Wrong number

[attach]4039[/attach]Liberal MP Joe Volpe says he didn’t know what to make of constituents complaining about receiving too many calls from his camp asking for support — until his campaign team got one, too.

The Eglinton-Lawrence incumbent said he’s been receiving backlash from constituents who say they’ve receiving harassing phone calls from a number in North Dakota urging them to support Volpe in the federal election.

Volpe says that early last week, his campaign office received a call from 701-509-8703, the same number constituents were calling him to complain about.

“One of our volunteers was sharp enough to ask where they were calling from, what was the name of the company and who hired them,” said Volpe.

According to Volpe, constituents who receive the calls, both recordings and live voice, are asked if they will support him. If they say yes, they are asked if they want a lawn sign. He said his camp also became suspicious when people were calling his office asking why they hadn’t received any signs.

The fraudulent calls also began before their campaign even started their own phone canvassing, Volpe says. In one incident, a man said he had been called six times in 36 hours.

Ever since the reports of the fraudulent phone-canvassing hit the media, Volpe said he’s heard from other ridings who’ve had similar experiences. As of Monday morning, his campaign said there are 10–12 such ridings, with the Liberal candidates targeted in each case.

“Campaigns from all around Ontario are calling us to report the same thing,” said Volpe, adding he received calls from campaign teams in Sudbury, Norfolk and St. Catharines.

A quick Internet search pulled up dozens of web pages with people complaining about being harassed by a caller from that number. Most of the accounts claim the call was attempting to gain personal information, like credit card numbers.

Several calls to the number on April 15 resulted in either a busy signal, or an automated message thanking the caller. The automated message then gives instructions on how to remove your number from their special promotions call list.

A campaign worker for Joe Oliver, the Conservative candidate vying for Volpe’s seat, said they have nothing to do with the fake campaign calls, and doesn’t know where they’re coming from.

Volpe has asked for an investigation by Elections Canada.

Meanwhile, he says the calls, which are coming at such odd hours as 3 a.m., are an interference.

“People are now getting called in the middle of the night,” said Volpe. “It’s becoming difficult for us to run our own campaign.”