We get these calls also.  The calls originate from Nigeria.  The FBI can't help.  The operator is not a part of the scam.  All they can do is relay what you say.  This is what we say, "No business by phone.  Good-bye."

please u help donation me but i very problem my 2  childrens hostel school , Hyderabad

I have recieved 3 calls in the last few minutes.
1 other call before that took 45 minutes for someone to repeat everything I said.
I felt like I was being scammed.
So I ended the first call.
I have tried to talk to the relay person but they do not want to listen.
The person on the other end of the phone is typeing and the relay person reads all to me then types my message back.
If the person was lagit they could have just emailed me through the web side I was selling my stuff on.
I dislike scams.

Sir, my 2 childrens hostel school fees Rs 80,000 but I very problem . Please you take help donation to My childrens school in Akshya Akruti special school , Srinagar colony, opp Indian bank, Hyderabad.

sir,

i thinks the relay service are real sometimes ,dont take them wrong

I got a call today at working from a relay service, first asking for my boss and then for the manager. Being the acting manager they first asked if we had ceased chicken salads, I said no. Then they asked for the name of the establishment again and wanted to get enough 14" pepperoni pizzas to feed 150 people. So my response was "uhhh....you'll have to call back in the morning when my boss is here" so then they gave me millersmith30@yahoo.com to give to my boss. And then after repeating it another operator got on the phone saying that they had reason to believe I was selling things from a fraudulent business!!! Wtf?! I just spent literally 30 minutes on the phone with you for this!!! I really hope " smith miller" calls back again =.= Id like to tell him where he can shove all those pizzas

This is really a scam. Stolen Amex card is being used to order supplies from Pharmacies to order medical supplies and DHL shipping is used to send to Nigeria. Relay calls are from Nigeria it seems and Relay services are not monitoring where the calls are coming from. Moreover Amex Creditcards Co is not monitoring large transactions and not even calling cardholders to verify the charges. Please pass on this info to be aware of, to other pharmacies for this scam.

We are a flower shop that last year this same thing happen to us. A relay came in for a order of 30 baskets of Choc. & Cookies @ $45.00 each. When my employee ask for credit card # she said she would have to get the nurse that she wasn't able to get the card information. When my employee said she could not take the order without a CC , she ask for a email address. At that point she said she felt this was a scam and they hung up. The wanted to pick the order June 19. As I said this happen last year wanting 8 $200.00 arrangement for Pick up. When we told them that we would have to deliver it they hung up. Its a shame that there are dishonest people out there claming to be deaf. And this really get under my skin because my daughter is a interpreter for the deaf. The deaf world has enough problems with out having a scam company spounging off there disability.

We received a call from a relay operator yesterday and the call went like this: "Good Day, Good Day, Do you make picture frames? Good Day, Do you make picture frames, Good Day." I responded yes we do. The response was to repeat the same over a couple of times but added :please to give me your email address so I can make order immediately." I said "Before I do I would like to know where you are calling from." And the operator stated "They have hung up." She then proceeded to try to get off the phone but I stopped her and told her this is a scam and we have received several calls like this one and I'd like them to be aware of it so she asked if I'd like the customer service number then put me on hold before she came back with the number 877-885-3172. I thought it sounded like a strange number and discovered this site about the scams. It's too bad this happens! I have used the relay system before on a true call and it is a wonderful system.

Tele Type service allowing someone to make harrasing calls. Has made over 10 calls between 12/23/08 to 12/24/08

Received a relay call a few minutes ago.  Person calling wanted to know if I had some items still for sale which I had just posted online through our local paper.  The person wanted me to send him pictures at his gmail address.  I got suspicious and told the operator to tell him to call the number I posted on the add!  His reply was...why?  I told the operator I was ending the call and asked for a contact number to get me off their calling list.  The Relay Operator game me the number listed above.  Caller ID showed 802-779-9299.  Sounds like this relay service was part of the scam.

