After nearly 30 years in the military, I have met literally hundreds of people and given my phone number to a lot of amazing people. Occasionally I get a phone call from out of the blue from somebody I deployed with 20 years ago and always enjoy reconnecting with an old friend.
I don’t usually recognize the number but after a very short while I’m able to recognize who the person is.
Last Saturday I was at home when I received the following text.:
(518) 555-5555
“ I’m coming out there, so fire up the barbecue.”
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“ I’m sorry I do not recognize this number.”
(518) 555-5555
“C’mon, you don’t remember me.” STRIKE ONE
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“Sorry no”
(518) 555-5555
“This is Annabelle, I’ll be arriving tomorrow.”
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“To San Diego?” (I DON’T live in San Diego)
(518) 555-5555
“YES, I’m coming in a week and can’t wait to see you again. ” STRIKE TWO AND THREE
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“I think you have the wrong number”
(518) 555-5555
“Oh, sorry, I’m Annabelle from Toronto, I’ve heard so much about San Diego, maybe we can get coffee.” STRIKE FOUR AND FIVE
Using this reverse phone number look up site the number was identified belonging to David ****** from Albany, New York.
https://www.numlookup.com/
(818) 555-5555 (me). FULLY aware an attempted scam is in progress
“Yes San Diego is nice.”
(518) 555-5555
“I live in Toronto, and am coming to San Diego to see my cousin. I am 1/2 Malaysian and French Canadian. What is your name? ”
I’ve lost count of the strikes by now
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“I’m Chuck.”
I’m NOT Chuck
(518) 555-5555
“Nice to meet you Chuck, I’m taking a break from my studies, how old are you? Let’s have dinner.” TWO MAYBE THREE MORE STRIKES
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“Old enough to be your grandfather.”
(518) 555-5555
“Oh you sound so young.”
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“Thank You.” At this point I am done playing with him/her and stop responding”
(518) 555-5555
“”What do you do?”
(818) 555-5555 (me)
—No Response—-
NEXT DAY
(518) 555-5555
“Chuck?”
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“—-No Response—-
(518) 555-5555
“”Did I offend you?”
(818) 555-5555 (me)
“No David you didn’t”
(518) 555-5555
—-No Response—-
Moral of the story. . .
Don’t take everything at face value, be aware and look for inconsistencies, and most important of all don’t get CatFished.
I bet I’m not the first person here who has experienced this.