854-244-2849 [Phone call/Craigslist scam]

[sjuhawk_jd]

Not sure what scam they are running. I got a call from this number 854-244-2849. A lady with a south Indian accent, to be precise, Malayalam accent spoke. She said she is trying to help me stop telemarketeing calls and she is calling from do not call list of FCC. She told me that I will be getting a call to get some server code from an automated message (Craigslist server) and she will call me back and I have to provide her that code so that my telephone can be registered to the do not call list. After each sentence, she kept on asking me if I understand what she was saying. I asked her why FCC is using Craigslist server, so she got angry with me, told me that I was stupid and hung up. I did some research on this phone number and this is where this scam is being discussed: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-854-244-2849

 

[Sea Six]

My rule of thumb is that if I don't recognize the name or the number on caller ID (and who doesn't have that!), I don't answer the call. If the call matters, there will be a message left and I can respond later. I believe some people are just too quick to answer the phone.

PS - If the caller ID says "Unavailable", or "Out of Area", or something like that, I don't answer. Period. If I get a repeated call from a suspicious number, I pick up the receiver and hang up. End of story. And I ALWAYS file a complaint with the DO NOT CALL registry, which I doubt has any value.

 

[BevL]

In doing a bit of googling it seems that some who have returned the "secret code" have then been approached by the old Nigerian scam of cashing a "cashier's cheque" and returning some money.

So they may just be trying to see who responds to them, then spoon feed them with the real con.

Just my .02 worth from what I read about it.

 

[DeniseM]

I can tell you exactly what they are doing. These are scammers who are phishing for phone numbers, to open multiple Accts. on Craigslist.

First they call you and get you to cooperate.

Then they open a new Craigslist Acct. with your phone number.

Craigslists automatically sends your phone a confirmation code, that is required to open the new Acct.

Then you provide the scammer with the Craigslist confirmation code.

The scammer keys in the code you give them, and that completes the process for them to open a new Acct. using your phone number.

 

[spirits]

I'll Bite

Thanks Denise for the explanation. But I admit I have no clue why they go to all that trouble? What do they do with the phone number?

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks Denise for the explanation. But I admit I have no clue why they go to all that trouble? What do they do with the phone number?

The bigger question is, what do they want to do with the Craigslist account that has your phone number attached to it?

 

[DeniseM]

Thanks Denise for the explanation. But I admit I have no clue why they go to all that trouble? What do they do with the phone number?

You can't open a new Craigslist Acct. without a verified US phone number. These scammers need US phone numbers in order to open CL accounts and post what ever they are scamming on Craigslist.

 

[scrapngen]

I can tell you exactly what they are doing. These are scammers who are phishing for phone numbers, to open multiple Accts. on Craigslist.

First they call you and get you to cooperate.

Then they open a new Craigslist Acct. with your phone number.

Craigslists automatically sends your phone a confirmation code, that is required to open the new Acct.

Then you provide the scammer with the Craigslist confirmation code.

The scammer keys in the code you give them, and that completes the process for them to open a new Acct. using your phone number.

Again, you have an amazing amount of information on so many levels and topics, Denise!