I?m sorry you more. I lost my old email (deafdumb_studentpoor@yahoo.com). So I?m creating a new email (deafdumb_studentpoor112@yahoo.com). I ask that you please allow sympathy for me? I never scam because I always trust and credibility with the world when all good people to help me). I told everyone to believe that:
I am a deaf and dumb students! I was the only child in my family. I live with my mother at home in Ho Chi Minh City. In my family only my second mother. My parents divorced when I was little 10 years old. Twenty years ago, my father did not visit my family! My mother was very ill and chronic bone disease. My mother?s eyes were weak that blind eye to white, left eye was blurred not see clearly. My mother weighs 36 kilograms. My mother was very weak. My mother?s face was blue because of anemia. I decided to donate blood to move into my mother?s body. In order for my mother in good health. I do not want my mother poor health again! But my mother was alone in my house. My mother can not work because my mother was very old and weak! I was worried too. I want to find a girlfriend soon to give birth and marriage to my mother happy because if I?m going to miss her mother?s old too, why? But Today I have the money $ 30 dollars. I can not borrow money from anyone else because my house is very poor! I am so sad! My dream is my mother healthy long life. I am very worried for my mother. I usually take care of my mother in the night! Every morning I wake up early at 4am to cook breakfast for my mother. Finished, I went to school at the University at 6:30. I walk away from the University. One kind or help and drove me to school! I know the motorcycle was not able to purchase a new motorcycle because I do not have the money! Now I can not go to school because I have not paid the tuition fees of universities.
I do not work in the morning and afternoon because I was in University. In the evening, I must help my mother at home and not have to go out with friends! I missed chatting with friends at the park but I do not have money to spend drinking tea! But last week I had left school at the University because of lack of tuition at the University. I do not buy anything even like to learn computer, camera to take pictures of my family and my mother to celebrate, motorcycles to go school, new clothes to wear to school, etc ? ?. Because my house is very poor. My house is too crowded! My family has three small rooms such as living room, bedroom and bathroom. My mother and I generally sleep in the bedroom. My bedroom also cook. In 1995, a stranger to my family donated air conditioners but now my air conditioner is damaged then. Old blower was still alive.
Left to do, Every Sunday I taught the deaf mute free learning Sign Language. I do not get money for deaf and mute people in the Deaf Mute Association of Ho Chi Minh City .. Since I was deaf and dumb persons with disabilities. I tried to sacrifice and taught school for deaf mute much better. I always enthusiastic deaf mute learn. I am also more determined to teach deaf mute. That God will bless my mother recuperating. I usually teach at 7:00 am morning. I struggled and misery too.
Said that: ?Every day I go to school in the morning and afternoon sessions (from Monday to Saturday). I teach Sunday free school for deaf mute it. Every night I have to care and help my mother at home. Because my mother was old then. Hix.
I promise to try to learn and teach the deaf and dumb good. I would like you to please help and send money to Vietnam for me? Accept if OK, then I?m grateful for your life. I promise not to corrupt money first. Very poor, but because I need you to help me?
I write the details clearly below:

(1)Full Name: Doan Pham Khiem (First Name : Pham Khiem and Last name : Doan)

(2)Sinh ngày : 09 ? 28 ? 1982

(3)Marital Status: Single

(4) Address of my apartment: No 112 Le Thanh Ton St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1

(5)City : Ho Chi Minh (HCMC)

(6) Country: Vietnam

(7)Postal code: 70000

(9)Occupation: University Students

(10)Religion: Buddhist.

(11)State ID Number: 023594940.

(12)Passport No : B3106573.

(13) driving license : None.

(14) Bank Name : Asia Commercial Bank (ACB).

(15) Bank Address : 442 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, District 3, HCMC.

(16) Bank Phone number : (848) 3929 0999.

(17) Account Name : Doan Pham Khiem.

(18)Account number/Card number : 4214 9435 1366 8371

(19) Fax Number : None.

(20)Mobile Phone Number: +841265157842. Please SMS? Because I am a deaf dumb.

