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Some guy in Yemen...

 
 
We're The Great Old Ones Now
14:42 / 19.11.03
So as of about two o'clock this morning, some phone number in Yemen has been on my case. My mobile rings once, and then the other party hangs up. It's starting to freak me out.

Does anyone know of any form of telephone fraud which might work like this?

Probably this is just some dumbass who's got me in his speeddial by mistake. Except why, oh why, is it just one ring? My paranoid side has concluded that a mobile with a number like mine has been built into the detonation circuit of a bomb, and some sod is now trying to set it off remotely, but being an innumerate loon, this person has been calling me all day instead.

More likely, it's a fax machine.

By all means, add your paranoia or just tell me more likely explanations.

Hang on, the phone's ringing...

(By the way, Vodafone's solution was to offer to bar all incoming international calls. Thanks, guys. Real helpful.)
 
 
Ariadne
15:02 / 19.11.03
What kind of mobile do you have? Can you set up profiles for different callers? Perhaps you could just block that one, redirect it to voicemail or something? if it only rings once then you needn't worry about the mailbox filling up.

I can't think how it could be fraud, but you never know, I suppose. Good luck.
 
 
Olulabelle
16:28 / 19.11.03
Oooooh.

I'm sorry to appear really fucked in the head, but I find the bomb scenario weirdly thrilling.
 
 
ibis the being
16:49 / 19.11.03
Did you ever sign up for that online/reality game where you get faxes & calls - Mystic, was it? Maybe a friend signed you up.
 
 
Bear
17:32 / 19.11.03
It's probably just an auto-dialler being routed through Yemen, doesn't really explain the 1 ring thing. Have you been able to answer the phone quick enough? Can you hear anyone?

My mate got spam on his landline the other day, I thought only mobiles got it.
 
 
bio k9
21:22 / 19.11.03
Maybe the mob have turned their sights on you. Maybe they're going to destroy barbelith one member at a time.
 
 
We're The Great Old Ones Now
22:46 / 19.11.03
Right. Don't make mob jokes to me, please, it makes me fucking angry.

Everyone else, thanks for thinking.
 
 
Char Aina
09:50 / 20.11.03
i have heard of companies ringing mobiles and hanging up. they do it knowing most people will phone back a mystery number, and when you do you get a recorded message advertising or selling something.

on your dime.
 
 
ibis the being
12:45 / 20.11.03
What?! The summer before last my cell was getting those 3 to 4 times a day, it drove me fucking nuts. I knew it had to be telemarketer-related but I couldn't figure out how the hell they could profit from hangups.
 
  
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