I'm also in Toronto & started receiving calls from this number recently, although no message was left, just a hang up. I'm thinking of canceling my land line because I get more calls like this than anything else.

They've been calling every 2-3 days at around 5pm PST for YEARS...and when I answer I get this long winded message...ARGGHH..

I usually just ignore it.  Hey D, how did you block it?  Share your secret!

I'm in Toronto.  Got a call today from this ADT automated recording.  Call display showed the number to be 888-344-0999.  I've now blocked the number; this is the 4th ADT dealer that I've blocked.  Can't wait for a Canadian DO NOT CALL registry!

Automated call system asked if I would like to lower my current interest rates.  I pressed 1 and was forwarded to a man that identified his company as Mutual Consolidated Savings. He told me that my creditors identified me as having more than $5,000 in debt at above a 12% interest rate.  He asked for the service number on the back of my credit card and card type. I asked if I could call back after checking the company and he hung up.  I believe the web address is www.mcsprograms.com.  Careful with this one, looks like a scam.

I live in Australia and just got a call from Mutual Consolidation Savings - I pressed 1 to speak to a person and got John Albert who informed me they got my details from VISA.  I just rang my bank aqnd of course it wasn't them, but people have reported a similar scam.  There is alo none telling you that you have won a free holiday that costs $600 - go figure!

In Australia we have a "Do Not Call" list I am on, which basically means that tele-marketing companies are not allowed to call you if you are on the list. If they do it ius in fact a crime and can result in serious fines.  

MCS are bogus, and if I had the time I'd nail them all.

If, indeed, this obnoxious telephone number is attached to a security company trying to sell a system, why on earth would anyone purchase it from an unknown number, via a telemarketer?  Someone interested in a security system would certainly call a well-known and reputable company in their own area, probably on recommendation from a neighbour or friend.  Definitely sounds like a SCAM and I would inform that person that I already have a sophisticated security installed - thank you very much and goodbye.  I must respond also to Carl, who notes that he never had this problem until he subscribed to Bell Canada.  I think you may be right Carl.  Since I've had several dealings with Bell Canada re subscription changes, etc., I notice a lot more of these unwanted, pesky, unknown numbers and telemarketers have surfaced and I've had the same thought.

This is from http://www.phonebusters.com/

It's not always easy to spot phone scams, and new ones are invented every day.

If you suspect that you may be a target of fraud, or if you have already sent funds, don't be embarrassed - you're not alone.

If you want to report a fraud, or if you need more information, contact PhoneBusters:

Toll Free: 1-888-495-8501
Fax: (705) 494-4755

Toll Free Fax: 1-888-654-9426
Email: info@phonebusters.com

or contact the Competition Bureau

1-800-348-5358
Website: www.cb-bc.gc.ca
Email: compbureau@cb-bc.gc.ca

To report an economic crime on-line using RECOL, please click here or visit www.recol.ca

The office of my M.P. responded to my email. Here's the information I received about telemarketers

*************
Legislation restricting telemarketing by the establishment of a national
do not call registry received Royal Assent in November 2005. This is a
summary of the Act:

This enactment amends the Telecommunications Act to permit the Canadian
Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to administer
databases for the purpose of its power under section 41, namely the
power to prohibit or regulate the use by any person of the
telecommunications facilities of a Canadian carrier for the provision of
unsolicited telecommunications to the extent that the Commission
considers it necessary to prevent undue inconvenience or nuisance,
giving due regard to freedom of expression.
The enactment also establishes an administrative monetary penalty for
the contravention of prohibitions or requirements of the Commission
under that section.
You can read the Act in its entirety at:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Par
l=38&Ses=1&Mode=1&Pub=Bill&Doc=C-37_4 .The CRTC is still in the process
of organizing the list and so you and I will have to suffer a little
longer until it is in place. Go to
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/t1026.htm  for how the list will
ultimately work.

In the meantime here is a link to get some tips on how to deal with
being removed from telemarketers lists.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t22.htm

Sincerely,
***************

She identified herself as Joanne Wheeler with Mutual Consolidated Savings. She told me that they had been contacted by one of my creitors and that I was a prefered card holder. They requested this MCS call and work with me to have all of my creditors give me a reduced interest rates. When she began asking questions, I asked how I was to know she was legit. She gave me a web address www.mcsprograms.com to check out and then call her back at 800-943-3250 ext.500. All the evidence points to a bogus scam.

Apex Direct servicing
B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario,
Quebec and New Brunswick
http://www.apexdirect.ca/contact.html
1-888-496-9488
toll free removal
Press 2 to enter your number to be removed.
Press 1 to talk to a human and give them SH*T
They have a chat line on their website but they disconnect if they think that it's for call list removal.
The lady claimed to not know that they were hanging up.
Companies don't get any lower than this one.

I called their number back, and got a free security system within a week.... it was AWESOME!!!

his place calls every single day, I answer the phone and it's dead air and then the call disconnects. It's really annoying, I wish they'd stpo calling!

