Did you get my notice?

A stranger to my ears and what a rude way to start a phone conversation. Another scammer, no doubt whose goal was creating a false sense of urgency. Didn’t I know I owed them (whose them?) money.

 If I failed to act, then terrible things would happen. What notice? I wondered. But I know better than to release my personal information or relinquish my good judgment over the phone. Best hang up.

Every day, phony phone calls. Swindles, sales pitches, and scams. Bad actors outweigh the good guys. Pledge to our charity. Renew your membership. Subscribe to our service. Receive free estimates on windows, doors, driveways.

My polite mother lost her patience. Too many interruptions.  Every. Single. Day. She took my husband’s advice and started demanding these nuisance callers put her on the “Do Not Call List.” For good measure, she added, “Never call her again.”

The strategy stopped sales calls. She felt proud of her defiant stance. Pleased with the sounds of silence. Soon after, my husband called her. I overheard him say, “Mom, it’s me! Don’t hang up!” He may have had to call back twice before she realized who he was family. We still laugh about the case of the mistaken identity.   

 Most days, I heed the warning “Potential Scam” that pops up on my mobile and let the phone ring. Sometimes I answer even if an “Unknown Number” message appears with a familiar area code. Taking the chance, I answered. “Hello!” (In a normal way to avoid embarrassing myself if they were legit.)  

“Hello! This is Lindsey,” she said. Her cheery voice and upbeat tone made me suspicious. Plus, I didn’t know anyone who goes by Lindsey. Surprisingly, the line is silent. No noisy chattering in the background, the trademark of a call center.

She continued, “I’m from Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.” CCUA, was a nonprofit I admired because their programs teach people lifeline skills in home gardening, agriculture, and cooking. CCUA also provides fresh veggies and fruits for those in need.

  “Ah, I didn’t expect a real person because usually, I get voicemail. I’m calling to thank you for your support, not to ask for a donation today,” she said, sounding flustered.  

“Thank you for your work. I enjoy reading your newsletter,” I said.

I appreciated her reaching out—a rare call from an actual human who wanted only to thank me.