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Imagine if all those lost-pet posters started dialing you up at home

Michael Pahre reports getting a robo-call from some company asking if he knew the whereabouts of some lost cat in his neighborhood:

... How much does this service cost? A lot! Prices range from $65 for 250 robo-calls (suitable for a low-density rural location) to $425 for 5000 robo-calls in a dense, urban environment.

Note that the organization's website claims that they are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, which would explain why their call went through to my house despite having registered my phone number with the list.

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Comments

I've heard of that before. One of those businesses that caters to those people with $$$$ (or are extremely dedicated pet owners).

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Makes me want to call them and tell them that Fluffy died a horrible death. Maybe "sold to the cats-and-rats business".

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The findtoto database listing provides what I presume to be the company's phone number, not the owner's home phone number (which is provided in the robo-call and on the physically posted flyer), which is 617-254-5957 in this case; the cat disappeared from Larch Street in Brighton, which is next to The Cenacle and a few blocks away from here.

WRONG. It sure is the dude's number.

I'm guessing the asshats at findtoto are taking advantage of this loophole (I would still report them anyway):

The Commission is also proposing changes to the TSR mandated by the recently enacted USA PATRIOT Act. Prompted by the events of September 11, this legislation, among other things, directs the Commission to expand the TSR to cover calls made to solicit charitable contributions. (Currently the TSR covers only calls made to sell goods and services.) By law, non-profit charitable organizations are exempt from the FTC's jurisdiction, and the USA

Here's some handy info from Findtoto.com's registry record:

Sterlino, Dustin [email protected]
Pet Alert LLC
2420 Sand Creek Road C-1 129
Brentwood, California 94513
United States
8777388686 Fax --

Schmitz, Gary [email protected]
Pet Alert LLC
2420 Sand Creek Road C-1 129
Brentwood, California 94513
United States
8777388686 Fax --

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I'm happy to say that I've never received one of these calls. If the cat wants me to help it be found, it can call me itself and I'll be happy to oblige.

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Was it about a black cat?

Whoever lost that cat has plastered every utility pole and put full posters up everywhere. This is the most desperate I have ever seen someone be looking for a cat.

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Sounds like Stephen King's low men have learned a little about technology...

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