Weird phone call asking me to spy on neighbor

[chookie]

Creepy.

I got a phone call from someone who identified herself with a firm called "Service and Security Inc" and asked me if I was a neighbor of Mr. Shall-Go-Nameless. I asked what this was about. She said, "I am not at liberty to address that question." She then said, please look out your window and see if there is a such-and-such model car parked in his driveway. Again I asked what this was about, and she said again, "I am not at liberty to address that question." I replied that if that's the case, goodbye, and hung up.

I am totally creeped out that someone would call me -- I am not listed and how she got my number is a mystery -- and think I would spy on one of my neighbors for any reason, let alone provide information to a fucking stranger who would not explain her business. Do people REALLY think most people they cold-call are so treacherous and nasty naturally they would do their bidding unquestioningly?

My neighbor's affairs are NONE of my business, and I am angry that someone -- not in law enforcement or on a matter of urgent official business -- tried to use me to obtain information about him.

Was attempting to obtain info from me legal? In any case, it was utterly creepy. (Probably a fucking Bush supporter....)

[HEyHEY]

1. UN-REAL

I can't believe they think they can ask you to do that and then not tell you why. Call the local police, tell your neighbour too.

[Spinzonner]

2. 'Course if you had caller ID you could call back and ask

or just look them up and ask what's the hell's going on.

[gardenista]

3. Tell your neighbor. nt

[Hepburn]

4. There are a ton of services...

...on the internet that will give you information about anyone. A full profile will usually give you the names and phone numbers of neighbors. I am betting that whoever made that call is some spouse/SO wondering where his/her other half is. No legit agency of which I know works in the manner you described. They go out and ck on this themselves and get pictures, etc. I would not worry...I am betting it is just someone who is very upset that their other half might be out screwing around and figured this was a way to find out.

Edit to add: I was just commenting about your safety. But I would tell your neigbor and let him/her make the call on reporting it to the police.

[kikiek]

5. Good for you to hang up. Might have been a repo?

[The empressof all]

9. Yup, Just what I was thinking

Sounds like Repo-man tactics to me.

[ezee]

6. A reverse directory

will give the address and phone numbers of people living on a particular street. They do not give names. What they are doing is calling people close to the address of the person they are looking for. Credit compaines do this quite often. They use the tactic of I need to get a message to so and so, will you please have them call me etc...

[sbj405]

7. If you don't have caller id, *69

At least so you know who it was. But very creepy nonetheless.

[democrank]

8. Relax, Chookie....

It was just John Ashcroft having one of his regular American nights.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. My brother's bill collectors have called me on occasion...

They've called my mom, too...even though neither of us are listed as co-signers for him.

It IS creepy. Let your neighbor know what's up. It could also be a stalker.

[Guaranteed]

14. You know, that's exactly what it sounds like. A repo guy.

Either that, or someone's checking on a cheater.

[skygazer]

11. How obnoxious

And frightening to think how many people would just answer the question.

I got a wrong number on my cell phone the other day at the car wash. Guy asked, "Who am I speaking to?"

I said, "You called me. You ought to know that. Who are you?"

Silence. "Ahhh.... This is So and so. I'm looking for Thus and such."

I said, "You've got the wrong number."

He says, "Oh. Who's this?"

I said, "This is the person whose cell phone you called."

I'm always amazed at the way some people blithely disclose information to any stranger who asks. Not me. Uh uh. No way.

[Nikia]

12. There have been people calling about my neighbor too

I think two of them were bill collectors. One of them was someone trying to deliver a package. They gave me phone numbers for her to call. Perhaps, I should have made an effort to relay the message to her, or not. She gotthe people who share our duplex evicted, she came over to complain that our friends were parked too close to the mail box, and then she put up no parking signs on her mailbox and across the street. I have no desire to knock on her door and inform her that a bill collector asked me to relay a message to her.

[gardenista]

13. I dunno, sounds like it could be a pleasurable experience.

You can be sure that she'll stop bugging you for a while if you do.

[sffreeways]

15. The bill collector theory

doesn't explain how the caller got your unlisted phone #.

Sounds like law enforcement. Is your neighbor someone that may have the interest of the police ?

If it were me, I'd lay low and wait and see if you get another call, notice any unusual cars parked around your neighbors residence and if your neighbor is a female she may have a stalker. But I can't figure out how they got your phone number. That's something only the police could obtain. Strange that they wouldn't identify themselves.

I'd call your phone company and tell them the story. They might give you the number of the incoming call or give you some advice on how to handle the situation. That would make me very uneasy. It's weird.