drmath@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Doctor Math) (03/03/91)
Perhaps the Digest readers can shed some light on these strange phone calls: Phone rings. Answering machine picks up. "This is the Chicago long-distance operator with a voice telegram. To hear your voice telegram, press the number 5 on your phone. Yes, to receive your voice telegram, press the number 5 on your phone, now." At this point, the call terminates. It only happens on one of the two voice lines in my house, and calls to various operators in Chicago have thus far shed no light on the subject, i.e. they have no idea what I'm talking about. Am I being sleazed by some AOS? Will pressing the number 5 imply my consent to be charged for a voice telegram that may not be for me, or worse yet, just some piece of advertising? I'm _real_ curious. [Moderator's Note: I doubt there is any such thing as the 'Chicago long-distance operator' in telco parlance. There are various store and forward services, including AT&T's and the one operated by Telecom*USA which play legitimate pre-recorded messages to you, but they begin by saying what they are, then immediatly playing the pre-recorded text. They do not say 'press the number 5 on your phone', and they certainly do not say 'YES, to receive your voice telegram', etc. I've heard about these 'voice telegrams' from other sources and there is a good chance you will wind up with a charge on your bill for some worthless message, so caution is advised. Legitimate store and forward services give their name plainly and require nothing of you except in the event of 'personal delivery', in which case a Telecom*USA live operator comes on the line first to learn your identity. Has anyone taken the bait on this yet, and if so, can you advise the rest of us? PAT]