I don't usually answer my phones (landline or cell) if I don't recognize the incoming number and these callers usually don’t leave messages. If you can't leave a message then as far as I'm concerned I probably don't need or want to talk to you. People who know me will leave a voice mail.
So last Monday I let a call from an unfamiliar, out of area number go through and surprisingly, the caller left a message. He was David, from a company name that was unintelligible and he had great news about a contest I entered at the Brea Mall in April. He didn't leave details about what exactly I’d won – was it a new car or a $25 gift card to the mall? Big difference there. He did leave a toll-free number, beseeching me to return his call so he could give me the good news as soon as possible.
Okay, that kind of sounds like a total scam. I’m a big believer in the adage that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Except for the fact that I was at the Brea Mall in April, with my Mom when she was visiting, and I do vaguely remember filling out some sort of entry form. I never win anything but why not? It only took about a minute to fill out the form and I promptly forgot about it. Until I got the voice mail message from David.
As much as I tried to resist, it was hard not to get a bit excited about this news. Had I finally won something? I think it was a drawing for a car, and if I'd won it I needed to get my hands on it ASAP and get it sold because I need the money a hell of a lot more than I need a new shiny car. My car snob days are pretty much behind me and I'm perfectly happy with my old Corolla. Selling a new car would buy me months of relief during the World's Longest and Least Successful Job Hunt. It was a Godsend if it was true.
I returned David's call, but he was away from his desk. I left a message with the operator and again didn't catch the name of the company. But at this point I wasn’t really concerned about it.
David didn't call back that day or the following day. I thought that was kind of odd, especially if I'd won some incredible prize, you'd think they'd want to let me know promptly. You don't leave someone a message like that and then leave them hanging for two days.
Article comments
1 - Joanne Huspek
What do you want to bet the mall has nothing to do with the "promotion?"
I guess it's true what they say, a sucker is born every minute. Glad you're not one of them.
2 - Melinda Loomis
One of the many great things about the internets: learning from the experiences and mistakes of others.