I wasn't going to mention this to anybody, but now it's really starting to bother me.

[smirkymonkey]

About 5 or 6 months ago, I got a text on my cell phone from some Turkish guy named Metin who said he was in NYC for a Turkish Carpet trade show and he would like to see me again and say "hi" and show me his rugs. I haven't lived in NYC for 9 years.

I have absolutely no idea who this guy is or how he got my number (I could have met him at some street fair or some event or maybe not, I have no idea and maybe gave him my card). Anyway, like the idiot I am, I responded by telling him that I no longer lived in NYC and that I had moved to Boston so I couldn't meet w/ him thinking that would be that. He then texts me back saying he would be in Boston the following week and he would like to stop by my apartment and show me his rugs and meet up with me. Ugh!

I told him I was busy and that I was quarantining because of Covid and was not meeting anybody. He said he was vaccinated and could meet me in front of the apartment and he would wear a mask, so finally I stopped being my usual pushover self and told him no. I was not interested and that was it.

I thought it was the end of it until a few days ago, where I started getting texts from him again asking to meet up with me and to look at his carpets. I have been ignoring him, but he kept calling me 3 or 4 times in a row, one call right after the other (I don't pick up) and then text me again right afterward saying he wants to see me. This has been going on for days. I finally blocked his number, but then I get a text and calls from a guy named Mehmet, another guy (or the same guy) who sells carpets from Turkey, with a similar message - wants to show me his rugs and meet up with me here in Boston. I have ignored and blocked him as well.

The thing I am wondering is, is this something that I should report to the police or should I just ignore him/them and hope they will go away. It's just getting very creepy and I am getting scared.

[Tomconroy]

1. I would report it. It sounds like harassment. Maybe report it to your phone carrier.

Can't hurt

[TexasTowelie]

2. He hasn't done anything illegal so I don't see how the police could become involved.

The options that I see are that you can either respond and say that you can't afford to purchase anything or continue to block their calls and texts. They will give up after awhile.

[marble falls]

25. The problem is, it could harrassment, but what do officers in Austin do about someone ...

... do about someone living in an apartment over a tavern in Maquoketa, Iowa? This guy found my a picture of my house, my address, my children's names (custodial parent here), my ex's name and promised me he would step up to my door, knock, and shoot me in the face in front of my adolescent daughters, when I answered.

I dug up his name by seeing a photo (a red Jeep with gold hammer and sickle) he had posted on the site we were on (Abuzz.com - dead now) he had posted it on another site I was on with a different name. I searched the name and found it and the photo in a right wing car/gun site that had a very interesting couple of features: on the member page they also posted people's real names AND they had an active map that showed the location of member who were active posting or logged on at the moment.

I took it to Austin PD, who were interested but felt no jurisdiction, until he showed up. Took it to the AG, who were interested, but could find no way to get Texas involved until he showed up.

The fact that the telephone services and phone makers allow this shit is central to getting it stopped. Having an option to hide name and number is understandable and one thing, allowing spoof names and numbers are quite another.





I had a shotgun with 00 shot by the door until we moved. Then I sold the shotgun when we moved.

[XanaDUer2]

3. that's unnerving

did he know your name? I would contact my carrier.

[Deuxcents]

6. Yes..and don't delay

[smirkymonkey]

10. You know something? He never did call me by my name.

It could just be a scam. Thanks for mentioning that. I will report the numbers. They are NJ area codes.

[LisaL]

13. it could be a scam.

They might be trying to sell you some fake rugs.

"PALOS PARK, IL — A man in his 90s was swindled out of thousands of dollars by salesman who reportedly sold the man a fake Turkish rug. The salesman also stole several authentic Turkish rugs from the man's home, police said."

https://patch.com/illinois/palos/fake-turkish-rug-salesman-scams-senior-cops

[smirkymonkey]

17. Thank you! See, this is why running this stuff by you guys is so helpful!

Not that I was ever going to buy his rugs, and I even told him that, but they are so pushy! However they just don't give up.

I am now pretty much convinced that this is just a scam and nothing more. Obnoxious, but I feel less personally threatened than I did before I started this thread.

