Tiny Gecko Culprit Behind Dozens of Mystery Phone Calls to Veterinarian's Cell
Does anyone like telemarketers? I usually try to ignore calls from unknown numbers. But sometimes I’ll receive a call from my area code and, without thinking, pick it up.
I usually feel bad, and let the salesperson give me their spiel. They are just doing their job, after all.
But have you ever received a silent call? I have, and usually I hang up right away, assuming it’s a prank or even someone who dialed a wrong number.
Well, one mystery caller recently pestered dozens of people by calling them from a line at the Ke Kai Ola Marine Mammal Center in Hawaii.
Dr. Claire Simeone, a marine mammal veterinarian and ocean conversationalist, was among the recipients of these silent calls.
She went to the hospital to investigate the situation. What followed was a slew of hilarious tweets and gifs posted on Twitter that documented the entire thing.
“You are not going to believe this story,” Simeone wrote in her first tweet. “It’s one of the best things I’ve experienced this year. Hold tight for this roller coaster.”
You are not going to BELIEVE this story. It’s one of the best things I’ve experienced this year. Hold on tight for this roller coaster. pic.twitter.com/R0SfmgS0bn
— Dr. Claire Simeone (@Claire_Simeone) October 5, 2018
The tweets went on to share how it all started. Simeone was grabbing lunch when the hospital called. She answered only to hear… nothing.
This happened again and again until she’d finally received 9 calls within a 15-minute time span. Afraid there was some sort of emergency with the seals she was caring for, Simeone quickly returned to the hospital.
I arrive. All is calm. Did anyone call me? No one did. I get another call. It’s coming from INSIDE the hospital. So I call @HawaiianTel to check it out. Phone on the fritz? Meanwhile, several other people call the hospital, asking WHY WE ARE CALLING THEM INCESSANTLY? pic.twitter.com/r59Hoxgk1z
— Dr. Claire Simeone (@Claire_Simeone) October 5, 2018
“I arrive,” she wrote in a later tweet. “All is calm. Did anyone call me? No one did. I get another call. It’s coming from inside the hospital.”
That’s when the odd incident turned into a super weird ordeal. Not only was Simeone receiving these calls, but other people were as well. And they weren’t too happy about it.
Very nice @HawaiianTel man says it might be an issue with one of our phones, or some of the software. He confirms that, yes, a bazillion calls are coming from one line. But I look at our office line. It’s not that one. He asks me to look around to find the problem line. pic.twitter.com/QcrMjVCG4X
— Dr. Claire Simeone (@Claire_Simeone) October 5, 2018
A call to Hawaiian Telcom informed Simeone there might be a problem with a specific line. It turns out the calls were coming from the phone in the lab.
What Simeone found was shocking and downright hilarious. A gecko was just chilling on the phone’s touchscreen, in a sense butt dialing everyone on the recent call list.
THERE IS A GECKO SITTING ON THE TOUCHSCREEN OF THE PHONE, MAKING CALLS WITH HIS TINY GECKO FEET!!! This gecko has called me 15 times, and everyone in our recent call list. *Actual photo of telemarketer* @TMMC @GEICO @HawaiianTel pic.twitter.com/USyKeOiDbE
— Dr. Claire Simeone (@Claire_Simeone) October 5, 2018
“Actual photo of telemarketer,” Simeone tweeted. This is certainly a story no one will soon forget. The viral tweets are making sure of that.
The next time you find yourself frustrated at the silence on the other end of a call, remember this story. You might just say hello to the gecko on the other line.
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