I have a personal stalker.
I hate phones. Yet, a few months ago, probably brainwashed after my French trip (Europeans love their cell), I bought my very first cell phone. I shopped around beforehand and discovered the cell phone market is quite a scam here. Most providers (that is Bell, Rogers and Telus) lock you into a three-years contract (three years!) and there are many, many hidden fees (system access fee, network access fee, activation fee, 911 access, etc.). I ended up buying a month to month package from Virgin Mobile.
And I went happily with my new shiny phone. This is the official name, the “shiny phone.” Seriously, only Richard Branson would think of such a name.
Early October, my cell phone buzzed during one of my classes. I checked the missed call number at the break: 905-297-4280. Didn’t know the number and besides, the call was from Toronto. No message. I quickly forgot about it.
Or at least, I tried. That day, I received over ten calls from that same number, and still no voice message. I didn’t pick up the calls because I would be charged for that (another perk of our great cell phone plans—we are charged for airtime even for incoming calls, checking voicemail, etc.).
After a few days of constant calling, I phoned Virgin customer service. Not something I like to do. Virgin prides itself on being a young & hip company, and when you call them you can expect:
- Annoying language: “Please wait while we hook you up with one of our customer care specialists but just so you know… we may record this call just to make sure we are treating you real nice!!!!!”
- MTV-like music: “if you want to chill out, press 1, if you want to get pumped, press 2.” I basically have the choice between a headache and a headache.
- Unsolicited advertising: yes, I know I can sign up for online offers, I know that I can download music, I know that, etc.
I explained my situation to a very cool dude: could he block that number? He basically told me to fuck off. Well, he said I should “get rid my friends on my own.” And hung up. So much for customer service.
I was still receiving up to 30 calls a day from 905-297-4280, so I called customer service again. A much nicer woman told me she had blocked the number. That would have been great… only if I hadn’t received another call a few minutes after hanging up with her.
Meanwhile, I did the sensible thing to do: I googled the number. Apparently, many people were reporting calls from that same number. A lot of us had no clue who was calling. Some had taken the call and reported telemarketing from the CIBC (a bank), a McCain supporter call (from Ontario?!), or just a man asking weird and personal questions. In my opinion, this wasn’t telemarketing: nobody is crazy enough to harass people for days, especially day and night. I smelled a scam. But which one?
For the two following weeks, my personal stalker didn’t stop. He would call ten times in a row and then nothing till a few hours later. I started getting calls early in the morning, at night, in the middle of the week end. I got very angry. I called Virgin again.
I spoke to another woman. She said she would check my incoming calls—so much for privacy… The task was easy: look for a 905XXXXXXX number in the middle of a few 613XXXXXXX. Couldn’t find it. I then asked her to check the last incoming call since M. Personal Stalker had called just a few minutes ago. She read a number aloud. Mine.
So apparently, all these 905-297-428—calls are somehow hidden and show up as my own phone number on the log. Only I can see the number on my phone caller ID and missed calls.
I then found myself explaining that no matter how hard I try, I couldn’t fucking call myself! “This is weird,” she acknowledged, “I will pass it on to the technicians, and they will call you back.”
And so I waited for a call back. A week. Two weeks. I called Virgin twice and had to repeat the whole story (which is quite complicated), and each time, I have been told that yes, the technicians would get back to me. I had also asked for a copy of the “user report” (basically, my outgoing and incoming calls) to check that number for myself. It had never been emailed to me. I spelled my email address three times. They always got it wrong, or so was the excuse.
Yesterday, I had my final conversation with Virgin. I called again, since no one ever got back to me. The phone number cannot be blocked. Apparently, this is against Virgin’s policy. Now, if only I had the great-and-expensive-Nokia-phone, I could do it myself…
Fuck off. I’m not buying another phone just to stop harassing phone calls. Fuck Virgin (yes, I realize these are weird words combination).
I still receive tons of calls every day from that number. My “personal stalker.”
What bothers me the most is that I’m sure there is a trick, a scam somewhere, but I don’t know where.
- I don’t think this is regular telemarketing: no call centre would call 30 times a day, plus they would eventually give up considering I have never picked up the phone. Especially after a month…
- I don’t understand why the real number doesn’t show on Virgin’s logs. Why does my own phone number show?
- Who is calling me? According to the people who did pick up, it’s not consistent. I feel that if someone picks up the phone, the caller make it sound it’s a telemarketing/political/whatever call.
- I tried calling back, but the phone just beeps, can’t reach.
If you can help me to solve this mystery…
And you. Yes, you. Stop calling!
Share this article!
I’m not the brightest cookie when it comes to this kinda stuff but it sounds to me as if it’s automated. Can you not buy another sim card instead of a new phone (pay as you go). Whoever it is has technology on their side so it’s going to continue for some time if you keep the same number.
Hmmm, I did a little google and found loads of complaints too. All sounds very dodgy. My guess would be that the person who owns the 905-297-4280 number has got a long list of phone numbers (including yours) and is acting as a route for these 3rd party companies who he sells access to.
