speckytecky Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 This afternoon at home my ex directory phone rang and the chap who told me he was called Ryan speaking with a distinct Indian Continent voice with background noise from a very busy call centre went on to tell me that my Windows computer had been identified as running slow because it was infected with a very prevalent virus. Matey then asked me to turn the computer on so that his technicians could check it out and fix it! Telling him I didn't have Windows but only Linux and Mac didn't deter him too much he persisted telling me that the company he represented (IT Solutions - a web search identifies several legit companies under that name) was working for Windows to sort this global problem out. I then pointed out to him that if I did have a Windows PC with an issue I'd simply pop a new hard disk in and reinstall a clean OS. He told me that a new HD and OS wouldn't solve the problem - it would still be infected! Asking him for a telephone number he gave me a number prefixed with 0203 ringing the number later it rang through to some innocent plumber. What disturbed me was he fact this scammer had my phone number, name and address. He gave up after about 10 minutes realising I wasn't taking the bait but did reveal that fixing the "problem" would cost no more than £30. I'm presuming that if these people do con some person to switch their PC on they are directed to an iffy web where a trojan downloads - I wonder how many people actually fall for it and more to the point what is our Government doing to bring these evil gits to justice?
TheMan100 Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 There's been a lot of these recently. It's usually the elderly that fall for them.
riffleman Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 My mum has had a couple of them call her. She just tells them that I work for Microsoft and could she take their details so I can get in touch. Strangely they hang up at that point.
garethEds Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 My mum has had a couple of them call her. She just tells them that I work for Microsoft and could she take their details so I can get in touch. Strangely they hang up at that point. I've had them a few times - each time they claim they are from a company representing various UK broadband companies - Sky, BT etc. They tell me they can tell my machine has got a virus and need to connect to clean it for me or else my broadband would be turned off. This is where being in the know can help - I told them I had an iPad connected and didn't own a computer. They kept going so I asked for the name of the virus. He was quite persistant so in the end I started laughing at him and asking him IT questions to which he couldn't answer. In the end I hung up. Gareth
Sheepy Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 I find the best wayt to deal with them is to actually show concern... I sort of start to tremble with my voice and say 'oh gosh really?' and then they go on about it and it being serious but its really easy for them to fix it... So then I make it sound as if im trying to plug my pc in or booting it up and then go on about how its been running really slow and takes a while to boot up.. All the while im actually sat there watching TV or playing the Xbox or surfing the net on my TouchPad. After about 20-30 mins they start to get a bit edgy and I have had a good few swear at me and get really angry, It's all good humour for me as most of the time im not even talking just move the phone now and again The way I look at it the longer I can keep this person on the phone thats one elderly person saved from the scam
elsiegee40 Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 Our secretary was being bothered by these scammers at home. They kept calling back. I told her to tell them the police were now monitoring her line because of nuisance calls. The phone line went dead and she hasn't heard a thing since!
mattx Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 I get my wife's whistle and blow it as hard as I can down the phone.
MK-2 Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 i read somewhere that a lot of the people actually doing the calls are rounded up by criminal gangs and are forced into doing it, so it's not exactly their fault. still yet to have one, if i find one i might just go with "i work for police/microsoft/etc"
Arthur Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 I know someone who got scammed by these 's - they claimed to be from Microsoft and that her computer was infected with a virus. After convincing her to download and run TeamViewer, they connected remotely and proceeded to do all manner of things to her computer including downloading a pirated copy of Windows 7 Ultimate from TPB using µTorrent. Apparently this comes "free" with the anti-virus software subscription. If she didn't hang up and unplug the router I'm not sure what else they would have done. Part of the chat log is shown below. The poor spelling and grammar is theirs. i can tell ... once u subscribe than we get license key of that softwares dan we put all comtains in it.. .... upgradation microsoft windows 7 ultimate ...... lifetime ........... transferable ...... anti virus anti rootkit pop up blocker theft protector personal firewall anti phishing spam control anti hacker .................. license key ........ ....... subscribe ..... 1yr = £59.99 3yr = £89.99 8yr = £119.99 ........
