trache

I received a phone call from the "Ontarians for Action in Government" yesterday. They called from "Unknown Name, 000-000-0000" (this isn't proper, as most telephone companies use "Unknown Number" instead of numerals to denote such telephone numbers).

It was an automated message that urged me to call my local MP. The voice told me that because of the same-sex marriage legislation (Which I believe is Bill C-38), our country is "facing certain disaster" and to have my local MP vote against the (budget?) vote that is happening today, so that all of the Bills get dropped, in hopes to stave off the same-sex marriage legislation for another government, or budget (I can't remember which as I am not into politics).

There was a news item on my local radio station regarding all of this, but I only caught the tail end and did not hear any details of whom it was who financed or set up the automated calls, etc.

I had a mind to call up this organization, but of all my Googling, I can't find them. It is useless for me to call my local MP, as he is obviously in Ottawa and his office will not be able to respond to everyone's calls within a timely manner due to the vote.

I live in Ontario; I do not know if it has gone any farther than my city. Has anyone else received such a telephone message? What action did you take?

__________________
"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

Janey

I have not received such a message, but I assure you it would get my back up too. good luck!

Ambient1

Aren't these automated dialers illegal?

I have heard that it is possible to spoof the Caller ID information using a VOIP provider for the telephone service... this may be why the 000-000-0000 number came up on your display.

fresnelly

This sounds at least as strange and annoying as those dodgy "Boris The Mover" phone calls.

__________________
Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

portereight

If a business has a PBX they can make whatever they want to appear on your caller id.
I find it frustrating that Canada lags so far behind in laws protecting consumers from the endless barrage of tele-marketers. I guess there is little political motivation in creating and enforcing a do not call list when the politicians use subsidized call centers to appear to be doing something about unemployment.

Charlatan

I get a lot of these... I don't know where they got my number but it is always some guy with an Eastern European accent and it's a moving company.

Anyone else get these calls?

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

lindseylatch

Boris the Mover?
Dude...
You Canadians are just wierd...Even in your prank phone calls...

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"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
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feelgood

Ever wonder why our best export is comedians?

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Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

Charlatan

Hello? This is Jarmusch... I work for Quality Best movers... We offer best price for your money.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

fresnelly

A lot of people get these calls and if you google him, you will get a number of accounts of them.

Best Price Movers is indeed a legit company, but I believe the accents to be totally fake. The Yanosh character is lifted directly from the Schmengie Brothers skits on SCTV!

__________________
Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

portereight

I get calls with fake numbers all the time. The annoying part is that there is no one there. If you call the number the call cannot be completed.
After complaining and being told that the phone company "can't" do anything about it I stumbled on some information. A friend of mine who's been through the same thing says that these automated calls originate from foreign call centers who lease phone lines in canada to make the calls look local (most of them are 416, 519 or 888) Since they are paying the phone company there is no incentive to stop them. The gist of their business model is to call over and over and over again building up a profile of when people are available to answer the phone. The then attempt to sell this information to other tele-marketers who can then increase the chance you will answer a call rather than let voicemail get it.
The only solution the phone company offers is to sell me a service whereby I can block up to 12 numbers of my choice from getting through. Then they make money from both parties.

Scorps

While we are on the phone subject has anyone had them recorded "you have won" calls on there cell phone?