"What makes people all over America break down and cry like this?" Claim: 900-9099-CRY and 900-740-3500 were once real pay-per-call hotlines, as seen in vintage U.S. TV commercials showing people crying while on the phone. For years, social media users have shared alleged decades-old TV commercials showing clips of people crying while on the phone, with onscreen information advertising the paid hotlines 900-9099-CRY and 900-740-3500.