Thank you!

[smirkymonkey]

12. I just went back through the messages and I realized that neither one called me by name, so

I don't think they know who I am. Which is good! I am going to contact my carrier though. Thanks for the advice!

[GemDigger]

4. Yes, report it.

That is rather stalkerish.

[Haggard Celine]

5. I'd be scared, too.

I would go to the police and have them make a report about it. If anything happens to you, they'll at least have a couple of clues to go on. You might want to talk to a lawyer, too. In fact, I would go to a lawyer first of all. An attorney is much more likely to get answers than a cop.

[smirkymonkey]

8. That's what I was thinking, just to get it on the record.

I am going to tell my family as well. My mother is being treated for cancer so I don't want to upset them, but I want them to know.

Thank you for your response!

[Haggard Celine]

11. Anytime

[magicarpet]

9. Under no circumstances do you let them know your address.

Retain their contact/text info for future reference.

Contact the police or attorney, or maybe some male with a deep authoritative voice to warn them to back off and not contact you again.

Hope this subsides and your comfort restored.

[Tomconroy]

14. I hardly ever answer the phone unless it's someone

I know. I don't think I miss much.

[Niagara]

16. Alright, first of all it's a scam.

I remember reading an article about a lady visiting a foreign country and she was being pestered to look at rugs in person. If I ever find the article I will share it with you. So far, all I have is this link about the rug scam:
https://www.scamnet.wa.gov.au/scamnet/Scam_types-Unexpected_money-Upfront_payment__advanced_fee_frauds-Rug_ripoff_warning.htm|



Keep blocking the numbers. You can always call your carrier to see if they can help you with the obnoxious callers, but blocking the numbers and not answering will eventually make them give up.



They have no idea who you are, they're just running a scam, trying to part you from your money.

[smirkymonkey]

18. I think you are right. The more I hear about this, the more convinced I am that this has never been

anything but a scam. I never would have bought a thing from them anyway - I flat out him that - and he still continued to annoy me.

Thanks for your feedback! Much appreciated!

[Niagara]

20. You're welcome, SM!

Scammers are so obnoxious that sometimes the only way to resolve the issue is to ignore and block them.




We're a family here at DU, so we have to watch out for each other.

[ailsagirl]

19. Glad you did mention it

It's good to get others' opinions. IMO, I would report it. And, yes, it is creepy.

Stay safe!!

[bottomofthehill]

21. Give him the address for the Parkman House

And tell him to ask for Kim. BPD should do the rest for you.

[bottomofthehill]

22. 33 Beacon

[North Shore Chicago]

23. Definitely a scam.

The bad guys are always plotting ways to separate you from your money.

Be safe.

[carpetmanscaringme]

24. Fellow victim

Hey, I made an account just to comment on this. I’m being harassed by him too. I made the mistake by answering his first call and it was him inviting me to see his rugs. I live near Austin, TX and he said he was in town to show me rugs. He had a NJ area code (201) and I blocked his number afterwards. Since then he has messaged me 5 more times from different phone numbers. His latest area code was the code for my area (512). I’m getting worried

[fewijia]

26. Just got a missed call and a text

Hello All, Also just made an account to follow up on this.
Found this thread on google.

Just received a missd call and then a text from maybe the same person.
Text read:

Hello, this is Metin ''the carpet guy from Turkey''. ı hope you are doing well. ı will be in your area for couple of weeks. i will be having some extibition in the area ı would like to stop by and say hello to you while ı am here

The call and text came from a phone number with 646 area code, with the last 4 digits of the phone number being 2176.

I don't recall this person, but have been to Turkey and do have some wonderful Turkish friends. I've never been in the market for a rug or carpet.

Best of luck

[gopiscrap]

27. welcome to DU

[bassoprano]

28. he's still at it

i just heard from him again. he's using a 973 area code. i spoke with him years ago but we never met. he's quite personable on the phone. but now that I looked up this thread I'm going to block the number. there is also a record online i found of him selling a fake rug to someone for $6K.

[littlemissmartypants]

29. Definitely block the number. Report it as a scam, too. ❤️