Sunday, May 23, 2010

Scam, Shabba”k Ploy, Or Legitimate Sales Technique?

11 of the Third Month 5770

A couple of months ago, I received a call from "Feigi," claiming to be an Orange Cellular Phone customer service representative. She knew my name, and obtained my number from somewhere. (My number is not listed, at least I don't think it is.)

She wanted to send sales agent to my house to offer me a special deal. I said no, but that she could send me some information. I gave her my P. O. Box address. She said she would, but that THIS special deal was only available through an agent who visited customers' homes,...for their convenience.

I said that I didn't have the time, and was out the door to work. I do not remember telling her the name of my neighborhood.

Fortunately, my paranoia built up after living in the Shomron (Samaria) for a time, hasn't gone too lax.

Now that I have been thinking about it, I find it to be a rather odd conversation.

So, what do you think? Was this a scam? A legitimate sales technique?

Has you ever received a phone call like this in Israel, or heard of any company sending agents out to visit private residences?

Let me know your experiences.

3 comments:

Risa Tzohar said...

Not taking sides here. It may very well be a Shabbak ploy. But, yes, it has happened to me. Twice. Once they were actually downstairs and claiming that I had made an appointment to be sold some insurance or maybe it was a savings plan. I didn't let them up. (That was about 15 years ago. And once it was a cell phone company but I don't remember which. I can't imagine the Shabbak was interested in me though. I think they actually did want to sell me something.

Miriam Woelke said...

B"H

Hi Yaakov,

No, it was just one of those sales slaves working for Orange or a temp agency. Bugging you to buy now.
I have received many of those calls and these people calling are not interested in sending out information because most of them don't sit at Orange (or whatever company) but are hired temp agents. They simply don't have information but their main goal is to sell the product now in order to get commission !!!

I wouldn't be worried if I was you !

Esser Agaroth said...

That's why I asked,...because I didn't know if it was a common sales strategy.

Thanks for the feedback.

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