By COLlive reporter
Staff at Bais Rivkah School in Crown Heights are warning parents about a strange text message received by at least two young high school girls inviting them to be part of a supposed video filmed by comedian and film producer Mendy Pellin.
The suspicious message received by the teenage girls claimed to be from a “Sara Goldberg” from Mendy Pellin’s office.
“We would like to know if you would be interested in taking part in our next video. Here is some more information: our video will take place in New Jersey in two months from now. We will be filming in a few different stores in Lakewood. Our office is currently in Crown Heights. We will arrange for you to be brought to us by train or bus and we will cover the cost. If you do not feel comfortable coming alone, you may bring a friend and we will cover her traveling expenses as well. Please let us know if you are interested and we will get back to you with more information at our earliest convenience,” the message read.
The girl’s parent reached out to Mendy Pellin, who said the message is a hoax, and he is not planning any video shoot at this time. Pellin confirmed to COLlive.com that the message is fake, He also told COLlive he knows of at least two girls who have received the fake message, the other a student of a school in Connecticut.
The parent of one of the girls said that when her daughter asked where the person had got her number, one of the replies were sent after Shabbos began, another sign that the message did not come from Mendy Pellin.
Faculty at Bais Rivkah are warning parents to beware of such messages, and suggest that they should inform their children to be on the lookout for similar messages or invitations which may be a hoax.
“I think it’s important that parents be aware,” they said.
True caller says the number belongs to Robin Lawson
And it also says Michael Harris
On my true caller it says Michael Harris. 🤷🏻♂️
Any way the number is 4438441079
I searched it on truecaller just now and it said Michael Harris
I think Michael Harris is a famous basket ball player
It says a Mike Harris with a criminal record
Is the name I saw when I looked it up
Literally not connected with her at all
You can’t rely on public info in such situations
Scary. Might be a ploy to lure & abduct religious girls.
No “might” about it. It’s a certainty.
This should be promptly reported to law enforcement.
443 is a Canadian area code number that comes up many times thru computer generated numbers.
Google 443 area code it is not Canada
Incorrect. 443 is the Baltimore Maryland area
1. No. This is an eastern Maryland area code.
2. Area codes have almost no bearing anymore as cellphone can move anywhere and still keep their initial area code
3. This number is a verizon wireless phone number
according to okcaller this number belongs to ROXANNE HOYLE
Should the person Make a police report?
Why is this being labeled as an FYI. This is potentially a human trafficking ploy. Making this a serious crime. The relevant police departments should be made aware and the perpetrators arrested immediately.
The message was probably sent by a bunch of Jewish boys trying to have fun and the girls probably know exactly who sent the message or have a pretty good idea.
or not
My gosh
This number belonges to someone named Michael Harris
We should have kept it quiet and actually went and then assess the situation
And if necessary take physical action
You would have zero legal protection and in fact could be charged yourself.
That’s not how the real system works–TV drama isn’t real life.
Unless a sworn law enforcement officer is involved you would have tainted any evidence, and likely ruined any chance of prosecution.
I agree, but together with law enforcement. Could have been done. But that takes considerable restraint, and when terrified one usually just acts short term safely. So can’t judge the reaction, just saying an alternative slower more methodical track might have been fruitful. Also possible that the objective here wasn’t a kidnap, but rather money. Maybe a couple steps later the bad guy would say to send some money to cover xyz which will be reimbursed upon arrival…and poof, money gone.
Why are girls at that age having smartphones?
Fix the root, fix the problem.
Sure, let’s place the onus on the victims rather than the human traffickers 😐
Flip/dumb phones also get text messages
Why is every situation always blamed on something the victim/girl did wrong. The way they dressed, the way they talk, their hair, the PHONE!? Victims don’t ask for this, Ever! Why can’t everyone see that.
What if she was 18? Is that still too young.
Instead of teaching people how to use their phone, how to act from seeing such a text, everyone right away goes to say if you take away the root of the problem the problem is solved. Sorry it doesn’t always work like that. This is the real world. This is life.
agreed
“Looking forward to having a great time!”? That doesn’t sound legit – that sounds creepy.
A Friend of mine recommended you than getting the number from the school faculty?
All of a sudden school faculties gives out numbers?
Id be surprised if this person is over the age of 16 or has an IQ level above 70
Agreed it was probably a couple of yeshiva boys having fun
Thank you for posting!
Thank you to these girls for speaking up
We are looking for two girls in school who can commit to coming to New Jersey to film. (We are filming in Lakewood) We will arrange for all your traveling expenses to be paid and a place to stay for the week. We can let you know more information once we get a definite answer. If you would like to watch previous films that we produced you can see them on YouTube or visit our website. Our videos are designed to bring laughter and entertainment to the frum community. Please let us know if you are interested and we’ll get… Read more »
Someone report this to the FBI right now, this is literally the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.
Soo dangerous !!!! The fbi must take care of this
Is there an investigation underway ascertaining whether this person did indeed get access to these girls phone numbers from a compromised school database? If not, this should be started promptly to ensure information security is up to standard.
Has law enforcement been notified?
But it’s probably a bored bucher
But wow super bored to make such a detailed pathetic message
How did this bored bochur get all these numbers
To scare the daylight out of girls?
It’s not an excuse. It’s reality.
https://www.usphonebook.com/michael-harris/UzITMyYzNyMDOxAzMyQTN0gzM30yR
This was the closest I could find to a profile. Not sure its him. https://wefunder.com/michaelharris7
He used to live and still has a bunch if siblings who live in NJ.
Michael S Harris
https://www.searchpeoplefree.com/find/michael-s-harris/18Nvhulah4qT
His wife in NJ
https://www.searchpeoplefree.com/find/jessica-erin-sinnott/1vrtUhW73hO
This would be a good time to teach that girls about the methods of see traffickers
People think it’s too sensitive to talk about.
To all of you trying to figure out who’s number it is, with todays technology you can send a message from your phone or computer using someone else’s number so while that number May belong to whoever true caller says it belongs to it it probably was not that person who sent the message.
See this website, https://www.spoofmytextmessage.com/spoof-text-messages
Exactly.
One can easily falsify/spoof the originating/senders phone number with ease.
So unfortunately this person is correct.
This was a 2-way conversation. Big difference.
Please, let us know that all girls & parents who got this message were advised to report it and someone from our community is on top of it.
This is very scary to lure kids to another state;(…HaShem Ishmor!
Thank you for posting.
“Michael Harris” is a bland Anglo-Saxon name, the type scammers like to use to make them sound “harmless Middle-American.”
In the olden days, girls were lured into white slavery but guys claiming to recruit for beauty pageants. I foresee a big uptick, given our sick society.
Get the appropriate people to take care of it pronto!
get rid of smartphones their killing this generation
NO SMARTPHONES R NOT RUINING ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
IT JUST HOW U USE THEM.
JUST DONT ANSWER SUSPICIOUS TEXTS AND UR GOOD!!!!
This is not true. Girls and boys alike all have full control over their smartphone usage. The fact that they “get addicted” is a you problem. Not a smartphone problem.
To say that you must not know how the world works. Phones aren’t the issue it’s not knowing how to use them that is the problem
Seriously?! This really where our heads are at?
To blame the situation on some defualt out-of-our-hands wishing-it-was-better religous-guilt excuse (regardless of what truth it holds or lack thereof) is stupid and irresponsible.
It is still worthwhile, imo, to contact the proper authorities since the culprit may not be aware of this article.
It says on true caller that he live is Baltimore
Strange how he got a hold of people’s numbers 🔢