Scams and Flams

[vovat]

I got a plain yellow card in the mail today, which read as follows:

Dear Nathan

We are trying to reach you with Good News! It is real important that you call Toll free 1-800-963-1967

Thanks
Amanda Walters

Call 10 am to 8:30 pm EST
Monday thru Friday

Based on the capitalization of "Good News," I initially thought it was somebody who was going to try to convert me to their religion. But apparently it's actually a scam to steal credit card numbers, and it's been going on for over a year. I wouldn't have called regardless (hey, do YOU typically call numbers on plain yellow cards that you get in the mail?), but closure is always nice.

They Might Be Giants finally have a new podcast up, so I guess I should say something about it. It's a special Halloween podcast, which is a cool idea, even though I've heard most of it before. Songs include "Skullivan," "Headless," "I Am A Human Head," the theme from The Oblongs, "25 O'Clock," and "Canada Haunts Me." There are also "Haunted Eye" and "Phone Cord," both new ones, and some not-so-great number by a band called the Jickets. Not a bad mix of spooky-type songs, but there are some obvious omissions. What about "Where Your Eyes Don't Go" or "Hall Of Heads"? Of course, if they HAD included them, I probably would have been complaining about how we already HAVE those songs on the albums, so there's no point in putting them in the podcast. It's impossible for TMBG to win, isn't it? :P If they're doing what's essentially a mix CD in podcast form, though, they might as well go all out, right? I also think they probably should have thrown on "Hell Hotel." Why does that remain the only song from the demo tape not to be released? It's a good song, and could easily have fit on some of their recent projects.

Comments

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

I always like ("like" not actually literally) the phone calls where you pick up the phone and it's a recording telling you that you have to call a number about a Very Important Business Matter. Okay, first of all, if it's that important, why aren't you actually calling ME in PERSON? And anyway.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I also love when I get e-mails allegedly from eBay at addresses that aren't signed up with it. When they're obvious, these scams can be amusing. What's disturbing is that these scammers prey on the gullible, and even people who are usually wise to such things can be taken off guard. It sometimes seems like not enough work is being done to stop these scammers, but I guess it's difficult to catch them.

it's real important

[yosef.livejournal.com]

I think you ought to give the number a chance. What if it's from good hearted person who was just too stupid to realize their method of communication would look like a scam?

Re: it's real important

[vovat.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it's not a scam. You give them all your credit card numbers, and if one of them is lucky, you win a prize!"

"Good News, everyone!"

[obsessical.livejournal.com]

I think it was Professor Farnsworth trying to call you.

Re: "Good News, everyone!"

[vovat.livejournal.com]

So he has a way to call people in the past? I guess I wouldn't put it past him.