That would just be my guess though.
My number starts with 647, so you can rest assured it’s not me. Besides, if I was a stalker, I’d at least leave creepy messages on your voicemail. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a McCain supporter – there campaign seems to have had some problems. Maybe they think all 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx are US numbers. This is why I hate cellphones. People call you, and you have to pay. Stupid!
Have you heard of the Canadian Do Not Call List? I found it in Wikipedia, but am not familiar how it operates. I only know the US system, since I am here. I registered my phone in the US Do Not Call list, and I have no problems whatsoever with unknown numbers calling me.
http://www.callercomplaints.com/SearchResult.aspx?Phone=905-297-4280
It looks like you have plenty of company. Since you have a month to month plan you might cancel and start over. Or if it might make you feel better, answer and hurl obscenities at the caller. Admittedly not very effective if the call is automated. Technology is wonderful, eh?
Oops! That’s scary! I need to better wattcha before planning for my “Shiny” 😉
BTW “Fuck Virgin” was the best. You can think (and write too) the Best : D
I am too new here to help you out dear. Sorry! And believe me that number is not mine……………..I swear…… I really do…….
Ha ha ha 😉
That’s really creepy.
There’s a similar internet stalker in our country too. Have you heard of Multiply.com? It’s a social networking site.
He stalks the Multiply profiles of a lot of people. People have reported that person already. Some (who claim who knew him personally) said he has stopped his doings. Probably some lonely person (who’s really psychotic and have nothing to do).
That is really annoying, but not idea sorry! Good luck with that! And let us know how it turns out 🙂
That is creepy…
And Fuck Virgin… will now attract some more weird people. This time to your blog ! 😉
I had something like that happen to me once, but not to that extent. The calls stopped eventually. Since you have a pay-as-you-go phone, can you change the number? That might help.
i hate weird things like that. of course, if it’s your own number, it’ll always be busy. and if you answer the call, you’ll be charged some kind of international fee, no doubt. or maybe somebody is trying to call the previous owner of your re-assigned phone number.
wow… calling you everyday. so weird. Why can’t he/she find someone else to bother?
What I find very strange is that Virgin claims that the number doesn’t show on their logs. How can that be…. ??
I hope that person stops soon. I can imagine how annoying it might be to receive so many calls.
@Caroline – I’m starting to think it’s automated as well, considering the frequency of the calls. Not sure how SIM cards work in Canada, the whole cell phone market is…. weird here. Thanks for your input!
@Adem – That seems to be a good guess. I only had the phone for a short while so I’m not sure how they got my number though… makes me feel better we are a bunch of people to complain! Thanks for your input as well!
@johnada – Nope, I doubt it’s McCain. I wouldn’t mind Palin calling though, I’d do my best French first lady impersonation! 😆
@Linguist-in-Waiting – I have just registered my numbers (both home and cell) on the Do Not Call list. It’s actually new in Canada… we will see if it works.
@Bill Miller – I might just do that, I don’t like the way Virgin handled the problem anyway. I got so mad a couple of times, I almost picked up the call and yell! 😉
@Annie – All I’m saying is, welcome to North America dear 😆 No, it’s not too bad… but telemarketing is a plague here.
@宝茹 – I don’t think he is a real stalker, more likely a scammer though. It’s more annoying than scary… but your story is creepy! Can’t believe there are real stalkers out there.
@Aiglee – I’ll let you know, so that if that happens to you… do you have a cell BTW?
@Sidney – Yeah, I had a lot of visits on my blog today 😆
@Kirsten – I may change the number, but it’s a big hassle for me right now… I may just forget about Virgin altogether. I’m still waiting for a few days, see if it stops.
@aline – I think Virgin is just plain lazy, I don’t see how they can not see the number. But there may be a caller ID trick…
here in malaysia, most cells are sold independent of telcos. i think my cell has got the ability to blacklist a number… but i haven’t tried that before (i hope i won’t!)
That’s why I am with Fido. Not great cell phone company but at least I won’t get stalkers. They used to have free incoming calls but now I have a cheaper plan that allows me to have unlimited airtime after 5 p.m. Which is cool if you talk a lot on the phone. I don’t. I barely use my cell phone…lack of friends.
Hey Zhu,
Yes, I had heard that in North America they charged you for the calls you’d answer…the EU is talking about doing the same, but it hasn’t been welcomed as the EU commission thought it would (but we never know. So far, we don’t pay for answered calls).
LOL what? What kind of customer service is that? So much for hip cellphone company…
“Fuck Virgin (yes, I realize these are weird words combination).” – LOL LOL LOL LOL this was a good one!
Oh my, what a cunnundrum, cherie! I wish I could help you, but I never experienced this…ever!
Nevertheless, we must admit that it is rather odd…hell, extremely odd!
It makes one feel sorry for having acquired a cellphone!
Cheers
How about an official complaint to the police authorities and see where it leads? It won’t cost you anything and it MIGHT help solve the problem (?)
Believe me if it was happening to your prime minister they’d find out where the call is coming from.
