'I'm ringing up about a problem on your computer...'

[Frontpaw]

...Oh are you now? Funnily enough, I don't have one and haven't called a helpline or ever heard of your company!

I have just put the phone down on one of these calls.

I can't believe these scams are still doing the rounds!

Every week 'Brian' phones me. Or his mate 'Rebecca'. I ask them which PC as we have 3 due to DP's work. And they've never answered it. Once 'Rebecca' called me a silly cow cos I was winding her up. It was lovely.

I know, they are soooo annoying.
I had one and I said 'OK. I'll just put you through to IT support', then I put the phone down.

When they ring about PPI claims, I say 'OK, I'll just put you through to finance' then put the phone down.

Am I being passive aggressive, clever or just plain ignorant because now we just dont bother answering the landline.

I've never had any such call I look forward to bamboozling them with Linux, just as I enjoyed trolling PC world when the sales assistants come up and start spouting balls.

Have had a few of these , I jsut hang up now on most calls to the landline or don't answer.

My 18 yr old LOVES these calls. It's his personal challenge to keep them on as long as possible - he's quite good.

But must they be so obviously calling from a noisy call centre in India? Come on, does anyone actually say 'Oh my gosh! A problem, you say? Yes, have my passwords and credit card details...'.

DS picked up the phone, listened for a minute or two, looked a bit puzzled and handed it to me 'It's a man, mummy. No idea who it is and I have no idea what he is going on about'. Out of the mouths of babes...

Unfortunately, Frontpaw, they probably do get a few "silver surfers" who are taken in. I have had a PPI claims firm calls me as much as 8 times in 24 hours and I did put in a complaint but in the last fortnight I did have a call about my "problem with Windows", so I explained I have Windows 95, an iMac, and linux, so what was this software that was reporting an error.

When the idiot told me it was the Windows 95 system, I laughed and said "that one is the one with no network card, so no way could you have had a message about it". I knew it was a dumb scam, but felt like wasting a few minutes of their time and money while knowing they would get nothing from me...

I am waiting to see if they call back today (maybe not after my matronly 'oh for goodness sake, go away!'). DH is at home today and he will make their ears bleed with his interrogation.

I remember ages ago we got one from 'our credit card company' asking all sorts of quesstions - DoB, security details, etc. I worked in banking so was clued up on these types of calls. Bastards. I last got into a slight barney with another call centre bod who demanded my dob and password before he couls speak to me (he called me). He got stroppy when I said I woulnt tell him and it even says on the bills never to reveal your passord. I suggested he check with his supervisor.

I had a man with a very strong Indian accent call last week who said his name was Kevin Brown.
Unfortunately for him he caught me on a PMT day...

I feel slightly cheated that I've never had one of these calls (evidently they actually respect Telephone Preference setting, suprisingly)

Ive just had one,..... have several a week.

Who are they?

Who are they?

Con artists, cold-calling to see if they can find a mug victim willing to
a) pay them to install "anti-virus" software and
b) that so-called "anti-virus" software may be malware that can help the con artists get financial and other personal information off your computer (or monitor you using your web browser to capture details like passwords and card numbers).

Of course for (a) to work, they will be taking name (address) and card number (which they can sell on to other con artists after they've charged for their abuse of "service" on the user's PC)

grimma "evidently they actually respect Telephone Preference setting, "

No they don't. I have that and have had two calls in the last week.

I tell them they are immoral, illegal and that their mothers would be ashamed of them before putting the phone down. Makes me feel better at least!

My Best friend's partner is a bit of a computer genius and loves keeping them on as log as poss. Last time I saw them he said he (tragically, he admits) set up some kind of "dummy" windows system where he could actually see them going through the necessary steps to take over his computer.

Bastards!

The main thing is to warn the more... Erm... Naive people you know. Both my DM and PILs have had these calls, including "from virgin media" as well as "from Microsoft" and took them seriously for a few minutes.

They are still doing the rounds because people fall for them. I know people who have, sadly. DH entertained himself by keeping them on the line for a while - they have now learned to hang up if someone asks knowledgable questions, though. And no, they don't respect telephone preference at all.

I had 'infections' in my computer (obviously translation not working too well there...think they meant non existent viuruses )
very concerned as to what infections it had - i needed details. What if it needed antibiotics or tissues?

What to do - if you are inclined -
look for a pen to take down persons name and other 'notes' (waste 10 mins)
Pen not working, look for a pencil (waste 10 more mins)
Pencil needs shapened, look for shapener (waste more time)
Cant find notebook (waste more time)
then follow the anti telemarketing script here - egbg.home.xs4all.nl/counterscript.html

enjoy!