There seems to be a new telemarketer scam out there that is disconcerting to me on so many levels. My office is in Garden City. Lately, at least once a day, I will receive a call on my cell phone in which my cell phone identifies as originating in Garden City. In addition, the first three digits of the caller’s phone number are the same first three numbers as my cell phone.

The first three digits of my children’s cell phone numbers are the same as mine. Therefore, whenever I get these calls, I always answer just to confirm that it is not one of my children calling. Invariably, it is not one of my children but, rather, a telemarketer.

I respect most telemarketers because they are just people trying to do a job. Therefore, in most cases I am relatively polite to them. This new trick, however, is troubling. They have invaded my personal space by determining where I am and using that information to contact me. They have also, apparently, been able to clone the first three digits of my cell phone number and also use that information to entice me to answer the phone.

Big brother seems to be able to watch us in ways we could not imagine five years ago. Have you received these calls? What has been your response?