I read the most amazing thing in Wednesday's USA Today. A stock promoter near Orlando was charged in an elaborate Voice Mail Scam to raise investments in thinly traded Micro-Stocks by $179 Million !
Here's the voicemail they quoted in the article:
"Hey Tracy, it's Debbie. I couldn't find your old number and Tammy says this is the new one.
I hope it's the right one. Anyway, remember that hot stock exchange guy I'm dating? He gave my father that stock tip on the company that went from under a buck to like 3 bucks in less than 2 weeks, and you were mad because I didn't call you? Well I'm calling you now!
This new company is supposed to be like the next really hot clothing thing, and they're making some big news announcement this week. The stock symbol is ###...he says buy now.
It's at like 50 cents and it's going up to like 5 or 6 bucks this week, so get as much as you can.
Call me on my cell phone, I'm still in Orlando. My dad and I are buying a bunch tomorrow and I already called Kelly and Ron too. Anyway...I miss you. Give me a call. Bye.
That message was left on the voicemails of unsuspecting strangers so it would appear they got the message by mistake.
Voicemail is such a powerful thing isn't it? Coupled with our desire for personal gain.
Would something like that work for your MarketWatch subscribers about a specific distressed property in their price range?
Or to lock in a favorable interest rate before a fed interest rate hike announcement? (Also an article in USA today with a graph showing the expected rise of interest rates over the coming months.)
I think what makes that message so powerful is the URGENCY attached to it.
What do you think?