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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU? Computer scam I think...

33 replies

WedgiesMum · 03/09/2012 17:08

Just had a phonecall from 'steve' from 'Windows technical support'. Asked me if I was the lady of the house! Then asked if I was the computer user. Then said that there were error messages coming up from the IP address. He didn't know my name or anything. I told him he was scamming me and that he should never call again because I would scream at him for trying to scam me and more gullible people. And then I demonstrated a little bit Blush and put the phone down.

He called back!

I was so cross I put my 13 year old on and told him to say he wasn't allowed to talk to strangers and hang up.

Please reassure me it was a scam and I've not just deafened some poor bloke who was only doing his job. Feel guilty now, purely because he phoned back.... Blush

OP posts:
Tee2072 · 03/09/2012 17:09

It was a scam. Microsoft is not going to call you.

TheHeirOfSlytherin · 03/09/2012 17:10

Yes it is a scam.

FarloWearsAGoldRibbon · 03/09/2012 17:11

Total scam, no worries Smile

SheilaWheeler · 03/09/2012 17:11

Yep, definitely a scam. You did the right thing. They got very flustered when they tried it on me and I asked why, of all the computers in the world, they were helpfully keeping an eye on mine!

cybbo · 03/09/2012 17:12

Don't fall for it

I did a few years ago when it started. They sold me k7 security for£140. It did sort my PC out but that's not the point!

slowestwildebeast · 03/09/2012 17:12

YANBU it is a scam, we have them calling all the time. On the last hideous call they told my dp they would come and do something delightful to his wife!

Don't feel bad!

missymoomoomee · 03/09/2012 17:12

Sounds like a scam to me. Bet he won't call you back in a hurry. Grin

Original poster
WedgiesMum · 03/09/2012 17:13

Phew! I've had the calls in the past and told them to get lost, but was surprised that he called back after I screamed! (admit it was a bit of phone rage as am sick of these called and the PIP calls and all that rubbish)

OP posts:
Empusa · 03/09/2012 17:13

Scam, well done you! Grin

NineCrimes · 03/09/2012 17:16

I would have had fun with him. Would have asked for the surname and told him I was going to phone windows technical department and find out if he really did work there. Then would have told him I am a computing student (I am) and to do one. Smile

julieann42 · 03/09/2012 17:16

My sister in law told them they were reading from a script designed to con and steal from innocent people, after putting down her phone they rang back and rang back again pestering her all afternoon, she ignored the rest of the calls...don't worry you were NBU

MigGril · 03/09/2012 17:20

total scam, my friend feel for one similar and they totally screwed up her PC.

I've had them call, told them there was no PC in this house (we actually do) but he couldn't get his head round the idea that someone wouldn't have a computer of some sort.

NotAnAxeMurderer · 03/09/2012 17:21

I had a lovely chat with one of these guys when I was 40+10 with DD, and extremely bored and uncomfortable at home.

Try as I might, I just couldn't seem to follow the instructions the man was giving me. We were on the phone for about 30 minutes before he finally clicked that I was either extremely thick or onto him and hung up.

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 03/09/2012 17:26

Its a scam, quite a popular one. Tell them you have the phone recording and you're going to the police.

EauRouge · 03/09/2012 17:31

Yes, a scam. I've had a few of these and I give them a right earful with plenty of swearing. I know it's a scam because I don't have a PC.

HmmThinkingAboutIt · 03/09/2012 17:32

Its a scam.

How do I know? Well apart from being aware of it. I've had similar calls and I don't own a windows pc. Again like MigGril this doesn't seem to be part of their script and it doesn't compute.

I generally call them for what they are; fraudsters and make it very clear I know their game. I don't bother to be polite. Its rather therapeutic. Tbh, I generally don't answer the phone to international calls in the first place as a rule, so if they do call back I don't know. They only get me to pick up on days when I'm not paying attention to the caller display in the first place.

They also do one to do with Skyboxes too.

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 03/09/2012 17:32

www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/microsoft.asp

Schlock · 03/09/2012 17:33

I just tell them that I work for the fraud squad. If their english isn't good enough to handle that one I just say police. POLICE. POLICE. Until they get the message.

OlaRapaceFru · 03/09/2012 17:35

Agree. A total scam.
A few months ago at work (three of us in the branch, but part of a bigger company).

Colleague 1 picked up the phone. I heard his conversation, which was confused and a bad phone line. He put the phone down. I said to both of them "I'll pick up the next call, I know what's going on".

Colleague 2 hadn't heard me, so picked up the next call. Same confusing conversation and bad line, whilst I was madly waving at him to put the phone down.

Third call. I picked it up. Usual old bollox about Windows/Microsoft etc.
I said to the caller "There's no point in phoning this branch, you need to talk to our IT Manager at Head Office".
Scammer : "Oh, yes, I've already done that."
Me : "OK then, what's our IT Manager's name?"
Scammer : "Umm ... what?"
Me : "Well, if you've spoken to our IT Manager then you know his name, don't you?"
Scammer :

Colleagues 1 & 2 (to me) : How did you know about that?
Me : How come you two didn't you know about this?

Original poster
WedgiesMum · 03/09/2012 17:38

Lots of great stories here Smile. Just spoken to DH who said that 'steve's' colleague 'john' had spoken to him on sunday.

Don't feel too bad about the scream now.....

OP posts:
Chandon · 03/09/2012 17:45

good to know about this!

ScooseIsLoose · 03/09/2012 17:48

I think it's a scam we get them all the time I just tell them we don't have a computer!

DeathMetalMum · 03/09/2012 17:52

It is a scam. My mum who is a technophobe had a call like this and handed the phone over to my younger teenage brother as they said it was about his laptop. They managed to get him to install something on to his laptop which I figured to be some tracking software and they said they would call back for bank details another day - thats when my mum put the pone down. All sorted now but they called saying they were Microsoft.

Mems · 03/09/2012 18:18

We have these all the time - they drive me mad! Best one was when I was staying with my DMum, answered her phone and was told I was lying when said there was no PC at this address. I replied that could they please tell me where in her house it was as would love to be connected to t'interweb while I'm away from home!!

pjmama · 03/09/2012 18:24

Just keep replying with "oh no you're not" and "you big flappy liar" and other such remarks until they get bored and hang up. It can be mildly amusing on an otherwise dull day.