Good luck
Oh blech! I called AT&T when I had that and they blocked the number somehow… not sure how. BUT hey, it worked. Virgin is poopy!
{{{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}}}}}
btw it wasn’t me
I have a Vancouver VoIP number, which logs every number to a list I can manage online and I can block any one of them myself. Very useful!
I’ve had my current mobile phone number for nearly three years, since I moved to Toronto, and thankfully I’ve not had many telemarketers phone it. Some numbers are quite persistent but eventually give up.
There are alternatives to Virgin Mobile. Have a look at this thread:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/group_read.html?gid=437&post=1320082
Come to think of it, you know what this could be? One BIG call centre with a single Caller ID, but they’re a call centre for many clients. You could be getting telemarketing calls for a lot of different things: financial services, insurance companies, EVERYBODY! Which may account for the variety of companies listed under that number when you Google.
My other suspicion: that Virgin Mobile actually SELLS a list of their numbers to third party companies, which subsidises the cost of their month-to-month plans. The added airtime means it probably drives people to upgrade!
Yeah, with Fido, one of those 3 years plan! I got it the day we landed!!! Imagine, we were SOOO tired, it wasn’t such a great idea
telephone companies are tricky. i hope they never get the telepathy franchise.
That’s freaky! At least you’ve exposed the number on the internet and whoever/whatever it is is one step closer to getting caught. I’d want to know who it is…fast!
Btw, Virgin sucks!
@Seraphine – I don’t think someone is trying to call the previous owner… I say my name on the voicemail and he/she would have to be pretty dumb. But I don’t want to pick up the call, for sure.
@kyh – Apparently, some cells ca blacklist number, unfortunately, not mine…
@Bluefish – I don’t use my cell much either, but I spend a lot of time downtown because of my work, and it’s actually cheaper to have a cell than to use a payphone.
@Max Coutinho – Cell phone plans in Europe are much more competitive I find. In North America, they are more expensive, longer contracts etc. My story is actually quite funny, just a pain in the butt right now but I’ll sort it out.
@Froggywoogie – I actually considered it but I can’t do it till I receive the user report from Virgin. I asked for it a month ago now… still haven’t received it yet. They keep on making excuses, like having the wrong email etc. Idiots.
@Monica – I think if it happens on your landline, companies are more ready to block the number. Cells are a grey area apparently.
@Aiglee – I have heard Fido is okay, I may consider it. All in all, you didn’t make a bad decision!
@Gail at Large – Thanks for the thread, it does look interesting. You know what, I think you’re right, my number was sold to a bunch of little stalkers… Yet, I think it’s weird none of them ever leaves a message. I guess telemarketers don’t…
@Seraphine – Oh, they already do! 😆
@Scarlet – That’s exactly why I wrote the real number in my post, I hope it helps people in the same situation and that someone will eventually take care of it!
I couldn’t deal with getting all those calls. I’d have cancelled my service after the first service call to Virgin. I use TracFone which is where you buy the minutes as you need them but I think they are limited to the US. Maybe Canada has something similar?
Wow, that’s some creepy shit right there…
Can’t you report it to Canada’s equivalent to the United States’ FCC?
You could also use this scenario to write your own horror film.
Gosh, my curiosity would kill me. I think I’d take the call just to find out who it is…
I’ve been getting this call on my home phone about 10 times a day since mid october as well. Sometimes I will pick up the phone, but I won’t say anything at all. Strangely, one time after listening for a few minutes, someone just suddenly said hi and asked for me by name. I just hung up. This is ridiculous, if they are trying to sell something, do they really think I will buy now?! I will very likely cancl my landline now, because phone companies won’t take action. (At least with the cell phone, when I had a problem once with that, Rogers just changed my phone number for free)
this is a collection agency
It’s not a collection agency. I just got a call from this number this morning. I have received TONS of these calls, especially when I was on Virgin (I’m on Wind now) and researching the numbers online makes me wonder the same thing…what is the point? Consider the evidence:
1. They call multiple times a day, at different time periods (business hours, non-business hours).
2. It’s usually from a different province.
3. You literally can’t call them back (number either is “out of service” or there’s a numeric menu that leads you to nowhere).
4. Whenever I do answer the phone THEY HANG UP.
So: they call constantly, hang up if they actually get you on the line, can’t be called back, aren’t a genuine company but clearly aren’t a specific scam (if so it’s the most poorly-executed scam in the world) and are apparently pulling all sorts of trickery to hide their number from phone companies. What’s the point? I’d be cooler with this if it was just someone asking for my credit card number, but somebody that can’t be called back keeps calling me and hangs up (or apologizes and hangs up – that happened once) as soon as I answer the phone? WTF?
I never actually understood who (or what) was affiliated with that number. It’s crazy that people still receive calls three years later! I had issues with that number back in 2008.
I’m pretty sure it’s a scam of some sort but which kind of scam???
I just googled this number because i myself have been gettin missed calls from it… 4 today so far and i was wondering who it was but didnt want to all it beause it would be long distance for me…
I never really found out! But I’m amazed to see the scam continue, three years later!