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When Prank Calls Go Down the Drain: The Case of the Toilet Flushing Scammer

Every hotel front desk agent has a collection of wild stories—lost pets, mysterious noises, guests locked out in pajamas. But sometimes, the calls that come in are so strange, they’re almost... toilet humor. Enter: the infamous Toilet Flushing Caller, a prankster whose performance was so convincing, it nearly sent the staff into a plumbing panic.

Ring, Ring… Is Your Toilet Running?

It was a typical shift for Redditor u/Erin_Burnheart and their colleague, when the phone rang with urgency. The caller, claiming to be a guest, breathlessly described a bathroom disaster: an overflowing toilet. You could hear the panic in their voice—and, as they insisted, the sound of the toilet itself in the background.

But something didn’t quite add up. The call wasn’t coming from a room phone, but from an out-of-state number. Odd, but not impossible. Still, between low occupancy and the mystery number, the front desk’s scam-sense began to tingle.

The caller refused, over and over, to give a room number. Instead, they kept repeating “2… 2… 2…” as if reciting the world’s worst hotel Wi-Fi password. When asked for a last name, the one provided didn’t match any in the system. All the while, the “can’t you hear it?” refrain played, punctuated by the relentless sound of flushing. (Points for audio production value.)

When Pranks Go from Annoying to Alarm

Hotels see their fair share of oddballs. Maybe the guest was embarrassed, language-barriered, or just panicking. But the staff, not wanting to risk a real plumbing disaster, played along. Security was dispatched to the second floor, ears peeled for the telltale rush of water or the unmistakable symphony of someone doing battle with a porcelain nemesis.

Nothing. Not a drip, not a whimper. The only thing overflowing was the patience of the front desk.

After a final plea for the “guest” to call back from their room phone—an easy way to verify their location and legitimacy—silence. The Toilet Flushing Caller vanished, leaving staff with nothing but a story for the break room and a newfound appreciation for caller ID.

The Curious Case of Toilet Pranks

Prank calls are as old as the telephone itself. From “Is your refrigerator running?” to the more elaborate fake pizza orders, scammers and jokers have kept hospitality workers on their toes for decades. But why the toilet theme? Perhaps it’s the universal panic of bathroom disasters—the kind of thing that would make anyone scramble for help.

But there’s a more sinister side, too. Some scammers use these tactics to tie up front desk staff, distract them from real emergencies, or gather information. In rare cases, they might even try to trick staff into giving out guest details or room numbers—big no-nos under privacy laws.

Lessons from the Front Desk

So, what can we learn from our Toilet Flushing Phantom?

  • Trust, But Verify: Always ask for a room number, last name, and encourage guests to call from a room phone. If something feels off, it probably is.
  • Don’t Flush Away Protocol: Even under pressure, stick to procedures. It’s better to double-check than to fall for a prank—or worse, a scam.
  • Teamwork Saves the Day: Quick-thinking staff and security prevented a wild goose chase (or a wild toilet chase). Communication is key, especially when the situation stinks.

And, of course, never underestimate the creativity—or the persistence—of pranksters with a penchant for plumbing.

Share Your “Overflowing” Stories!

Have you ever fielded a bizarre call at work? Maybe a prank that went off the rails, or a guest with a truly mind-boggling request? Flush your best tales into the comments below—we promise, no judgment!

And to the Toilet Flushing Caller: Thanks for keeping things interesting. Just remember, if you’re going to prank, at least come up with a better room number next time.

Stay tuned for more adventures from the front desk, where no shift is ever truly uneventful!

Original Reddit Post: The Toilet Flushing Caller