Receive calls from this number almost every day.  Today they left a message and said it was John calling from Apex Direct at 6205 Airport Road in Toronto.  They said they were giving away a free Honeywell security system and to call them back at 1-888-339-2111 (I did not bother).

Apex Direct appears to be a legitimate company and is Canada's largest ADT dealer. The head office is in Kitchener ON.  The following url will get you some info on the company.

http://www.apexdirect.ca/contact.html

Same deal as other postings--no response when phone picked up.  Called the number back and pressed 2, entered telephone number, and hopefully--no more nonsense from this one.

I just received the same call and removed myself as well. Hopefully that is legitimate and not a confirmation of a valid number.

I am so annoyed with this SPAM CALLER - I have left the issue in the hands of my telephone provider as they can BLOCK OUT ALL TOLL FREE NUMBERS entering my telephone systems which is a FREE SERVICE provided by the PHONE COMPANY. However, if one cancels this service within one year - one must pay the Telephone Provider a fee of $10.00 for cancellation. This SPAM/PHISHING number 1-888-344-0999 has tied up my ANSWERING MACHINE at great lengths and doing so intentionally so nobody else can leave a message. I can hear business transactions in the background, yet, cannot decipher what exactly it is. IF the CALL BLOCK for all types of TOLL FREE NUMBERS works - then I will be happy and it will be well worth the $10.00 in the end. This comes from a FURIOUS SUBSCRIBER to a PRIVATE TELEPHONE SYSTEM which is being grossly abused by these f.....g crack heads who have no regard for one's privacy. I DO NOT subscribe to have a telephone so SPAMMERS & PHISHERS can haunt me.......and, by the way, these SPAMMERS are likely reading this and laughing their behinds off.

When there is dead air like that, you were autodialed. If there is no one available to take your call, then there is dead air like that. They are usually telemarketers. I say hello twice then hang up.

I hate how invasive they are trying to figure out your home habits, that's what public polls are for. If we wanted to tell people, we'd tell them!

i work in a small business, and i get calls like this every other day!!  the line just goes dead. very annoying and rude!!!

Like many of the other angry 'customers' before me, I answered, and there was no one on the line.  This is so frustrating.  I believe it's some company checking to see if there's someone there that will answer, and when someone does, they collect your number and sell it to companies so they can telemarket you.

I'm in Moose Jaw, and got 1888-344-0999 calling me four times within 40 minutes

F****rs

This number - 1-888-344-0999 has called my place at varying time so day. This call also comes through via Misouri at 1-816-389-2804 and Michigan at 1-616-980-2384. This caller will tell you your CREDIT CARD or other personal information is nearing DUE DATE and how they can assist you in getting a better Credit Card Interest Rate. There are many personal PROBING QUESTIONS to find out as much information about you as possible, although, when the PROBING is reversed - they will reply by stating they got your number from the Telephone Directory White Pages (whether listed or unlisted.) DO NOT GIVE THIS CALLER A CHANCE and DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION about yourself or your Credit Cards or anything else.....this is SPAM & PHISHING. A common name the Caller uses is Anthony Parker and a fake website is given c/o www.mcsprograms.com and followed by yet another telephone number at 1-800-943-3250 c/o extension784. Further, this same number also comes up via 1-800-943-4653 c/o MCS. NOTE: all these calls, website and callers are Spam & Phishing and they are relentless. I am not with the Telephone Directory or Police Divisions but I managed to get this information with a little reverse psychology.

I received a call at 4:06 August 1 from 1-888-344-0999 (I'm in Vancouver, BC). When I picked it up, there was no response. I Googled the number and voila! Looks like this company has irritated quite a few people. Do we have any recourse?

Here is a tip from Andy Rooney, from 60 Minutes, when you get these calls, and you know it is an automatic telemarketing machine, DO pick up your phone, and then press teh #  key over and over.

THEIR computer, records your number, your home, as having one of those telemarketing zapper phone systems, which were sold in the USA, in the late 90's.  They are legal in the USA.  I wish Canada had the system.

But, since the phone zapper is NOT available here, i will continue to press #####.  It seems to have worked.

Caller ID: 888-344-0999 UNKNOWN

Just like everyone else, picked up and no answer.  Very annoying.

I recently moved to Alberta from the U.S. and was shocked to see how many telemarketing calls I receive at home. There is a national "do not call" list in the U.S. and if you are on the list and are phoned by a company after you ask to be removed from its list, it can be considered a federal offense. Does Canada have a similar program?

bell representitive: -dave recieves calls from this regularly, would like them to stop.

Call them back. Press 2, enter your phone number. They won't call back (I hope).

Keep calling then hang up.   VERY VERY ANNOYING.  Please please please, how do we stop these guys from calling every other day??????????

You'll also want to use the subject heading "Legislation required: telemarkets".