Comment
Voicemail from Jeff Buckley, saying there were problems with my Google Places listing for my business. Set off many red flags, I thought it sounded suspicious. Good thing I googled his number, it's a telemarketer. I think he sent these calls out now because he knows we can't make online complaints to the FCC Do-No-Call registry due to govt shutdown.
Red Flags:
1) Calling "business owner" not my actual name, or name of my business.
2) Calling to confirm that my Google Places listing info is accurate and up-to-date. Funny, he doesn't mention where my business is, probably because he has no idea.
3) "There are 2 other issues with the Google listing that we need to discuss with the business owner as well." Also funny, because there are no issues with my listing, and if there were, I am sure Google would have emailed me directly, not by a random unexpected phone call from a person who very carefully does not identify himself as a Google employee, as that would be fraud.
4) "It is very important that we talk as soon as possible." Meaning: "If you don't call me back I will lose a commission and not be able to pay my rent this month."
5) Best part: end of voicemail, it turns out to be an auto-dialer! "Press 1 to speak with an agent, or press 8 if you have already verified your account information, or if no longer and business and want to be removed from this list."
I am in business myself, and I don't mind cold calls necessarily, but you have to show value. Unexplained urgency, unexpected calls, missing information, and of course the autodialer, all destroy any value I might have found with this guy's company.