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Original poster

Have you ‘had the phone call’?

63 replies

Thistimetomorrow · 23/08/2019 14:36

Yesterday I received the phone call, we’re calling because you’re having problems with your computer/internet.
I know it’s a scam. Today, I’ve had another recorded message saying my internet will be terminated and I have 2 options.
Press 1 to speak to someone
Press 2 to continue with the termination
My friend was nearly conned out of a lot of money by one of these scams.
Have you or anyone you know been a victim?
How do you deal with these calls?
I just put the phone down and don’t engage.

OP posts:

GreenwoodLane · 23/08/2019 17:22

My octogenarian father was recently plagued by these.

It got to the stage where he had 4 in a morning, saying they would terminate his internet, and that they were BT.

I think in his case, it just became relentless, and he doubted his own sanity. He’s not even with BT, but some company called Post Office Telecoms (similar name). He phoned me, and I phoned BT who confirmed he was not a customer.

He changed his number the following day and his now ex directory. They’ve stopped calling, for now.

Utter heartless bastards.

SnuggyBuggy · 23/08/2019 17:24

My DDad had his first one recently and was pissed off because he thought it meant the scammers considered him old

He managed to string them along until they got annoyed and hung up on him.

KindergartenKop · 23/08/2019 17:26

Press 2 and see what happens!

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PinkBuffalo · 23/08/2019 17:27

Had loads of these a few years ago. I told them I want connected to the internet and they gave me a load of abuse

PinkBuffalo · 23/08/2019 17:28

*wasnt connected that should say!

MashedSpud · 23/08/2019 17:29

I used to get scam calls daily, sometimes several a day when i was with a certain internet provider. When i switched to another company all the calls stopped.

I'm not insinuating the customer service people sell your details...well actually yes I am.

DearPrudence · 23/08/2019 17:32

I'm thinking of getting rid of a landline altogether because it's nothing but scammers. And the BT internet one is the worst at the moment.

formerbabe · 23/08/2019 17:32

I like winding them up.

One rang me to say my computer had a virus but she could fix it. I pretended to burst into tears wailing about how awful it was and begging her for help. She actually asked me "why are you so dramatic?!" Then hung up on me

Feckingfireengine · 23/08/2019 17:33

Had loads of these in the last few days. I've been racking my brains as to where I've put my details for them to have our number as we're TPS. It shows up as 'international number' on my phone so I know it's them calling.

AllAboutHallowsEve · 23/08/2019 17:35

This phone is great for blocking cold callers and putting off scammers btplc.com/inclusion/ProductsAndServices/Choosetherightphone/BT8600AdvancedCallBlocker/index.htm

Al2O3 · 23/08/2019 17:36

I tell them I am part of a religious order and we do not have computers.

Curiously, they still persist.

Saucery · 23/08/2019 17:36

I string them along if I have time. 15 minutes with them trying to explain to me what I should be seeing on screen then I tell them something is written in tiny little letters,,,,hang on....oh yes, it says Fuck Off. 15 minutes they’re not plaguing someone who might believe their nonsense.

leckford · 23/08/2019 17:36

We used to get the ‘Microsoft’ scam calls several times a week when we lived in Jersey, once we got 2 in a day. It ended after I was very rude several times.

Earlier this week I got a phone call saying I had been involved in a accident from their report and just said ‘where was the accident’ in a louder and louder voice until they cut the line.

The phone companies are quick to take our money they should do something about it.

Labassecour · 23/08/2019 17:37

If I'm working from home and am stuck on something I'm doing, I sometimes quite enjoy winding up the ones who call and tell you've just been in a car accident. I go along with this, inventing increasingly baroque collisions with horsedrawn hearses/combine harvesters/entire teams of cyclists/the Beast of Bodmin until they either huff and hang up or I say 'Hang on, I've just remembered I've never learned now to drive!'

AnnonniMoose · 23/08/2019 17:38

I have a landline with an answerphone, and I leave the a/phone on permanently. That way I can screen calls, and if it's a nuisance call they usually don't leave a message anyway. If they do manage to catch me: "We've been notified that you've had an accident recently" etc, I simply put the phone down.

SnuggyBuggy · 23/08/2019 17:40

I sometimes talk really slowly or make random crap up

Crinkle77 · 23/08/2019 17:41

My mum has a call blocker. Think she paid about £60 but it works.

1984isnow · 23/08/2019 17:42

We keep getting them at work. Apparently the internet is being shut off due to criminal activity.

Crinkle77 · 23/08/2019 17:43

My in laws are always plagued by these calls and complain constantly. I said to either get a caller display phone or a call blocker but they don't listening then continue to moan.

1984isnow · 23/08/2019 17:43

I've also had an auto message from HMRC that there is a warrant issued due to my tax crimes

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 23/08/2019 17:44

Quite keen to get a landline just to play with some of these scum bags now

PancakeAndKeith · 23/08/2019 17:46

Get rid of your landline. It’s only used by scammers.

When we still had one I had the ‘Microsoft’ call. I went along with it for a while and then said that we didn’t have any Microsoft computers and were and Apple Mac household. The guy then said, ‘oh yes, I’m from Apple’.

Aposterhasnoname · 23/08/2019 17:46

I strung one along for a while pretending to be clueless and shouting to “Arthur” that the nice man on the phone wants us to open the windows, then enquiring if he meant the lounge or the bedroom window. But mostly I just put the phone down on them.

AnnonniMoose · 23/08/2019 17:47

Hoghgyni · 23/08/2019 17:51

There is currently a recorded message doing the rounds about a suspect £600 Visa transaction. I have heard it on my answer phone & my mum had it 4 times this morning. Luckily she is sensible enough not to press any buttons and she uses something called BT Protect to minimise the risk of scams.

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