So, like a said in this entry, I have one of my motorcycles listed for sale. As I also noted in that entry, I am being approached by people trying to scam me out of the bike.
Now they are taking a new tack. The listing for my bike on the Internet BMW Riders Marketplace has my home phone number on it. Twice now I have gotten calls from people using Internet Relay Calls to call me.
Internet Relay Calls are for use by deaf or hard of hearing people. They type into a web app, the operator places the call and reads what they type. Then the operator types my replies to them. Internet Relay Calls are also free – it’s an FCC thing.
The phone companies are not allowed to tell you who is calling (i.e. what IP address they are coming from) or divulge any other information about who is placing the call.
I’m pretty sure these people are scammers for a several reasons:
- The first call was placed while I was at work. Liz asked them for their email address and I sent them an email. No response.
- The second call came today. It went okay until I asked why they were using Internet Relay Call instead of just emailing me. They decided to end the call at that point.
- Internet Relay Call is a way to make FREE long distance calls (albit a little cumbersome).
- With Internet Relay Call you could initiate the call from ANY country.
- With Internet Relay Call the recipient has no way to find out who you really are. None. With emails you can back trace them at least to their ISP. (Maybe further, with the ISPs help.)
- With Internet Relay Call, you can terminate the call at any point.
Internet Relay Call appears to be tailor made for scammers. There is a way to block incoming calls, but I don’t think I’m going to do that yet.
Wish I had a tape recorder on my phone so I could transcribe the calls…
