Hi,

I seem to be doing well at picking up weird phone calls this week...

Phone rang yesterday, it was a local number, so I answered it (see here for why I was cautious).

Bloke said he was from some academic institution carrying out a geobiological survey where I live (Préverenges). I asked what that meant, he said it was something to do with measuring the ambient electricity in your building. Apparently if it's too high it can be dangerous...

He said the survey was free (I asked 3 times) so I said someone could come and do it... didn't seem too much to ask and I thought it might be interesting.

Then I mentioned it to a friend and she said "That sounds off, maybe it's just someone wanting access to your apartment."

So I Googled the phone number... nothing. Not in the phone directory or anything. Now I guess it could be ex-directory, but surely if it was a reputable organisation I'd have been able to find something?

Unfortunately, I can't remember what institution he said he worked for.

I think I'm going to be 'out' at the time I arranged for them to come...

What do other people think?

I would be "in" pretending to be "out" if I were you. You never know...

Possibly someone that's going to try to use the "results" to sell you some new age BS to "cure" the ambient electricity (wtf). You know, lining your walls with kitchen foil, stuff like that.

Or some other scam. Either way not genuine.

Fishy, but could be equally valid...

I'd have a savvy friend nearby - plus points if he's built like a wardrobe and can lift the guy with one arm

Scam scam scam scam scam - and you can spot this one even without knowing the first thing about geo-bio-whatever it was.

Ask yourself: do I own the building? Am I the building caretaker? If not, why would I expect an academic researcher to phone me for permission rather than approaching the owner or caretaker?

Yup, I agree entirely - "you" should be "out" when you said "you" would be "in" and, whilst "you" are "out", someone who's "not you" should definitely be "in", to tell them that "you" (who's "out) never mentioned anything to "not you" (who's "in") about it, and no they can't, they can just booger right off and don't bother calling back, either.

Via the door intercom if possible, rather than at the apartment door

HTH

Mind explaining that in plain English and not like a subplot from a Nolan film ?

And to the OP, this smells of a scam.

If you have too much ambient electricity then I can sell you some of these to stop it leaking from your sockets;

What you should do is make sure you have every ghetto piece of plastic furniture you can find waiting in view of the front door.
Next, gather all the overly tatted friends you have to chill out, also in range of the front door.
Next wear a WB'r, a pack of cigs on the left should of said WB'r, and openly display your kid's faux 357 magnun in the overly sized belt with "Don't Mess with Texas" on the buckle. A Dixie Flag in the background in optional.
If he still wants to enter scramble for the tea and cuke sandwiches.

Remember - everyone is up to no good ...... just to varying degrees.

Here's what Wiki thinks of geobiology:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geobiology

Does it bear any relation to what was discussed on the phone?

(Google for other alternative definitions).

I just re-read the OP
"Ambient Electricity"?

Cos it's like, all around us man, yeah.
Groovy.

I bet you a million dollars, it will be something along these lines...

The gist of it being; The salesman offers a free test in the apartment ( that part is true), but then does the hard sell on buying one of these "Aluminum Waves", which will protect you against all the E-rays and electrosmog. The price can be anywhere from 400 CHF to 10 000 CHF, depending on the size.

You don't have to be the owner of an apartment to order one of these needful things, just gullible.

It's legitimite in the sense there is a reasoning behind it and there is an actual product, just of course, whether or not you go along with it or not, is the question here. I think you would be better off with a tin-foil hat if it comes down to it.

I also wouldn't even open the door to them, don't give them even a hint of hope, just let them know, you do not wish to pursue the matter further, sorry to waste your time etc.

From the most recent K-Tipp magazine.



In German only:
http://www.ktipp.ch/themen/beitrag/1058942/Haende_weg_von_der_

I am not sure why say yes to something like this at the first place, to be honest. If you agree, you are basically telling some scamers that you do have a slight worry with something related to your health and risk, you are already giving them a valuable information about yourself. No scientist will contact you cold calling because they would want to save you, for free, or because gov is on to something. That is usually arranged in a lot more systematic and more organized way, through info brochures, leaflets, letters in the mail, first. So, just don't be home. And write "go away" on your door. Come over for coffee, I got some free books for you, if you want from friends that moved back to UK.

I had peculiar cold calls these past few weeks, too, they always start the same "questionnaire, research, info on market.." how stupid do they think people are, using big words. I first ask if it is a gov organized thing, and then say if they do not want to hear from our lawyer, we better never hear from them again. It's a great French practice.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

Thanks everyone... it's a scam then!

As to why I said yes... I wasn't feeling well at the time and I'm easily confused!

I think I mentioned my family longsword before. I think this time the entire outfit would be necessary. "Measure what you want, but I am not buying anything; Never heard of Faraday? My chain mail shields me against all this brain control waves, you know!"

Google appears to be unaware of deaths associated with 'ambient electricity'.

I would trust google before I would trust a 'telemarketer'.


May not be a scam, but it it's either complete horseshit, or these muppets have an alterior motive.

(also, if you are foolish enough to believe whatever they tell you, you will be foolish enough to buy whatever they have to sell)

Of course not - that's the stuff that has surrounded us for the last two Million years. And even before that when we were still living on trees.

Ha Ha.... I know.

Sorry, I left my "Sarcasm Font" off when I wrote that.

Why not just ask your local police - if there is a survey going on they would know about it. If not, they might offer to welcome your visitor on the appointment time and day. Or the Geology department at Lausanne Uni.

Thanks for that advice - I took it and e-mailed them yesterday, they rang me this morning and told me that the call probably came from these people who will no doubt try to sell me something!

And how they found out... they searched for the phone number I'd given them, minus the last digit, at local.ch, as they guessed it might be an internal number from an organisation.

So, not an official survey, and yes someone trying to sell me something... but not exactly a scam. I think I'm going to e-mail them and cancel the appointment.