So, this morning while I was at work (approximately 7 am PDT), I received a phone call on my cell phone from a thirteen-digit number. I was talking to a customer, so I didn't answer.

A few minutes later, that phone number called again. I still didn't answer. But this time, the caller left a bizarre voice mail in broken English. Here's what I can decipher from the message he left:

"Hi, good afternoon. This is (friend?) from Nigerian Navy, just to say hello to you, and [indecipherable]. Goodbye."

When I heard the word "Nigeria," I was spooked, because I've heard quite a few things about Nigerian mail/e-mail scams.

A short time later, he sent me the following text message:

Jessica good day to you how is everything though it's a long time I just want to say hi from ur friend OLA in Nigerian Navy onboard formal cowslip kindly reply

Yeah, I don't know where he got "Jessica," either, especially considering that in my voice mail greeting, I certainly don't sound like anyone named Jessica.

Anyway, I made damn sure I didn't reply to that voice mail or text message. I immediately called Verizon, freaked out of my gourde, and told the CSR what was happening. I told her I had a strong feeling it was a phishing attempt and that I wanted them stopped immediately.

So I had to have my number changed. What a nightmare.

Anyway, I just wanted to give everyone a heads-up.

On a side note, I don't know how the hell this person got my phone number. I make it a point never to send text messages to anyone, unless it's someone I know.

That's scary. Smart thinking calling Verizon.

I have to wonder how many people would be stupid enough to reply to those despite not being named Jessica or knowing anyone in Nigeria...too many is my guess.

Thats really strange. I don't get what they were trying to accomplish, though?

Very scary. I guess since people are catching on to their email scams, they've moved on to the phone. The emails are bad enough, but a phone call really crosses the line.

scams

i get about 4 emails scams A WEEK

at least once a week i get a PAY PAL SCAM

u know fake email says PROBLEM with your pay pal account

click this link and verify your account info

NOT FROM PAY PAL

then i get the A CLIENT OF MINE HAS DIED WITH 10 million dollars unclaimed.. scam

i report them to AOL

nothing happens

same thing next week

now my cell phone aint safe!

Thats really strange. I don't get what they were trying to accomplish, though?

I'm suspecting this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_419).

It's been a pain in the ass changing my number. I still haven't gotten in touch with all my friends to let them know.

Well at least the scammer was stupid enough to say he was from Nigeria in his message. He might as well have started the call by saying "Hello this is a scam."

Thanks for the heads up. Didn't people on this board receive PMs with this scam a while back? I remember someone told me about it. Very scary stuff.

:eek: