Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have given the computer scammers a hard time?

27 replies

pointythings · 05/03/2012 18:48

So we've had a few calls from those nice people pretending to be Microsoft engineers kindly offering to sort out the error messages being sent by our computer.

They almost got DH, but he decided to wait until I was home (I work in IT) and so told them to ring back.

Just now, they did. I spent an enjoyable eight minutes trying to get the guy on the phone to give me details on the error messages (times, dates) and names of log files, that sort of stuff. He got more and more desperate, threatened that my computer would lose all its data and so on. I asked him for his Microsoft Certification details. I also may have slightly laughed at him. After 8 minutes he hung up.

So I know he's just some sucker working a crap job in a call centre, but I figure if he's talking to me then he isn't talking to some gullible person who might actually allow him to remote access their machine, install malware or steal their identity.

Is it evil of me to feel this was fun?

OP posts:
Groovee · 05/03/2012 18:50

Grrrr they annoy me so well done for having your own way with them

WorraLiberty · 05/03/2012 18:50

Dunno really I doubt he'll be bothered

Too busy ringing the next person on his computerised list I expect

scentednappyhag · 05/03/2012 18:51

My DH does the same thing Grin yes, they are just working a job, but they are still trying to scam innocent people- I don't feel sorry for burglars just because they're trying to make money, scammers get no better treatment.
YANBU.

Pornyissue · 05/03/2012 18:51

Fun

Floggingmolly · 05/03/2012 19:00

Not at all, this brightens up my day sometimes. Sadly, they tend to snigger when they realise they've been busted - they seriously couldn't care less.

TheOtherElizabethTaylor · 05/03/2012 19:13

Brilliant - YANBU - everyone should do it.

I did a similar thing the other day - strung one of them along for ages, pretending to be really worried "Oh, wow - you're from Microsoft! Thanks so much for letting me know and for trying to help" etc ... eventually said something along the lines of "Actually - I don't think you're REALLY from Microsoft ... " and she got really pissed off at me and hung up indignantly.

I advocate we all do it when they call, and see how long we can keep them guessing. What a way to earn a living.

bumblebeader · 05/03/2012 19:27

One of the many times they rang me, I pretended to play along with it, making them think I was following the links they were instructing me to follow. Suddenly I said, "OMG, there are naked men all over my screen! You pervert! Don't you ever ring here again!" and hung up. Hasn't stopped them from calling, but I do like to waste their time if I have time.

TreacleSoda · 05/03/2012 19:31

I think its a good thing to waste their time, gives them less time to ring people who might fall for it.

I must remember to ask about the Microsoft certification next time.....

LunaticFringe · 05/03/2012 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
pointythings · 05/03/2012 20:05

Oooh bumble I like that approach!

Can I borrow it? I'm also thinking of telling them they're right and that I've decided computers are dangerous with their harmful electromagnetic waves that will affect my aura, and that as a result of their warnings I will now be giving up computers, the tv, games consoles and all other electronic equipment to live a more wholesome, natural life instead.

The possibilities are endless...

OP posts:
QueenOfFlippingEverything · 05/03/2012 20:08

Our resident teenager spent an enjoyable 15 minutes getting one of them to explain where the 'e' key is on the computer Grin

thegreylady · 05/03/2012 20:10

When they say they are ringing from Microsoft I just say,'No you aren't don't be stupid!'

RhinosDontEatPancakes · 05/03/2012 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

igetcrazytoo · 05/03/2012 20:21

my mum always say "oh I'll just go and get my husband" - she lives alone.
She then goes and watches TV and next time she makes a cuppa she puts the phone back on the hook.

She's the only person I know who has Jehovah Witnesess on her doorstep begging to get away!

MateyMooo · 05/03/2012 20:23

i had one of these calls a while ago and was a bit pissed off bored because i hadnt spoken to anyone for 8 hours and said 'how much will it cost?'

Nothing madam

are you sure becuase i'm skint

yes madam absolutely sure

so i spoke to him for a while and then to about 8 of his mates, always asking if it would cost anything and every time beign told no. at no point did i give out any details, personal or otherwise,

then we got to number 9 and she said ... so for £75 per month.... excuse me!.... yes just £75 per month..... but i have no money and i have told everyone i have spoken to in this call that i dont have any money.... Ok, for a reduced payment of £28... no this isnt what i was told!

God it took me ages to get off the phone, despite telling her i had no money.

i have stopped answering the phone unless i recognise the number and even then only if i feel like talking

CarpeJugulum · 05/03/2012 20:51

Ive had two of there calls so far.

In the first instance, I may have passed the phone to my DS. My 17mo DS with babble diarrhoea. Grin

Second call, I had a bit of an argument as I advised them I had an Apple, not a Windows machine - but apparently Microsoft now own Apple and they would still need to sort the issue. I may have then killed myself laughing and hung up.

DH got one. He's in IT. They hung up on him Grin

auntpetunia · 05/03/2012 20:53

my teenage DS took one of these the other day... He listened politely while tapping away on his netbook as though he was following the links etc. then after about 10 minutes said "you really do talk a pile of crap don't you?" and hung up. (proud mum emoticon!!) He's been well taught.

tribpot · 05/03/2012 20:55

but apparently Microsoft now own Apple and they would still need to sort the issue.

Bloody hell - they've kept that quiet Wink

januaryjojo · 05/03/2012 21:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LucaBrasi · 05/03/2012 21:02

Oh no, never never feel guilty
My conversation(s) went something like...

How does it feel to be lying cheating B*...and...... phone down.

They are attempting fraud

Are we all too polite to be rude at a time when it is, actually, needed?

Bunbaker · 05/03/2012 21:06

OH got one recently. He is pretty savvy and answered every question with another one each time. The scammer got really shirty with OH and finally gave up.

Bobbish · 05/03/2012 21:07

I love pretending to be a complete computer illiterate with them. Last time we spent 20 mins going back and forth like this:
Scanner: "can you see 'my computer' on your desk top? Can you press it?"
Me: "no I can't see your computer. How could I? I can only see my computer"
Scanner: "click on my computer"
Me: "but I can't see your computer. I can only see my computer"

And so on and so on till he hung up

Bobbish · 05/03/2012 21:08

Scanner = scammer. Stoopid phone

banditqueen · 05/03/2012 21:15

I've never heard of this, what is it about? Call centres full of people ringing you up to con you into stuff - isn't it illegal? Sounds horrendous!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/03/2012 21:18

One told me I was "being very thick" because I wasn't listening to him. I was Shock and asked him to repeat which he did: "if you don't listen to me you are being very thick". Well that's customer service for you Grin

It is too tempting to string them along sometimes.I spent 15 minutes with one, being very dim but interested in what he was saying.

I then told him I was wasting his time as he was wasting mine.

I am so tempted to ask them "Hmm, tell me what you are wearing.Describe it". But they have my phone number, I don't have theirs.