(21)My Email : deafdumb_studentpoor112@yahoo.com

I respect you a lot!
I thank you very much.
Pham Khiem son.

This number was given to me by a person saying that the call I was on was fraudulent and to call 877-885-3172 to report it.  At first he said I could email the information to: textrelaysupport@purple.us.  I am a cautious person so I asked for a phone number and was given the one above.  
The original call that was interupted by this person was from 872-213-0083 and was supposedly from a deaf mute wanting information from our business.

Dear John Doe,

Please contact the BBB with your information. We have received similar calls in our office and are attempting to develope a report.  You can call me at 309-681-6704 *100 or email me at jtharp_bbb@Heart.net with details about what you experienced.

Your help is appreciated.

THIS IS  TOTAL SCAM...THEY WANTED ME TO ADD 700.00 TO THE COST OF THE PRODUCT FOR THE CARRIER TO PICK UP.  I CONTACTED MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION.  THE FAX NUMBER THAT I WAS GIVEN IS OUT OF SEATTLE ,  WE ARE IN THE MIDWEST.  TOO BAD SOME PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORALS AND HAVE TO USE SOMETHING THAT IS SO WONDERFUL FOR SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY BAD.  WHY DON'T THEY HAVE A BIT OF SELF RESPECT AND NOT DO THIS.

They even offer to pay charge by phone. It's sounds scam when you tell them to pay online bu paypal or secured method and they hang up. happened 3-4 times.

This service is legit.  Deaf people use the relay service all the time.  It's an important way of communication for them.  The only problem is that anyone with a text phone can use it.  You get a lot of kids, teenagers, and scammers who use this service.  And it is NOT cool and it is not funny.  There are some serious scams going on with the service.  We have a catering buisness, they want 250 grilled chickens, to be picked up by their warming truck.  THIS IS A SCAM. not a prank, a real scam.  I looked up one of the emails and it's been going around, it's a western union scam.  They want me to tack on 1300.00 to their order then go to western union to get cash.  I should have played along then called the police or someone to help me out in catching this guy.  this is the email cjenna01@yahoo.com  
But, the relay service is legit.  But hearing people using for their own fun.

Second scam today....

Ahhhh I can't stand these calls. The worse part is that you need to play along because you never want to discriminate a Def person...

This guy wanted 150 salads and chickens from our restaurant. When they call they always ask to speak with the manager or owner. I'm always called because I am the manager and have to deal with this idiots....

PLEASE let's do something to stop these calls!!!! Where is the FBI? where are our Tax dollars going???

These people help the nigerian scammers.  I was telling the stupid operator that this was a scam and asked where it was from and the dumb C*** just copied it all over to the monkey that was calling.  I told her she was part of a scam and she couldn't have cared less and just wrote that to him also.  As soon as I get someone on that line thier going to hear all about it.  I have these scammers try to send me a 2700.00 and then wire 2000.00 over to his shipper (why can't he send it to the shipper?)  They are alway stolen checks but usally mailed within the U.S.  I egg them on and try and waste as much time of theirs as possible.  How dumb could someone be to actually fall for something like this?

We received a call today where someone wanted to order 200 chicken sandwiches to pick up on April 9th for his wife's birthday party.  It took 10 minutes for me to get this information from the translator/operator and as I was about to terminate the call another operator came on and told me that the call was being terminated because it followed a suspicious pattern.  I was given the 877 number to call to talk to someone about it.  I haven't called the number yet.  The call came in during our lunch and disrupted our service to our customers because I didn't want to offend the hearing impaired caller.

This rah-tard, wanted us to charge his credit card to have his 2007 cadillac escalade towed from Texas to Wisconsin. Once we caught on to the scam the caller hung up and would not talk to us anymore. We have been scammed from the same number last year, they wanted us to ship 100 tires from wisconsin to canada and charge it to his credit card. THIS IS A SCAM.

