Think this may just be in the states but...
MAHA, Neb. -- More and more Americans are receiving strange answering machine messages offering investment advice.
Experts told KETV-TV in Omaha that the calls are new to the Midwest, but Texas and Florida residents have received similar calls.
The television station said that a number of Omaha residents have reported what sounds like a wrong number -- a voice leaves a message on their answering machines offering a hot stock tip. The caller says the tip is a secret, and now people who have received the message are asking whether it is legitimate and legal.
Jan Pietrzak thought it was just a wrong number, but as she listened to the message on her answering machine her opinion changed.
"It was too hokey. Too long," Pietrzak said. "You wouldn't leave it on a machine if you didn't know the right number."
Here is what Pietrzak heard -- she kept the message saved on her machine:
"Hi Stef, it's Wendy. I looked for your old number and couldn't find it, but Brandi says this was your new one. Anyway, remember Evan, that hot stock exchange guy I'm dating? There's this company that's supposedly developed some zillion-dollar cancer testing and it's going to go up big this week."
The message goes on to give the company's stock symbol, then stresses that the information is secret.
"My Dad and I are going to be buying a bunch tomorrow and the only people I told was Sam and Ellen. It's kind of a secret," the message says.
Others report similar calls with different names.
Stock brokers say beware.
"It's obviously not genuine," said Tim Kalinsky, with Omaha's Quantum Advisors. "It's people having large blocks of stock, either drive the price up or (the stock is) thinly traded (and they want) to create liquidity."
Kalinsky said the best advice is just to have a good laugh about the message, then delete it.
One of the companies mentioned in the phone messages said it is aware of the messages and does not support them. A representative said the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating because the messages might be illegal.