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Crime

‘Pushy’ Telemarketer Threatens Unreceptive Homeowner With a Bomb

Sep. 4, 2012 7:41pm Erica Ritz

Telemarketer Threatens to Bomb Unreceptive Homeowners House After Man Hung Up

(Photo: Shutterstock File Photo/Marionbirdy)

A number of families in Mead, Colorado were evacuated from their homes after a telemarketer threatened to bomb someone who wasn’t interested in his spiel, authorities say.

Apparently the homeowner in question, who declined to be named, simply hung up after being told he had won a certain sum of money. The telemarketer called back and, according to Sgt. Tim Schwartz, “got pretty rude” and said “I’ve placed a bomb under your house.”

The homeowner then called the police, who evacuated the area and began searching for explosives.

According to 7News, deputies from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Colorado State Patrol, Dacono Police, Firestone Police and Mountain View Fire Department scoured the home, but did not find anything.

Here is more, via Newsy:

“I personally think that telemarketers are a big pain because they constantly call you even when you ask them not to. But to go to those lengths to actually threaten someone is just ridiculous,” Elaine Stanchfield, one of the evacuees, commented.

The homeowner thinks the call may have come from overseas, saying the man had a thick accent. Police are still investigating the origin of the call, but if it was international, apparently the FBI will get involved. If it was domestic, an arrest warrant will be issued.

“It’s completely out of the ordinary,” Sgt. Schwartz remarked, warning that it is difficult to track down telemarketers. “I don’t know how to explain it. They’re just pretty pushy I guess.”

(H/T: Gawker)

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Comments (44)

tj1961
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 8:48am
I would pick up the phone and answer “Hola”: then keep saying “Que??” The people who know me know I do this.
Worked until I had one who spoke Spanish.

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kinggrain
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 8:21am
A few years ago, a telemarketer called a friend of mine who spoke fluent Russian. He answered in Russian, and needless to say the conversation was over. But, here’s the kicker…a few minutes later a telemarketer call back speaking Russian. They are persistant.

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- OniKaze
  Posted on September 5, 2012 at 1:49pm
  Then you answer the phone speaking english…. Repeat process….
  
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scrapadapolis
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 8:07am
I had a nigerian who called my grandma everyday and wanted money to win money.I got on the phone,called him a scammin Ni**^R.He then threatened to have the taliban come kill me.I said bring it on I always wanted to kill a muslim who’s tryin to kill me..

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- bjjmadmonkey
  Posted on September 5, 2012 at 11:04am
  LOL! On point….
  
  Report this comment
Black Tiger
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 6:44am
I usually have my phone on mute and check it once a week, If the little light on the bottom (voice mail) is not blinking, i just delete; obviously not important enough to leave a voice message. I usually get robocalls from Special Olympics or the local FOP Union asking for donations.

See>Click Delete>Hang Up.

Works for me.

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DARIVS
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 2:32am
Seriously… Solar lights can be pretty darn scary.

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grayling646
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 12:13am
Great telemarketer prank.

Mild language. Nothing you haven’t seen here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK6Ut0EuBbo

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grayling646
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 12:09am
You’ve probably seen this before but it’s one of the funniest telemarketer pranks I’ve ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK6Ut0EuBbo

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Cataclysm
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:47pm
I fixed the problem…. I no longer have a home phone…. after getting constant “we can lower your home loan” calls even after I told them to stop calling and threatened to sue five of them. I gave up, on the phone. I still have a cell which they never call.

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- loriann12
  Posted on September 5, 2012 at 6:26am
  I get the automated calls, the FBI has determined that crime is up in your area, buy our security system. I read somewhere that if it’s an automated call, hit the pound (#) key numerous times as fast as you can and it kicks you out of their system. I started doing that, and I noticed I’m getting less and less calls. At least the automated ones.
  
