Why do I answer the phone when the caller ID says "restricted" or worse?

[ptschram]

Today's episode involved a guy wanting to know if I could make a key for a "full-size Range Rover".

He hung up when I asked who I was speaking with and that I could have a key made, but needed substantiation of ownership, pre-payment, the VIN and the truck.

:banghead:

 

[LRflip]

Re: Why do I answer the phone when the caller ID says "restricted" or worse?

can you make a key for a full size ferrari? Ill give you the VIN and promise Im the owner.

 

[az_max]

Re: Why do I answer the phone when the caller ID says "restricted" or worse?

My dad sent around the email chain about having a key cut from a vin and how a thief could steal your vehicle. I responded back that no self respecting dealer or locksmith would cut a key for an individual without proof of ownership or the physical vehicle present. And that newer chipped key would have to be programmed to the vehicle to start it. So they could steal everything out of your car, but breaking a window would be a much cheaper way to do that.

I wonder if that guy just needed a key and couldn't find a locksmith with a blank, couldn't afford the dealer's prices or was a dumb thief. When I cracked my key, I had to call 3-4 places to find one that was willing to use a blank I supplied, but I let them know up front that I already had the blank and was willing to pay full price (of a normal key) for them to do it.

 

[ptschram]

Re: Why do I answer the phone when the caller ID says "restricted" or worse?

I wonder if that guy just needed a key and couldn't find a locksmith with a blank, couldn't afford the dealer's prices or was a dumb thief.

Why did he hang up when I asked the questions I asked?

Why did he have his caller ID obscured?

Those are things that make me very suspicious.

 

[mgreenspan]

Re: Why do I answer the phone when the caller ID says "restricted" or worse?

Today's episode involved a guy wanting to know if I could make a key for a "full-size Range Rover".

He hung up when I asked who I was speaking with and that I could have a key made, but needed substantiation of ownership, pre-payment, the VIN and the truck.

:banghead:

My grandmother used to tell stories of heroine users coming into their soda fountain drug store in DC asking for needles. They also supplied veterinarians and my grandfather would always get horse needles and ask them how many they wanted. It's too bad you can't do something similar. She said their eyes and faces were priceless when they saw the needles.