232-365-4789

Can the dreaded Wind Turbine Syndrome infect my computer? I don't know, but Stephen did talk about Wind Turbine Syndrome last night.

Here's why I am so concerned. My computer has been acting up lately. I type a word correctly and yet it shows up incorrectly on my screen. I know I'm not making mistakes because why would I type it wrong?

The only explanation is a computer virus. And computers are somewhat technical. And Wind Turbines are somewhat technical. And there are wind turbines near where I live, not real close, but if I drive for a while, eventually I do see some.

Now for the clinker. I got a phone call from the Technical Department of, and here's where I have to be vague. I couldn't understand the woman. I had to ask her a few times to repeat what she said. "From IT." Oh, the Information Technology Geeks. Why was she asking if my computer was working or not? Did she know my computer had the dreaded Wind Turbine Syndrome? I was getting worried so I asked more questions, probing questions. And you know what? She.... hung.... up.... on....me!!!!!

Why would she call and then hang up when I started asking her questions? Well, here's one possible explanation:

FTC helps slow tech support scam; don't give remote computer access. You might want to click on the photo of that old lady (yes I said old lady, she's 101) and hear what they did with con artists back in the day.

The number on the Caller ID was 232-365-4789. There was nothing for a company name, just dashes. If they were legitimate they would have a company name on the Caller ID. Even then I wouldn't necessarily trust them. All they have to do is make up a name and lie about it.

So, I wonder if that's who called, some scammer. My gut feeling? Yep. They were looking for someone to scam.

I'm suspicious of anyone that calls me: "Mom? How do I know you're really my mom? Quick tell me what my dog's name is."

"Honey, you don't have a dog."

"Good answer, how ya doin' today Mom? Is that arthritis acting up again?"

So be wary of anyone that calls out of the blue with get rich schemes, or asking for charity donations, or telling you to quick do something, or offering to fix something for you. Don't give out account numbers or personal information or anything else. You can also stall and say tell me more, send me literature, let me talk to your supervisor.

If they hang up on you, consider yourself yucky. I mean lucky.

(Oops, I figured out my typing skills are getting rusty. I don't actually have a computer virus.)

Rachel Rachel Rachel

Really? You're calling me again? Oh Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. How can I miss you if you won't go away? Or, technically, if you won't stop calling me. It's been less than two weeks since you last called me with your baloney (bologna?) about my Credit Card. This time, according to Caller ID, you actually called from the same number as earlier this month: 503-902-8479. Why is that? You never identify which credit card I have. You say there's no problem but yet it is urgent that I call about eligibility to lower my interest rate.

Oh Rachel of Cardholder Services, please stop calling me. I will not take the bait no matter how many times you call.

If you did not read the post from April 7, here's the link again to FTC Action Puts Robocallers Out of the Telemarketing Business.

503-902-8479

Rachel called me. Again. The Caller ID said Pacifictel. She shouldn't be doing this. Here's why:

FTC Action Puts Robocallers Out of the Telemarketing Business.

If you haven't gotten a call from them yet, you can hear what they say. On the FTC website, scroll down to the 7th Paragraph, the one that starts out, "To hear telemarketing sales pitches..." and click on any of those links. It's Credit Card audio 2 that has Rachel on it and she is the one who always calls me.

Every time it's a different number that shows up on Caller ID. And businesses like this don't abide by the Do Not Call List. I haven't read through all this information on the FTC website here, but I plan on reading more of it soon. There are also tips for consumers about dealing with Rachel and all her cohorts.

Hopefully she won't call you anytime soon. If she does, just hang up.

* Update: She called me yet again on April 19.