New Phone Scam?

[dioxide45]

I made the mistake yesterday of answering my cell phone from an unknown number. Usually these are scammy calls about how to rent my timeshare or from "Wingate Rewards". Sometiems about how I did a timeshare tour years ago and never used the bonus week I got. So I do get some entertainment from the calls. However, this time the call was different. They just asked if James was there. I said they must have a wrong number. They hung up. Littarally a few seconds letter I got several text messages from things like FinanceBuzz, Liberty Mutual, and RAngels. They all seem to be related to auto or other insurance quotes. I am now also getting phone calls/voicemails about my interest in the insurance quote I requested online.

Is it possible someone just called the number and when they confirmed it was a real phone number (by me answering) they sent my phone number for a bunch of referrals? Perhaps they are paid for leads or get paid when or if I purchase such products and services?

 

[RX8]

Those calls you are getting, are they mentioning you by name? Could be a scam or maybe just a typo. Maybe “James” is a real person who had fat fingers when typing in their phone number. That first call may have been someone reaching out to James from his inquiry.

A few years ago someone in Australia used my email address for their new phone service. Not sure if a typo or intentional. I kept getting billing notices until I responded and told them that they have a wrong email address.

 

[dioxide45]

Those calls you are getting, are they mentioning you by name? Could be a scam or maybe just a typo. Maybe “James” is a real person who had fat fingers when typing in their phone number. That first call may have been someone reaching out to James from his inquiry.

A few years ago someone in Australia used my email address for their new phone service. Not sure if a typo or intentional. I kept getting billing notices until I responded and told them that they have a wrong email address.

That is a possibility. I just received another call about the quote I requested. They thought I was in Ohio, where I have lived and where the area code of the cell phone is for. I also learned the last name of James, and there is a very recent (three days ago) obituary for a person of that name. Though, the location of that James is not the same area code as my phone. I don't know if there is some kind of identity theft or something else going on. It would be a very big coincidence that I got that first call and then multiple text message right after that seemed to indicate that James had requested online quotes for insurance. It very well could be a typo of another number.