Congratulations to me
Wake me up! I think
I just had a bad dream… or was it a nightmare? Yesterday morning my phone rang. A man named Dave called to congratulate me and announce my good fortune. Now, I am one of those people who never wins anything…even a small ivy plant at a PEO luncheon.
Mr. Dave said I just won a “Sweepstakes Contest” to the tune of one million dollars that will be paid at the rate of $5,000 per month. PLUS: I have also won a slick, new Mercedes Benz that is going to be delivered to my driveway.
Hmmmm…methinks I smell a rat.
The bearer of good news, Mr. Dave, said he needed to ask me a few questions simply for ‘verification.’
What kind of questions, I asked him.
“Oh just simple ones such as where do you work? Do you receive a government check? How is your credit—would you say okay or acceptable? Questions like that.”
I asked how I won a sweepstakes that I did not enter and he replied,
“Because our contest winners are good, hardworking folks like you who pay their bills on time. This contest IS for real and you ARE a winner.” Now, I love to have fun-- you know that—so I decided to stay on the line with Mr. Dave to see how far I could go before turning the tables onto his greedy lap.
“Oh, so that is how I became eligible! I understand now. And I certainly do fit into that category, so you must be on the level. But is there anything else I need to do to claim my winnings?” I asked Mr. Dave.
“Just one more thing, in order for us to reward your car, we need you to send $194 in cash for the delivery charges of the Mercedes. Now, that is reasonable, right?”
“Of course, I can understand that but there is a problem here. I do not have $194 in cash. Is there any other way I may pay this?”
“Sure, you can just go to your local Walmart and send it by gift card.”
“Oh good! I can get that for you, but I have just had hip surgery ( tiny lie to combat his lying to me) and I will need to ask my lawyer-son to call you right back and he can make the arrangements.” The phone connection suddenly went dead. Alas, I never heard back from Mr. Dave. My dream of becoming a millionaire owner of a new Mercedes Benz had just ended.
I have also had calls from my grandson (I have none) asking me to PLEASE come to his rescue. He is in jail on an unfair traffic violation and needs bail.
I “play” with him a bit before SCREAMING into the mouthpiece of the phone, “QUIT this scamming and get a REAL JOB, You Scum!”
Also, I have been called by an entity in the Northwest who tells me there is an outstanding warrant against me in Oregon and I must respond immediately with my information, including my S.S. number, to prove that I am not this person. Otherwise, I will face an imminent visit from my local police and face jail time.
I have been called at all hours of the day and night by Social Security (there is a problem with my account and I must give my correct number to avoid loss of next month’s payment.)
I have also been awarded free estimates on various household repairs and needs if I will only give my address and other vital information to set up a “free” appointment.
And how many of you have fallen for the
“free” three-day vacation to Branson, MO? NO STRINGS attached, the caller promises. I did fall for this one. This is what happened on my free visit…
We were put up in one of Branson’s “finest,” The____ Hotel & Conference Center with an upgraded “Jacuzzi room.” The exterior did look impressive but inside it was nothing but sleeze. The promised Jacuzzi was not in the bathroom but practically filled the bedroom and was never used, leaving only a small bit of space for the bed and other meager, worn furniture. The ‘outstanding’ breakfasts at the hotel consisted of cereal, oatmeal, cold eggs and clotted gravy on cold biscuits. Now, the “shows” WERE as promised and two of the free meals were in reputable restaurants, but the test came on the final day of the free nostrings vacation. We spent six hours touring “property” and then sitting through a
HIGH-POWERED sales talk. I stood it for awhile before grabbing my purse and my husband’s arm and standing up.
“This is so misleading! How can you live with yourselves by saying there is no sales talk involved?”
When the lead speaker tried to call me back saying, “But you are eligible for a free vacation at one of our sister resorts in Florida!” I told him “No thanks!” and walked out. Such limits scoundrels go to in order to scam the elderly. PLEASE do not fall for their lying ploys. I do not have “call blocking” on the land-line beside this desk where I am too-often interrupted while trying to do my work.
During preceding months, I have seen commercials on television where a candidate for state office promises that she will put an end to these frustrating ro-bo/solicitation calls. Will she? Guess I’ll have to wait to see if this is another empty promise.