Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Told him to PISS OFF!!

206 replies

Aprilsinparis · 12/09/2018 08:43

Had yet another phone call telling me that my internet had been hacked by someone in America, and if I hand over my computer access to this person, they could "fix it". I told him I am sick to death of these scams, he told me to shut up, and I told him to PISS OFF! AIBU to think they will probably keep ringing all the time because I lost my temper.

OP posts:
Thisisnotreallymyname · 13/09/2018 18:26

When I get the ones that say I was in an accident I play them along for a minute or row. Then when they ask what happened I tell them I was killed in the accident.
It goes silent and they THEY hang up !

GreatWesternValkyrie · 13/09/2018 18:28

I bought my mother (late 70s) a BT phone with call guardian button, recommended to us by Virginmedia! She’d been scammed a while ago and was still getting calls along with all the usual HMRC/internet/Microsoft nonsense.

Best decision ever! I programmed in the VIP numbers so people she knows get through no problem, the ones we’ve blocked can’t ever get through again and anyone else has to state who they are so she can decide to accept the call or not (mostly not, if she’s unsure, she diverts it to the answerphone). She’s getting on really well with it, it’s a big button version so easy for her to use and, touch wood, no nuisance calls/scammers have been able to get through.

Such a relief!

IsJustMe · 13/09/2018 18:28

I delight in seeing how long I can engage some of the foreign callers, and I am rarely the one to hang up. My stories get more and more outlandish, and I don't understand how they don't realise.

One of mine was informing the caller that yes, I did have a computer, but was blind and couldn't operate it without help from my dog. He asked if the dog was available to help. No, he was having a nap. Could I wake the dog up? No, it was important he had his nap as he was a working dog. He spent forever trying to persuade me to wake the darned dog up.

I've previously confirmed that I do have windows, and that they have bars on them but, that as I hadn't had my medication that day, I would be available to chat as I had few friends. I kept that "will you be my friend?" going for a good 10 minutes.

Most of the "accidents" I've had have all been deliberate (they hang up rapidly after that gem).

I had a interesting discussion with one caller about not needing the internet as I was a superhero. He even asked me what my special powers were.

I clearly need to get out more.

woodpigeons · 13/09/2018 18:29

When I get calls about my ‘accident’ I ask if they mean the one with the crocodile.
Usually shuts them up.

Fadingmemory · 13/09/2018 18:37

I have had several acci

Fadingmemory · 13/09/2018 18:40

Sorry, start again. In answer to car accident calls I say that as I am unaware of the accident I must have left the scene. As that is an offence I then tell them to report me to the police & hang up

Menolly · 13/09/2018 18:42

I like to play how long can I string them along for, its a great game.

With computer ones I like to get them to explain everything in idiot terms, pretend to follow the steps and then announce that actually the computer wasn't turned on and could we start from the beginning.

kateandme · 13/09/2018 18:43

is it just me or are they getting more confident.pushy.mean.rude though.
before they used to go "okay.sorry madam have a great daaaay!
now they will push and be rude and argue that they aren't scammers.or tell me im rude or whats my problem.

Cockadoodledooo · 13/09/2018 18:43

fadingmemory I thought you'd had another accident during your 18:37 post Grin

Hushnownobodycares · 13/09/2018 18:46

GreatWesternValkyrie

You beat me to a recommendation for a phone with Call Guardian Grin

We've had ours about a year or so now and I tell anyone who will listen asks it's the best £85 I've ever spent. I only ever get calls from my VIP's and actual people who have a legitimate reason to ring.

LoveAScaryTaleMe · 13/09/2018 18:49

When I get the call about the fault with my computer I normally ask them which one they mean as there are several computers here in the police station, and would they like to speak to the senior constable. That usually gets rid of them. I kept one of the 'car accident scammers' on the phone for a good half hour once. I first said I hadn't had an accident , but when he said his records showed that I had I pretended to cry saying that I was really worried now because I couldn't remember having one and I must have amnesia as a result. I kept asking him if he thought I should go to my doctor to get checked out as my memory must be really badly affected. He kept trying to reassure me that I was probably okay, so I acted being more hysterical saying that I didn't know what I should do. Eventually he got really impatient and said I needed to calm down and that he would ring back later, then he said I was really stupid for getting so worked up. I then resumed my normal voice and demeanour and replied that I was clearly not as stupid as him if he had believed my little act and then I hung up.

Runninginheelsx5 · 13/09/2018 18:54

We treat these calls as a family sport. Who can keep them on the phone for the longest. We often get the bank account scam - can you read your card no out etc. I pretend I’m old and deaf and then disappear for a while whilst I get my card then read out the number slowly “are you ready dear. Right the card number is 123........big pause.......456........big pause.......789” and so on. Then they tell me that’s not the right number I pretend I can’t hear them. “What’s that you say dear. It’s a bong number” I don’t have a bong. Sometimes I tell them about my imaginary day and the whole family has their own version of this - kids do various foreign accents, our nanny pretends we’re running dogs home - lots of barking noises and sorry I can’t hear you it’s the dogs - what’s that you say about my computer etc.
We love it when we get one and all stand around sniggering with who can come out with the most outrageous things and keep them on the phone. 12 minutes is my record so far but I figure I’m doing a public service as that’s 12 minutes they’re not trying to scam someone else!

