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In Reply to: What kind of a scammy-looking wierdass thing is this? posted by MarkgM on March 2, 2005 at 06:17:29:
The relay call thing is a very real mechanism among the deaf in the US. It's disconcerting when you get it the first time without knowledge of this, but it's a real deal.On the other hand, all the rest of this message makes ZERO sense to me. That's the most convoluted scheme (and I mean it both ways) I've ever heard!
I'd be cautious and you have no obligation to proceed if you're the least uncomfortable. What's a deaf guy doing buying audio equipment?
Follow Ups:
Good question!
What do they expect me to do? I was wondering if they were trying to pull some identity theft or something, and didn't want to give the requested name and mailing address. Of course, anyone responding to the ad is getting at least that much. They want to send a USPS money order. Well, there are conterfeit USPS money orders. But I would have to clear the money order first, and then do the shipping. Heck, it would pay the shipping as well.It's got to be a scam! Buying without sight or sound, not even a mention of brand or model. It really is freaky to be selected for something like this. It's like, "oh, they've got my number".
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Mark,Many scams (I'm no expert, but have read and seen) use a device to confuse the "mark" (no pun intended) like this. The common variants get you to put up money of your own to match the scammer's in some way. There are variants that use what seems like an otherwise foolproof cashing device - maybe that's what the USPS money order deal is. If you're confused, that's the object of the game.
Identity theft is so easy these days that I'm overly cautious about anyone, even if they could have gotten my info by other means. Most scammers and phishers find the easiest way to get it is by asking the target him/herself.
Again, this could all be legitimate, but it sounds like you're too suspicious and uncomfortable to play the game out. Believe me, nothing else matters here. If you're uncomfortable, skip it.
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