100,000 hoax calls prompt plea from Dublin Zoo

[snopes]

Dublin Zoo appealed to the public not to be taken in by hoax text messages that have led to its switchboard being jammed by an estimated 100,000 calls in two weeks.

People are receiving text messages to their mobile phones asking them to ring the zoo's number for an "urgent message."

The texts are signed with names like G. Raffe, C. Lion, Rory Lyons and Anna Conda.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080424...t_080424171605

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by snopes

Dublin Zoo appealed to the public not to be taken in by hoax text messages that have led to its switchboard being jammed by an estimated 100,000 calls in two weeks.

People are receiving text messages to their mobile phones asking them to ring the zoo's number for an "urgent message."

The texts are signed with names like G. Raffe, C. Lion, Rory Lyons and Anna Conda.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080424...t_080424171605

Back in the 1980s when I workd in an estate agency, a prankster left messages at various estate agencies for them to callhim back. The name given was C Lyons. The number was Colchester Zoo (about 20 miles away).

[Tarquin Farquart]

I remember at one of my old jobs someone having this prank played on them on their birthday. Although in their case the number was the police station and the person they were supposed to ring back was A. Sargent.

[jw]

Originally Posted by snopes

The texts are signed with names like G. Raffe, C. Lion, Rory Lyons and Anna Conda.

I think the numbers, were exaggerated a little.
It's still hard to believe, that even so many people were duped, given the sender's signatures.

Signed,

J. Hawk

[Friends of Alfred]

Rory Lyons!

[llewtrah]

No-one calling for Wal Russ? Or Ella Fant? Presumably the latter would be a trunk call.

[Jay Tea]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

No-one calling for Wal Russ? Or Ella Fant? Presumably the latter would be a trunk call.

>Groan<

[llewtrah]

Reminds me of the Bart hoax calls to Moe's. And also some frat movie "has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"

"Is there an R Sole in the establishment?"

I used to have a colleague called Andy Butt. "Can I speak to A Butt please?" the problem was, he lived up to the name!

[Ravenhull]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

Reminds me of the Bart hoax calls to Moe's. And also some frat movie "has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"

That was one of the few successes of Pee-Wee in the original Porky's.

.....

....

...

I was watching it to analyze thier ability to properly potray the time period... realy... would I lie?

[jw]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

I used to have a colleague called Andy Butt. "Can I speak to A Butt please?" the problem was, he lived up to the name!

We have a junior soccer referee called, Aisling Looney. The first name is always just the initial, when the weekends fixtures are printed in the papers.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

And also some frat movie "has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"

It's Mark Hunt in Trainspotting (the book, I don't think it's in the film). That'll be those Scottish accents.

[zman977]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

Reminds me of the Bart hoax calls to Moe's. And also some frat movie "has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"

"Is there an R Sole in the establishment?"

I"m looking for Amanda Huginkiss,

Why can't I find Amanda Huginkiss.

I think Beivs and Butt Head had an episode where they kept calling a guy named Harry Sack.

[Chloe]

SO knows a student in pilot training whose name is Landon Long.

[FullMetal]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

Reminds me of the Bart hoax calls to Moe's. And also some frat movie "has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"

"Is there an R Sole in the establishment?"

I used to have a colleague called Andy Butt. "Can I speak to A Butt please?" the problem was, he lived up to the name!

I know Mike Hunt, he has a younger brother named Roger...

(I wish I was making it up...)

[Skeptic]

100,000 people is 10 percent of Dublin's population. They're not that stupid.

Crisp said the police ...had been unable to help.

Typical, you want the police to help and they're busy with drug dealers, gangland murders, bank robberies, and other frivolous matters.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by FullMetal

I know Mike Hunt, he has a younger brother named Roger...

(I wish I was making it up...)

We had a boss called Michael Hunt. A company announcement when he joined also said that on no account should his first name be abbreviated.

[Skeptic]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

We had a boss called Michael Hunt. A company announcement when he joined also said that on no account should his first name be abbreviated.

Our headmaster had a habit of refering to us (all boys) as Master, rather than using first names. He made an exception one day when he announced over the intercom, Would the following boys come to the office. Master Smith, Master Jones, and Fred Bates.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Skeptic

Our headmaster had a habit of refering to us (all boys) as Master, rather than using first names. He made an exception one day when he announced over the intercom, Would the following boys come to the office. Master Smith, Master Jones, and Fred Bates.

My classmate's boyfriend was a Bates. His maiden aunt embarrasingly called him Master Bates (and addressed cards to Master Bates) up until he was 18 years old. We thought it was her idea of a joke, but she was very naive, or possibly had a cognitive deficit, and didn't understand the embarrassment factor (she was too naive about such matters for the chap's parents to be able to explain it too her).

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by Skeptic

Our headmaster had a habit of refering to us (all boys) as Master, rather than using first names. He made an exception one day when he announced over the intercom, Would the following boys come to the office. Master Smith, Master Jones, and Fred Bates.

Progressive school: I would have thought it would have been just Smith, Jones, Bates.