Operator Assist Calls

mrearlygold · April 11, 2011 6:28AM

I've been getting these calls every couple of days. Just got one originating from 314-282-9017

Anyone else getting these calls on a regular basis? Does anyone know what if anything the police are doing about this?

RYK · April 11, 2011 6:30AM

That's St. Louis area. Maybe it's me.

We get calls from Newt Gingrich daily. I wish he would find a job and leave us alone.

ricko · April 11, 2011 6:31AM

What are the calls about..?? I have had a rash of calls from the 727 area code... no one there.... Cheers, RickO

ianrussell · April 11, 2011 6:32AM

Some dealers have lost a lot of money from these operator assist calls. They end up being stolen credit card numbers. The question I have is, how does one work out whether the call is a real operator assist (and not fraud)?

- Ian

RYK · April 11, 2011 6:41AM

<< Some dealers have lost a lot of money from these operator assist calls. They end up being stolen credit card numbers. The question I have is, how does one work out whether the call is a real operator assist (and not fraud)?

- Ian >>

What are the legitimate reasons for one using an operator-assisted call in this day and age?

FredWeinberg · April 11, 2011 6:44AM

Coin dealers all over the country, including me,
have rec'd these calls recently over the past
few months.......

Irritating as all heii

ianrussell · April 11, 2011 6:47AM

<< 
What are the legitimate reasons for one using an operator-assisted call in this day and age? >>

I always thought some of these calls were translators or to help people who cannot speak or communicate by phone, but interesting that these reasons are not mentioned online when I just did a search. Perhaps there is no valid reason?

- Ian

coindeuce · April 11, 2011 8:17AM

The operator assist calls are being placed on the premise that the caller is hearing impaired. This way, neither the operator or the recipient of the call could identify the caller by the tone or inflection of their voice. The caller invariably attempts to purchase expensive material with a credit card number, which lately has proven to be a stolen number. I believe a member dealer here has been victimized already.

relicsncoins · April 11, 2011 8:26AM

What would be cool, is if the punishment actually fit the crime in the country. Get caught using this scam, and your ear drums and vocal cords are surgically removed.

thisnamztaken · April 11, 2011 8:37AM

<< What would be cool, is if the punishment actually fit the crime in the country. Get caught using this scam, and your ear drums and vocal cords are surgically removed. >>

coindeuce · April 11, 2011 8:40AM

<< 

<< Some dealers have lost a lot of money from these operator assist calls. They end up being stolen credit card numbers. The question I have is, how does one work out whether the call is a real operator assist (and not fraud)?

- Ian >>

What are the legitimate reasons for one using an operator-assisted call in this day and age? >>

I do actually have some hearing impaired local customers. We are located only a few miles from NTID, which is one of the largest higher education institutions for hearing impaired in the world. But most of them know that they can just as easily communicate by email to our store. Or by texting via cell phone. The operator assist scam calls always originate from outside the local calling area.

streeter · April 11, 2011 8:50AM

My understanding is that SOMEONE comes on the line with the speel that they are a hearing impaired operator and asks you if you understand the process.

The person who is acting as though they are the hearing impaired operator is actually the thief.

coindeuce · April 11, 2011 9:44AM

Got a couple of those calls a few weeks ago. When the voice on the other end said "Operator, I have an assisted call for you, I just told the "operator" No you don't. Click...

My bleeding heart liberal associate got offended that I didn't take the call. About an hour later, he took a call, and he kept responding until the operator told him that the caller wanted to buy a gold coin with a credit card, and he still replied as politely as if he was talking to his mother. I laughed at him so hard I almost pulled an abdominal wall muscle.

Kaelasdad · April 11, 2011 10:11AM

I have received several of these calls, and while polite on my end, they always end the same way--they want to purchase with a credit card, and when we decline, and suggest sending a check, they go away......

JupitarCoins · April 11, 2011 10:32AM

OT

PerryHall · April 11, 2011 10:34AM

Not OT when discussing cons perpetrated against coin sellers.

rkfish · April 11, 2011 11:49AM

very far from OT.........we owe it to each other to try and stop these types of scams/crimes.

I had two today......I just reply if they are trying to buy gold with a CC we do not accept that form of payment.....everytime they hang up.

AUandAG · April 11, 2011 12:05PM

<< What would be cool, is if the punishment actually fit the crime in the country. Get caught using this scam, and your ear drums and vocal cords are surgically removed. >>

And there is a reason to do it surgically? Why not just appoint a henchman to rip 'em out!

mrearlygold · April 11, 2011 2:52PM

<< very far from OT.........we owe it to each other to try and stop these types of scams/crimes.

I had two today......I just reply if they are trying to buy gold with a CC we do not accept that form of payment.....everytime they hang up.

>>

I'm much more blunt

PerryHall · April 11, 2011 10:08PM

How does an operator assisted call help perpetrate the fraud? Why don't they just call a dealer and order a gold coin with the stolen credit card number? Wouldn't that be easier, faster, and raise less suspicion?

notwilight · April 11, 2011 11:05PM

<< How does an operator assisted call help perpetrate the fraud? Why don't they just call a dealer and order a gold coin with the stolen credit card number? Wouldn't that be easier, faster, and raise less suspicion? >>

Distracts you from your normal routine and they hope that anything that doesn't seem right will be blamed on the unusual process. --jerry

yellowkid · April 11, 2011 11:21PM

<< How does an operator assisted call help perpetrate the fraud? Why don't they just call a dealer and order a gold coin with the stolen credit card number? Wouldn't that be easier, faster, and raise less suspicion? >>

They operate under the pretense that the caller is somehow disabled (as I understand it is so you won't hear their atrocious English). I received a number of these connected to some ads I ran in a local newspaper to sell a piano!! They wanted me to cash a check and keep what I didn't need after the "delivery" people came. Needless to say I had nothing to do with them, and wouldn't deal with anyone in that manner

RYK · April 11, 2011 11:58PM

<< 

<< How does an operator assisted call help perpetrate the fraud? Why don't they just call a dealer and order a gold coin with the stolen credit card number? Wouldn't that be easier, faster, and raise less suspicion? >>

Distracts you from your normal routine and they hope that anything that doesn't seem right will be blamed on the unusual process. --jerry >>

Interesting!

MsMorrisine · April 12, 2011 1:35AM

<< 

<< How does an operator assisted call help perpetrate the fraud? Why don't they just call a dealer and order a gold coin with the stolen credit card number? Wouldn't that be easier, faster, and raise less suspicion? >>

They operate under the pretense that the caller is somehow disabled (as I understand it is so you won't hear their atrocious English). I received a number of these connected to some ads I ran in a local newspaper to sell a piano!! They wanted me to cash a check and keep what I didn't need after the "delivery" people came. Needless to say I had nothing to do with them, and wouldn't deal with anyone in that manner

>>

try selling a laptop on eBay.

We cannot get this in our country. It is very nice and I would like to purchase from you. I will pay you $#### (double or more) by certified cashier's check for your trouble and hard work.....

blech!

wayneherndon · April 12, 2011 1:52PM

We are getting them several times a week too.

WH

Operator Assist Calls

Comments

Leave a Comment