I have received the same attempt at a scam to my business 4 times in 2 weeks. The caller states that it is a deaf relay call. The caller claims that their uncle purchased a car in Pennsylvania and are have it shipped to California. It needs repair and they want to have the shiiper drop it at our shop. Of course they want to know if we accept credit cards and can pay the shipper when the car arrives. When I state that we cannot accept a credit card over the phone or pay out money to the shipper unless someone comes in and makes arrangements in person, the relay operator says that the caller has disconnected.

this number wanted me to SHIP 100 chicken ceasar salads!

i got i call rigth now with it the sad to call the 877 885 3172 i was recivin call from 347 269 0384 and they were telling me information that no body knows about my boyfriend  they were calling me by my name but no complete and my boyfriend calls me by my to names there i start to wonder why this was happening. i have try to reach him and i cant.... that way a start looking for that nomber and i fond this blog

Got a call this AM from Dennis Miller thru operator.  He wanted to purchase a Moisture Analyzer from us. Google Map the address for fun. It's a parking garage. He called back and I told operator we knew it was a scam and please do not call back.  This happened once before and the person wanted to pay with 3 different credit cards. We contacted credit card company and the cards were all stolen.

I also received the same call from above. I wasnt sure about it until I did a search and found this site. It was being handled by a service for deaf/mute folks. ITS A SCAM - SON OF BI****S
RECEIVED A CALL TODAY SAME AS THE PREVIOUS POST ABOUT WANTING TO PURCHASE AIR COMPRESSOR PARTS. HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS MSYSTEMS@USA.COM, NAME HE USED DENNIS MILLER, , MOORE-TIME BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC, 31 LANGTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, 94103, 805-472-4777. EMAILED ME WANTING TO HAVE MERCHANDISE RED LABELED TO ME AND HE WOULD PICK THEM UP AT MY LOCATION AND PROVIDE PO AND CREDIT CARD. I CHECKED OUT INFO 1ST, IT IS ALSO A SCAM, DON'T LOOSE YOUR MONEY WITH THESE NUTS!

I RECEIVED A CALL TODAY SAME AS THE PREVIOUS POST ABOUT WANTING TO PURCHASE AIR COMPRESSOR PARTS. HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS MSYSTEMS@USA.COM, NAME HE USED DENNIS MILLER, , MOORE-TIME BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC, 31 LANGTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, 94103, 805-472-4777. EMAILED ME WANTING TO HAVE MERCHANDISE RED LABELED TO ME AND HE WOULD PICK THEM UP AT MY LOCATION AND PROVIDE PO AND CREDIT CARD. I CHECKED OUT INFO 1ST, IT IS ALSO A SCAM, DON'T LOOSE YOUR MONEY WITH THESE NUTS!
12-01-09

I work at a funeral home and got a relay call today ? had one last week too. The person calling was also deaf/mute. I suspected fraud and asked questions to try to end the call. They asked for a director ? I said he was not available and could I help? "She" told me her name and needed to make funeral arrangements. I asked if a death occurred and where? It was her 45 year old husband and he was in Nigeria. Our director would have to call Best Care Mortuary and ask for Mr Farook. Then she wanted prices ? and told me we could email info to her and gave me a yahoo email address.  Then asked for director?s name and said she would call back in an hour.

When relay portion of call was done ? I asked who I could speak to since I suspected the call to be a fraud. The operator gave me a customer service number of 877-885-3172, when I dialed a man answered with ?hello?. I apologized thinking I had the wrong number and he mentions that he notices on caller ID that I was calling from a funeral home and he was an agent for North West Mutual Life Insurance. Yeah, right. Then I decided to Google the phone number and found this.

I have a German Auto repair shop in Birmingham, AL, and also received a relay call from someone insisting that they wanted me to "guarantee" them that I would do a good job if they brought their Toyoto to me.  I replied that I didn't work on Toyotos.  Again they wanted me to "guarantee" that I would do a good job for them if they brought their Mercedes to me.  I said "of course", but they kept on.  Then someone broke in and said this may be a scam call and wanted me to call the 877 number; fortunately I didn't make the call.