Bingcankissmyass · 13/09/2018 18:57

We decided to get a phone a year ago, and got a lovely new number. The day after it was plugged in we got three calls:
Caller: can I speak to Mr wilson please?
Me: sorry, wrong number.
C: are you in Burnley?
M: er...no.
C: so there's no mr Wilson there?
M: not last time I checked. Bye
These calls carried on for 2 weeks, sometimes ringing at 9pm when dc are in bed. Next time u was ready. ..
C: is Mr Wilson there please?
M: blasts an air Hirn down the phone
Caller hangs up. Next call they got slipknot blasted down the phone. Next call they spoke to my 2yo. Next call they got dead air. The last call...
C: can I speak to Mr Wilson please?
M: for the hundredth fucking time, Mr Wilson hasn't lived here EVER, we are not in blasted Burnley..
C: is there no Mr Wilson then?
M: (frustrated by it all) he's fucking dead.....
5 minutes later I receive a call from the police....phones been unplugged ever since Grin

chocolateworshipper · 13/09/2018 18:57

Another option is to answer calls from an unknown number with "It's done .... but there's blood everywhere"

LoveAScaryTaleMe · 13/09/2018 19:00

Chocolate You are a genius!

findingmywaytoday · 13/09/2018 19:00

They'll ring you regardless. I just put the phone down without warning.

LakieLady · 13/09/2018 19:03

Apparently she had been given the details of the accident I had in February and was pleased to say she could help with my compensation. The only accident I had in February was with my contraception and the baby due in a few weeks is compensation enough for me

Oh, I don't know, they might have been able to get you the £200k or whatever it costs to bring up a child these days. And the conversation would have been very amusing...

Catquest1 · 13/09/2018 19:03

I don't get many anymore but i used to answer the phone as the Russian Embassy Moscow and do my best James Bond villian laugh and voice "ohhh we don't have any problem wiv OUR computers ..... " Sadly a little too controversial to use these days

Loreleigh · 13/09/2018 19:13

These days I tend to be polite and assertive before hanging up the first time scammers call - if they phone again I am rude before hanging up. I used to enjoy winding them up but don't have the patience these days. I once delayed a nuisance caller with a range of excuses for about an hour - I figured it was their phone bill and I was bored - asked them to wait while I answered the door, checked my dinner, comforted my crying baby, fed the dog, ironed the cat... etc and just kept leaving the phone for 15 minutes and being surprised they were still holding - in the end I got bored before telling them not to waste their time calling me again and hanging up.

jwpetal · 13/09/2018 19:16

While I was painting various rooms in the house, I wore a headset and when they called I would play along but then start asking questions about colours, decorating and argument I had with someone etc. They would hang on for a very long time. My favourite was about accidents. I would go through all the accidents I had been in from childhood and If from India, I would act like they were the same person and continue on my conversation from the week before. After awhile, they stopped calling. My painting became so much more mundane after that.

Giantcatbear · 13/09/2018 19:19

Last time I had one of these he hung up on me after I started ranting at him about how he was a crook trying to rip off old ladies.

sueelleker · 13/09/2018 19:20

We have TrueCall as well; if they don't give their name they just don't get through.

MissConductUS · 13/09/2018 19:20

You get the Microsoft scammer calls here in Belgium too

DH works in IT and loves these calls. He'll play along and then say he has to answer the door or something and just leaves the phone on the counter for ten minutes, then picks it up and says "don't hang up, I'll be right back", then off for another 10 minutes.

He tells me that if he wants to talk to Microsoft he has to wait on hold for 30 minutes and them pay them $250 to open a support case.

Bluesmartiesarebest · 13/09/2018 19:25

With the computer ones if I’m bored I pretend to follow their instructions for a few minutes then say ‘does it matter if it isn’t plugged in?’ or ‘I don’t have a computer but it’s been lovely chatting with you’.

For the accident ones ‘yes my accident caused a terrible condition that means I can’t stop singing. There were 10 green bottles hanging on the wall ....’ I’ve never got beyond the second verse of any song.

For some reason I’ve had almost none of these calls for a few months.

KERALA1 · 13/09/2018 19:31

I work from home and was plagued by Indians pretending to be from talk talk - our details been hacked and obviously being sold around Delhi. I was getting 3 calls a day. I put a block on our landline. Bliss. It's free the first 2 times someone calls they hold and you are asked if you accept the call. If you accept twice they are no longer blocked. Not ONE spam call since. Everyone should do it. I know a case where an elderly man lost his house to phone scammers