I have been getting multiple harassment calls with a Caller ID of (727) 532-9155 and the "block Caller ID" bit. This number belongs to Integrated Credit Solutions (see below). These calls are apparently in retaliation for this web page.
Calls occurred on: 18 October 2002 12:56PM; 31 October 2002 12:27PM, 12:33PM, 12:48PM (also), 12:50PM (also); 19 November 2002 2:04PM (also); 4 February 2003 12:54PM (also); 4 February 2003 12:55PM (also); 4 February 2003 12:57PM (also); 4 February 2003 1:40PM (also); 12 February 2003 10:12AM; 12 February 2003 1:37PM. Note that on one Caller ID box the calls are marked PRIVATE and on the others the calls are marked ANONYMOUS CALL. This indicates that the calls were placed with Caller ID blocked.
My phone line doesn't accept blocked Caller ID calls. So when telesleaze operators program their robots to dial "1" to get past No Solicitation blocks, the robots end up dialing "1" to give permission to the phone company to deliver the blocked Caller ID.
Most of the 2002 calls were some sort of automated information system that wanted me to enter a category. I didn't listen to it very much but there was something about a telephone casino and "you have selected blackjack." I didn't make any "entry", but I had problems hanging up on it. The robot that made these calls wouldn't release my phone line when I hung up.
The exception was the 12:27 call on October 31; this was from some woman who claimed that she was getting telemarketing calls from me (and asking if my name was "Michael"). She hung up when I tried to tell her that it wasn't me.
I obtained a Call Trace for the last four of these calls, and contacted the police to press charges for misdemeanor telephone harassment. According to the police report, which was published in the local newspaper, "an officer contacted a representative of the marketing firm who advised they may have a person hacking into their system. He did not think any of his employees were responsible."
In December 2002, there was a new call with Caller ID (727) 394-9823, name PAYPHONE (also) occurred on December 10 at 5:27PM. Not clear if this was a wrong number or more of the same, but that 727 area code is suspicious. Why would someone call me from a payphone in the 727 area code at what would be 8:27 at night Florida time?
In February 2003, they escalated to direct harassment. One call was a rather insulting message left on my voice mail, followed by other calls that contained a series of noises. I obtained Call Trace on all of these, and passed on both the trace and recordings of these calls to the police. This time it went to the prosecutor's office.
It's hard to believe how immature these cretins are; but this is what you have to expect from telesleaze. If they weren't immature cretins, they would be able to make money in a reputable profession.
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