Unfiltered Story #295478

Before my cell phone number was mine, it was my mom’s number. This has been my number for over 15 years. I have my own phone plan now, and live in a different state, but my area code is still from my home state. I still occasionally get calls asking for my mom, usually with my home state’s area code, and that’s a signal to me that it’s a scam. Here’s the latest weird one.

Me: Hello?

There is a long pause.

Me: Hello?

Scammer: Hello? Is this [mom’s name]?

Me: Oh, you have a wrong number.

At this point, there is a pause. Everything from here on out is said very slowly and with odd inflections, as if she is reading from her call script for the first time.

Scammer: Oh. Are you a homeowner?

Me: No?

Scammer: Are you hoping to buy a home in the next two years?

Me: Sorry, who is this?

Scammer: I work for a real estate agent in your area, and I’m calling to ask –

Me: What area?

Scammer: What?

Me: What area are you in?

I ask because, as I said above, I don’t live in my home state anymore. My area code means I sometimes get targeted not-scam calls meant for people in that state.

Scammer: We are in your state, but…

She trails off.

Me: Right, but what state are you in?

Scammer: *mumbles something*

There is a rustling of papers, and a long pause. The papers continue to rustle. After a solid minute, I decide I have better things to do with my day.

Me: Right, can you put me on your do not call list?

Scammer: Oh, okay m’am, I can update our records.

Me: Bye.

I hung up. By far the weirdest scam call I’ve ever gotten – it sounded like a genuine wrong number at first, but who doesn’t know what state their boss works in?