I had a young girl knock at my door this morning asking to use the phone. I let her use the phone but now I'm worried this may have been some sort of scam but I can't think what on earth she could have done just using my phone other than making an expensive call. She left a message for whoever she phoned so it was a very short call & she blocked the number so I can't check last number redial. Anyone got any thoughts on this other than that I was stupid to let her use the phone?!

It does seem rather odd, here's what Snopes has to say on the matter
[url=].http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/phone.asp  [/url]

I suppose it could be someone casing out your house for a robbery.

Well, she couldn't see much from the hallway, just that my house is a tip! She did get to see several dogs all baying for her blood though! Hopefully that wasn't what she was checking out. I pity any poor burglar who tries to steal one of the dogs I've got staying with me at the moment. I was warned that he could be aggressive but have not seen it on any visit by him until last night when he just launched himself at me. He won't be coming again as I consider him too dangerous.

At least she only got as far as the hall, my phones in the livingroom so anyone could have a good nosey !

I don't understand about blocking a number.   I hope you didn't do re-dial.  I would ask police if you did the right thing.  I had a number left and googled it and didn't like what I saw so phoned the police who are/were logging this number so my call was another piece in the jigsaw.
I also have access to numbers I have dialled from my phone company.  Maybe you have the same.

Why did she say she needed to use the phone?  Did you listen to the call - what did she say?

I'm not sure I'd let someone in but I'd agree to make a call on her behalf if it were needed.  Perhaps I'm just mean!!

It's possible she was hoping that you'd be wary of letting her inside and give her your mobile instead at which point she might just leg it...

I'd call the local police too - it may fill in some gaps for them or they may be able to tell you if this is 'part one' of a known sequence of events.  Hopefully it's nothing but do be extra cautious for a while and keep doors locked etc and take note of anything unusual.  It might be sensible to contact your local Neighbourhood Watch too :)

 

I don't think anyone would leg it with my mobile, it almost works on steam.

Rather strange though. Maybe is was someone snooping to see if there was anything worth having, hopefully the noisy dogs put them off. I would be inclined to be careful and aware and lock everything lockable.

It was very nice of you to let her use the phone but seems rather odd, especially that she blocked the number she phoned (unless she was thinking of keeping herself safe)
wouldn't hurt to ask the non emergency police if you have done the right thing? They could also put out a warning to neighbourhood watch to keep an eye on their areas in case this is a scam. You could also contact your phone provider who can trace the call if you give them the time and date etc. That may be able to shed some light?

I don't know what I was thinking really. Normally I don't open the door to anyone unless I know who they are. With a houseful of barking dogs it just seems easier. I'll just have to put it down to feeling under the weather. My phone is by the front door so she didn't have to come very far in & apart from that, the hallway is blocked by a gate to keep the dogs away from the front door so I didn't mind her just stepping inside the door. I don't know what she said other than 'its me' as I couldn't hear as one of the dogs barked. I did think afterwards how odd of someone of that age (18/19ish) not to have a mobile but we do have a lot of uni students living round here. Perhaps she was after my mobile but like Jodi's, mine runs on steam! I would presume that she blocked the number to keep herself safe but who knows. I shall look further into it all this morning.

I would say at that age, its probably that she was phoning someone (boyfriend, friend, or whatever) she was wanting to meet and is perhaps wanting to hide the fact from her parents. I know almost everyone has a mobile phone these days, but perhaps hers has been confiscated by her parents or something?? 

Is it just me being an anti social old bat, but isn't it a bit of a brass neck to knock on a strangers door and ask to use the phone ?.
Unless I was in real dire straits, I'd never do such a thing, even in our tiny village, there's a public phone box, or I'd walk to a pub and use their phone .

Dont feel bad. the chances are it was completely innocent and sadly, nowadays, we tend to think the worst.

I think you are right to worry, it isn't just the fact that you let someone in, but looking at it from the other way around why would anyone in this day and age (untrusting world we live in) wish to knock on any strangers door to make that phone call (I'd be more worried about doing that lol) unless it was a dire emergency, there are phone boxes around still aren't there, and reverse charge still exists?

Very strange indeed.....  just keep an eye out on any strange behaviour, particularly vans pulling up, sorry to worry you, but dog theft is on the increase, just such a strange thing to happen.

There are no phone boxes round here any more unless you go to the town centre.

Dog theft is what worries me. Not just my own dogs but I board other peoples dogs as well. Luckily the back of the house is very secure & both my dogs alert to every little sound. I usually leave my daxie behind when I take the others out for a walk but he's now coming too.

Me too would have taken the number she wanted to call, and called it myself.   These days I'm suspicious about everything (pity to be like that but ....).   I'd also have needed to find out why the need to use your phone - and checked outside - was she on her own.    Even a female could have done you damage.    I'd call the police on their non-emergency number just in case you are not alone in this.    I may be paranoid, no I am, but when my husband was in hospital for weeks with his Stroke, I phoned the neighbourhood watch policewoman and told her I was out in the sticks, on my own apart from my then 5 hounds.

And the advice about taking extra care for a while, locking doors and noting people hanging around - especially with white unmarked vans (dog theft).   Don't leave your dogs unattended outside.  I don't think you've been scammed, but somebody may have cased the joint - be aware, people working in twos could do this by one taking your attention (the need to use your phone) while the other one does the casing.

Keep safe.

>I can't think what on earth she could have done

An awful lot of information can be garnered from a quick 'Recce' ... Regardless of where the homeowners phone is. (Even a fairly bare hallway may contain goodies such as location of car keys! Lots of people still tend to keep keys by front doors. The 'I won't forget them' ethos)
Thieves want an easy life and knowing exactly where to go and where to get it gives a nice little in and out quick job.
   Very much worth contacting your local police force (neighbourhood team if they have one. Google your local forces' website for information on how to report. (All Forces vary) an e-mail is often best if it is not immediately life threatening or a crime in process. It may be nothing, but if it is something your information may be a vital link in a chain.
    Again forces vary, but if you are offered the service of an officer visiting your home.. Take it! They will often see security breaches you've missed or never even realised were a weak spot in your property.
   And in future, yes sadly, it would be wiser to keep the stranger outside and offer to make the call for them the excuse "I have an ill family member inside and they are still contagious' is a good one ;-)

It may well be this girl did just genuinely need to make a call and that's it (many reasons as to why she might seek no other option than to knock on a strangers door, escaping domestic violence... Who knows massive spectrum of 'might be's! So don't be hard on yourself for being a Good Samaritan we can't see monsters everywhere everyday! But next time just be a bit more security conscious about it. Especially if you have valuables on display (cars out front, dogs etc)

Hopefully once having had a chat with Police you'll feel better about the situation.
Good luck xx