" and they would've said which dr. they were calling in reference to. Sounds like they're trying to get your zip code so they can continue their scam. I wish these people would get a real job.

 

[poohluvrs]

I would not take that call again.

Telemarketing is now targeting cell phones, so it could be a scam w/ someone who obviously has your cell # & name, maybe they need your zip as the last piece of the puzzle to rip you off.

If you're worried it may be a collections you have outstanding, next time ask for their name, company they represent, & ph # to return the call, & even the Dr's name who you have the alleged amount due, call them if you can, and then look them all up to see if theyre legit.

 

[Chuck S]

If they have all of your info (as a collections place should), they wouldn't need your zip code, they can look it up online at the post office website and send you a bill.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i too smell a scam!

 

[freckles and boo]

If you have the time, go to the billing/business office of the University Health Services and be sure you don't actually owe the money. Ask if they utilize a collection service and if so, which one. Get the contact information for the collection service to be sure the calls aren't legit. If you really believe it is a scam, please make the Health Services aware of it so they can warn other students. It sounds completely fishy to me. I haven't dealt with collections but even though I am registered on the no-call list I still get lots of charity calls. Some of them don't bother me but I hate the "Is FIRST NAME there? tactic. It is disrespectful and deceptive. I usually say I am the babysitter until I know who is calling