Path: utzoo!attcan!ncrcan!aimed!ross
From: ross@aimed.UUCP (Ross Morrissey)
Newsgroups: ont.general
Subject: headhunters
Keywords: candy, schoolyard
Message-ID: <7440@aimed.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jun 89 19:50:05 GMT
Distribution: ont
Organization: AIM, Inc, Toronto, Ontario
Lines: 32

I had a an incredible telephone conversation recently.

A call came into the office for someone who wasn't in.  I asked if there
was a message.

"This is Jane Doe from XYZ marketing, and we are doing some research to
determine the acceptance of a new Rum Cooler among DP professionals."
 
"A what?"

"A new Rum Cooler, you've heard of Vodka Coolers, this one is Rum."

I explained that she was obviously given the wrong name, and that I
was definitely the Rum Cooler contact in our orginization. She described
a sampling session at L'hotel with lots of other DP professionals around.
She asked for the spelling of my name, and my position, for the invite.

Someone more paranoid than me overheard me spelling my name over the phone
and slid me a piece of paper with "HEADHUNTER?" scrawled on it.  Just then
the voice on the other end asked for the names of anyone else in the
office who would be interested.

Wow.  Is there a rule against this kind of tactic?  Isn't this like fishing
at night with a flashlight?  Or hunting with a helicopter?

Does anyone know of any countering-tactics or effective comebacks?

-- 
Ross Morrissey                            ross@aimed.UUCP
AIM Inc. (416) 423-1085                   {utzoo,utai}!lsuc!aimed!ross

"Forgive me, I'm just a Pick Programmer."