Calling for a Different Kind of Lift

In the sleepy southwestern German town of Bad Urach, a phone sex fiend is on the loose. He's not accosting local women or anything, but he's run up the telephone bills of at least four residents who just thought they were helping out a fellow citizen in need.

The man's scam is bold, if nothing else. At the homes of local residents, he claims his car has broken down and needs to call a mechanic. Once shown to the phone, instead of calling the local garage, he dials up a phone-sex hotline.

One of his victims, who prefers her anonymity, said she became suspicious when the man was still on the line after 15 minutes.

"When I went to look he was red in the face and was obviously excited about something," she told reporters.

Upon discovery, the man hung up, ran out of the house, and sped away in his car.

"When I pressed redial, someone called Jasmine answered and asked what she could do for me," added the victim. On her next phone bill, she found the call had put her back almost 58 euros ($71).