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:58pm
Telemarketing should be illegal. I hate them. I usually pick up the phone and then simply hang it up. I can tell it is telemarketers usually by their phone number or the absence of one. If a call comes in that has ‘unknown’ on it I still hang up. Anyone worth talking to are on my list and their name and number come up when they call. I would like to find out where their ‘nests’ exist and ‘visit’ those lowlifes and have a ‘nice’…..um…’.talk’ with them. Yeah..that’s it…..’.talk’.

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Stratosaurus
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:22pm
I’m registered to vote as an independent, and I have yet to get ANY mailings asking for campaign contributions, and definitely no telemarketers. I’ve lived in this house ten years, and I got my FIRST Jehovah’s Witness call just before Labor Day. I refuse to be rude to religious groups — I simply tell them that I’m quite happy with my faith, and that I would rather not take their literature. We part on polite terms. If part of their faith requires them to make cold calls, I’m not going to berate them for it.

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- grayling646
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:51pm
  Is it considered rude to answer the door for Jehovah’s in nothing but your underwear while scratching your left cheek?
  
  Report this comment
- OniKaze
  Posted on September 5, 2012 at 1:54pm
  If you REALLY want to throw the witnesses for a loop, INVITE THEM IN!!
  
  I have done that more than once, and the look on their faces is simply put, Astonishing….
  
  I invited one pair in, and once they sat down, I asked them, “So what would you like to talk about??”
  
  They had no idea what to say, so I asked them why they were so quite, and the man told me, “Well…. This is the first time someone has invited us in, so I’m not exactly sure what to say…”
  
  You could tell that they were amazed by my weapon collection I have on display in my place… They didn’t really take their eye’s off of it…
  
  Ahh… Good times…
  
  Report this comment
HPC172ERTAV
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:30pm
I keep an air horn by the phone, speak in a soft tremulous voice until I am sure they are listening, then blast em. MY version of don’t call list.

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- hi
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:42pm
  Hahahahaha! I got a good belly ache laugh reading your post and picturing it!!!
  
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- Capt_Gregg
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:55pm
  Several years ago I was getting numerous calls trying to either (1) get me to sign up for credit cards or (2) buy insurance. I would patiently wait until they finished their spiel. For the first, my reply was “Great! I was going to declare bankruptcy next month, but I can pay those bills with your card and delay that bankruptcy a little longer.” In the case of the second, it was “Great! You don’t know how hard it is to get insurance after you’ve been diagnosed with AIDS.” It didn’t take long for those calls to stop.
  
  Screwing with their minds can be fun. :-D
  
  Report this comment
BikerHoop
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:29pm
I’ve found what helps get these jerks to quit calling is one of those little compressed air horns. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out what to do with it.

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LovinUSA
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:19pm
Do not call list doesn’t help, and paying for an unlisted number is useless…. These people caLL, NO ONE ON THE LINE, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS? What, do they hire people who are unable to speak? Or is this just mainly to harrass people, for for no legitimate reason? Nothing better to do?

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- scherzophrenic
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:58pm
  Gibberish. Works every time.
  
  Report this comment
- captainbars
  Posted on September 5, 2012 at 7:59am
  those silent calls is their computer, which determines the day and time a person is home. Later, a representative calls you relative to the day and time you answered. When you get those silent calls, you must remember to hit the # key several times which will knock your number out of the system. You’re paying for that communication device; you don’t HAVE to answer, ditto for the doors of your house, unless it’s a police officer. You have choices; don’t answer, turn on the answering machine, pick up then hang up, get a cell phone and turn off landline service. Changing your number may not solve the problem, cos you inherit the former owner’s callers. Another tip; when stores ask for your zip or phone number, don’t give it to them; they can use it to dig up info on you, and pass on to others (businesses). It’s all about protecting your privacy. Be firm, but not rude; they do not NEED your zip and number; Radio Shack is notorious for this, and I’ve noticed other businesses are doing the same. First time I went to Fantastic Sams for a haircut, they want my number; what for? I refused so she made one up to enter in the stores computer. Protect you privacy, rights, freedoms.
  
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Damocles
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:52pm
Just google “telemarketer calls a crime scene”. That is the way to deal with them….

