WARNING: Consider this Before Calling 973-409-3274
***Last Update: It caused a lot of confusion, but we finally got to the bottom of it. It turns out this number is not a scam, just an innocent poll number set up by Humor Hotlines that got hijacked by mischievous user online who falsely promoted it. For more information, go here: http://www.showmethefacts.org/2009/04/24/marijuana-phone-poll-scam-confusing/
In light of the new information, I will strike out information from the article below but leave it for the sake of transparency.***
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UPDATE (April 24th, 2009): I have received a reply from Ben Rattray which confirms that this phone number has no association with Change.org whatsoever and thus is highly likely to be a scam. Click HERE to read the update!
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BIG UPDATE (10:15pm EST): Thanks to @EMC1130 for pointing this out… on 800notes.com’s page for this number, someone by the name of “Pinot” writes:
If your wireless provider supports it, you’re signing yourself up for a 9.99 online content “COGA” charge on your next cell phone bill by calling this number and hitting pound.
Again, I have no idea if this is true, but it is what I fear may be true. So if you have called the number and pressed the # button to “vote”, make sure to check your bill and see if there was a $9.99 COGA fee applied.
I’ve e-mailed Change.org to see if they will verify that they own the number or not.
Until I see a shred of evidence that this is legitimate, it is my belief that this is a clever scam created to take advantage of marijuana-supporters’ willingness to do whatever they can to support the cause.
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Double Updates added below…
Ok, so I keep seeing posts about “call
One person claimed it belonged to Change.org, but I can’t find it anywhere on their site except in comments from users.
So here are some things to consider before calling the number, as they are the only scenarios I can think of:
- The number is legit and is from a group that is so unorganized they didn’t make it easy to verify the number.
- The number is part of a scam to harvest phone numbers… possibly trying to target marijuana users/supporters or just something they knew would spread online.
- It may be part of one of those scams that charge you by calling it/agreeing to it (by voting).
I’m not positive it is a scam I’m fairly positive this is a scam, but until someone can prove to me it isn’t by providing a credible link as to where it originated, who is backing it, etc… I will not call and I advise everyone else to be cautious.
Double Update: So when I find someone saying it is legit, they seem to claim it is from “Change.org Criminal Justice” group, then link to this page. Notice how they don’t list the number there at all.
Also, 973 is a New Jersey area code, yet according to Change.org’s Whois, they are a California-based group.
Again, I’m not saying its not legit… just saying so far there is nothing but anonymous users supporting this number.
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