You come home after a long, honest day's work, stroll by your message machine, and see the light blinking.  Some people are finding that they have instead received a misdialed call from a stranger, leaving a hot investment tip for a friend. The message is designed to sound as if the speaker didn't realize that he or she was leaving the hot tip on the wrong machine. Maybe the message sounds like this:

"Hey Tracy, it's Debbie.  I couldn't find your old number and Tammy says this is the new one.  I hope it's the right one.  Anyway, remember that hot stock exchange guy that I'm dating?  He gave my father that stock tip on the company that went from under a buck to like three bucks in two weeks and you were mad I didn't call you?  Well I'm calling you now!  This new company is supposed to be like the next really hot clothing thing.  And they're making some big news announcement this week.  The stock symbol is ... He says buy now.  It's at like 50 cents and it's going up to like 5 or 6 bucks this week so get as much as you can.  Call me on my cell, I'm still in Orlando.  My Dad and I are buying a bunch tomorrow and I already called Kelly and Ron too.  Anyway I miss you, give me a call.  Bye." 

If you get a message like this, it's not a wrong number at all. Instead, it is from someone who is being paid to leave these messages on a whole lot of answering machines. The people paying for this message to go out on hundreds or thousands of answering machines own some of this stock. They are hoping you can be tricked into buying some too, as they stand to gain by selling their shares if the stock price rises because gullible investors buy.  

These scams have also migrated to email and faxes. 

Look out for a fax transmission that says, "Will you please put your cell phone on.  I have been trying to get you for 2 hours.  I have a stock for you that will triple in price just like the last stock I gave you did.  I can't get you on either phone.  Either call me, or call Linda to place the new trade.  We need to buy now.  P.S. You better be good to me this Christmas.  No other Stock Broker has given you back to back wins.  Thanks, your shining star Financial Planner."

It is never a good idea to put your hard-earned money into a stock on the basis of a hot tip from somebody you don't know. There are unscrupulous individuals out there who have a financial stake in trying to drive up the price of companies that you've likely never heard of. Many fraudsters rely on Internet chat room sites or spammed investment newsletters to promote companies.

After you send us the information, we suggest you delete the phone message or email. Then congratulate yourself for not falling victim to this kind of scam.
 

Please note that OldStocks.com does not sell investments or investment advice.  It is highly recommended that you contact a registered investment professional for these services.   Items sold in our catalog are cancelled or obsolete, and only sold as collectible items.