GETTING THERE: Phone scam irritates Coloradans

If you're one of the thousands of Coloradans who have been besieged by irritating, out-of-state phone calls from slime balls claiming to offer an extended warranty on your automobile, take heart. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers is on the case - and he's riding with his posse - attorneys general from 25 other states.

If you're one of the lucky ones not to get these calls, here's what's bugging the hundreds who have complained to the Colorado No-Call List: Calls, day and night, to cell and home phones, from constantly changing out-of-state numbers.

The calls start with a dire, pre-recorded warning that your auto warranty has expired or is about to - and here's a chance to get extended coverage.

The implication - false - is that the warranties are being offered by auto manufacturers.

If you endure a long wait to complain you're on the state or national no-call lists, you may get a rogue telemarketer promise they won't call back. Don't believe them. They will call you back. And forget trying to call them back on the number that popped up on your phone - it's a ghost number that rings into that vast blackness where scam artists lurk. Or, if you're really lucky, you'll be connected to a voice mail box service. Don't expect a ring back to take your complaint.

Nate Strauch of the Attorney General's Office said this week that Suthers has taken the lead in persuading other states to work together to shut down these operators. He said they were able to silence an outfit out of Texas last year.

This year, beginning in March, the scam seems to have evolved. Now, multiple companies called "lead generators" are making the calls for those purporting to sell auto warranties, Strauch said.

These companies make millions of calls each day, using what Strauch calls a "shotgun approach" in which they begin dialing 111-1111 and keep calling all the way through 999-9999. Somewhere in that vast array of number combinations is your phone number.

He said the attorneys general have yet to prosecute anyone. But when they do, they know what the allegations will be:
"These people are clearly in violation of the state and federal no-call list, and their warranties are scams," Strauch said.
He said the attorneys general have been chasing the callers with subpoenas, but the scam artists are as adept at shielding their identities and scurrying into the dark as they are at thwarting irate callers.

"There are myriad dead ends along the investigative path," Strauch said. Until Suthers can nab these evil-doers, the attorney general wants to hear your complaints. Those should be filed at the Colorado No-Call List registry: www.coloradonocall.com

Work at Wood, Fontanero
Crews are expected to begin work next week at Wood Avenue and Fontanero Street, which was closed six months ago for what was thought to be a routine upgrade of curbs and drainage. After work was begun, it was discovered the master plan for the Old North End neighborhood requires substantial upgrades - including taking out bad dips - if streets in the historic neighborhood are disturbed.

Now, the city, armed with more money and a redesigned plan, will have utility crews replace a century-old water line and lower it and a gas line so a contractor can shave down the asphalt on Wood where it intersects, badly, with Fontanero.
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bill.mckeown@gazette.com