Ste_Harve Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 I would love to receive one of these calls, i'd make them wait ages or attach the phone to dogs collar and let her run round with it. My parents had one, and the same bloke rung back about 8 times in 1 week. Dads got a mac and thats it but he wouldn't listen. Think in the end they jsut left him on the phone listening to nothing!
Max_Power Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 attach the phone to dogs collar and let her run round with it! Find that quite funny for a Friday morning. I hope people dont fall for it, occasionally i email out to staff and students here to make sure they dont fall for this kind of thing. Not everyone is a tech or has a massive amount of common sense so just try to be a little more helpful. People still email or speak with me asking about "my bank has emailed me asking for my account details, but im with RBS not halifax" well its not your bank then is it LOL.
dhicks Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 i read somewhere that a lot of the people actually doing the calls are rounded up by criminal gangs and are forced into doing it, so it's not exactly their fault. Via Boing Boing, an interesting article from Mother Jones about Indian call centres: My Summer at an Indian Call Center | Mother Jones
yugo Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 I know of instances when a child answered the phone and they still tried to get them to carry out the instructions.
Andie Posted October 26, 2012 Posted October 26, 2012 Well, they're still going strong. I've had three calls in a fortnight at least, and have started logging them. They are making wild stabs at my broadband supplier (so far they've tried BT and Sky) and the voice is changing from male to female now. My parents have had some calls too, which has bothered them a bit. You can report them to the ICO which I have done, but not sure what good it will do. Stop Unwanted Sales and Marketing Telephone Calls - ICO and scroll down to the bottom link which takes you to https://www.snapsurveys.com/swh/surveylogin.asp?k=134674895144 I guess if you can give some details about the calls and dates and times it may help them to build up a picture. Was going to ring BT but a quick Google search showed this would prob be a waste of time as the number just comes up as International and 1471 returns no number given. Having Googled the supposed company name and nuisance calls, I turned to trusty Edugeek and found what I needed in minutes! Going to try the "police are monitoring my phone for nuisance calls" approach if it starts to annoy me. In the meantime, one of the other approaches may be more fun, though I'm not sure I want to be sworn at! 1
featured_spectre Posted October 27, 2012 Posted October 27, 2012 Drop in that you are using unix. If you say linux they're beginning to catch on...same with mac. They'll soon stop. Not had a call in about 7 months since saying I use Unix.
rich_tech Posted October 27, 2012 Posted October 27, 2012 Someone in work asked me about this kind of scam the other day and a few others have also asked in my time at my current school as well as several friends and family, I primarily use Linux (windows now and again for gaming/iphone stuff) and havent ever received a call so I cant play with the people and taunt them:( , these comantra scams are seemingly increasing with their attempts lately I have noticed. In a way I think its a good thing that they have people like me in work to ask about stuff like this, the last one to ask was obviously worried as their teenage son had taken the call when both parents were at work, he thinks he may have been sucked in a bit, and its a shared family computer in their home so he was a bit concerned. I explained the premise that none of these companies would ever call you unsolicited with any problems that you have like this, but its worrying that this stuff is on the rise again.
AMLinington Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I was plagued by these scammers - up to the point where their calls were so abusive I ended up having my phone number changed. It's horrible. My advice is not to get into dialogue with them. Tell them they have the wrong number and hang up. I have since invested in 'Anonymous caller reject' on my phone line...
cpjitservices Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 All you need to say is "This is a private line for the Government how did you get this number ?" you see them hang up..... quick sharp!
alan-d Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) I really want to try this one A Classic so apologies to those that have heard it before. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBfsdkGeMc8 Edited October 30, 2012 by alan-d 1
AMLinington Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I really want to try this one A Classic so apologies to those that have heard it before. Best Prank Call Ever by Tom Mabe - YouTube That is the best thing I've ever seen... I feel a small script-writing session coming on to make sure I have enough info to carry it off...
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