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Twisted Mind
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:46pm
Add your comments

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Twisted Mind
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:44pm
Off topic—- Are any of you having trouble naviagating on the Blase, or is it just me? The topics will not open unless I restart the computer and then go to “last session” and then it will open the article I wanted to read any help out there?

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- mecanic
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:54pm
  Mozilla Firefox.
  
  Report this comment
roadhog
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:28pm
Hang Up on all Telamarketers .NO call list

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cookcountypatriot
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:25pm
when i get a call and they ask for me by name…ususally screwing up the pronunciation…i simply say yes he,s home but i have to put u on hold….i press the hold button and go back to watching fox news….sometimes the weirdos stay on for 15 20 min…its an awesome approach..

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blackyb
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:24pm
Trick him to somewhere and beat the hell out of him.

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forthepeople
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:22pm
I use Jerry Seinfeld’s line ” Sorry about your job ” , that usually floors them , leaves them stuttering , I even had one lady call back to tell me she loves her job and to that I said ” sorry to hear that ” .
- – As far as the two incidents not being related sure seems more than a coincidence to me ? –

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FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:06pm
The guy who called the cops is a wimp and definitely a Liberal.

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- whatthecrazy
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:56pm
  what???????
  
  Report this comment
doxyonr
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:03pm
I do not answer the phone unless I recognize the number. When it answers the 2nd ring it will announce the number of the caller.

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:19pm
  Same here and if I DO happen to accidentally answer a telemarketer, I will listen for about 20 seconds, then ask them to “hold for a minute, I’ll be right back” set the phone down and walk away. Works every time :-)
  
  Report this comment
- Jenny Lind
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:57pm
  If I don’t know who is calling, I do not answer, period. It’s nice to see the numbers- it’s a big improvement.
  
  Report this comment
pissantno.10
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:01pm
whats the matter with amercains i have the finest camales in all of the middel east . free shipping and my brother ackmad he makes the best tents . they really make us mad boom to them

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progressiveslayer
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:58pm
Telemarketers are as bad as politicians and pedophiles,they’re all the slime you find at the bottom of a sewer.

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- FREEDOMoverFEAR
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:04pm
  I’m not a fan of telemarketers but the man who called the police is worse than the telemarketer as well as the stupid police who took the threat seriously.
  
  Report this comment
- sparkyrules
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:24pm
  Add main stream ‘journalists’ to your list of telemarketers politicians and pedophiles.Especially the ones in printed form and work for or associated with the Associated Press.I can’t even read our local newspaper anymore due to opinions that are disguised as news.And very pro-progressive.
  
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- Dan_o
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:31pm
  While telemarketing is obnoxious (I am not one, btw), they are just doing a job. It is a symptom of the bigger picture problem in this country. People get worthless degrees and expect jobs to be handed to them. The innovation is all but gone as are too many good old fashioned blue collar jobs. Instead, we are a “service” economy. Translation: we are consumers whose only hope is to have a job at the DQ so we can buy food at the DQ.
  
  By the way, who still has a home phone? Cancel them already.
  
  Report this comment
red_white_blue2
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:57pm
I see how someone can be frightened, and especially in CO after the movie theater shooting, but let’s think reasonably for a minute. Telemarketers calls are fed to them through a dialer mostly, paper possibly. It is extremely rare for telemarketers to call the area that they work in. Logic would argue that this guy couldn’t have known he was going to call this person this morning. Even if he had known by looking at a paper list the day before, logic would say that he couldn’t possibly know what your reaction was going to be. You could have been very receptive for all he knew. Does it seem logical to think that he would have known he was going to call you, that you were going to react the way you did, and that he had premeditated planted an explosive under or near your home.
Now if he had said, I know where you live, and I can get you–that I would view differently. But let’s Think folks.

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- Melika
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:21pm
  You presume the guy called the police because he thought the threat was real. He might have simply called them to lodge an official complaint or to get information on whom he should call about this. Once emergency services learned of the incident, they would be required to treat it as a real threat, even if they too thought it unlikely. Better safe than sorry.
  
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