I'm delighted to say I got one of these calls on Saturday morning. My wife answered the phone, listened for a moment and said "oh, I think my husband would the one to talk to," She passed the phone to me as an Indian guy started rhyming off the major problems I had on my computer that had been reported by Microsoft. I asked which computer was causing the problem as I had a PC, my wife had a laptop and my three daughters all had laptops (the three daughters are ficticious by the way but I felt like trying to cause a bit of confusion). He got very excited and asked me to switch on any machine. After replying that I'd get the laptop out and after leaving him on hold for a few minutes I picked up the phone to apologize profusely that the battery was flat and that I'd have to pop downstairs to try another one.
More holding on, another 5 minutes wait (with my wife assuring him that I was just getting another machine to keep him interested). I then came back on line and said that the machine was booting up. He asked me to log in but I explained that it hadn't finished booting up yet. I said that I'd just put him on hold again and come back when the machine had booted up. I put the phone alongside the radio so that the nice man could listen to Sounds Of The Sixties with us. I gave him a chance to listen to "Boom Bang A Bang" and "Sunshine of your Love" - good choices Brian Matthew
I picked up the phone and explained that the laptop still wasn't booting up. The man then called me a very rude word and hung up. Honestly - some people.
I had yet another call from these scammers today. I decided to string them along a bit so agreed to switch on my computer. First guy asked me to get the event viewer up and tell him what errors I could see. I told him there were none and that foxed him. I could hear him asking some women what to say next. This is their way to get the un savvy to think their pc has errors. He tried again asking me to double click on type to sort the errors and scroll down . I told him there were still no errors visible.
Another guy comes on and tells me he is the manager and then directly asks me to type a web address into my browser. Up comes this page with free download of remote access software. He asks me to double click the download button. I said "I can't". He said "why not" and I said "because there is a warning message". He says "what does it say" and I said "do not click on this site". Again, he discusses with the women and comes back and says "no problem sir and hung up". Defeated them!
Just had another one.
He told me to look for the CTRL key, but I insisted I couldn't find one. Increasingly exasperated, he told me to look to the left of the spacebar, but I just said there was nothing there, no keys at all.
I kept him (actually 3 of them!) faffing around for ten minutes and when he finally asked me what it said on the screen, I said:
I had a phone call a couple of days ago and he started by saying that he was from Microsoft and that I had problems with my computer.
The fun started when I started saying how the hell have you got this number and how are you on the computer. Do you know who I work for. When he said no, I said I work for MI5 and we are in the process of tracing this call and within 10 minutes expect a knock on the door by the local authority because you have hacked into a government computer and telephoned a government telephone number.
Christ Almighty I must be on a hitlist or something, as I've just had another!
Strung him along for a few minutes (computer booting, someone at the door etc) then just as he was about to launch into his Event Viewer spiel I asked him if he would do something for me.
Him: Pardon?
Me: You sound like a very nice man. Just before we start would you kindly do something for me?
Him: yes sir, what would you like me to do?
Me (sniggering like a schoolboy): Bend over and stick your phone right up your arse!
Had one about 2 months ago..... thought i'd play along as i had some time to waste and an old laptop with a fresh install of XP on it (although it strangely took about 15 mins to load ), i gave them access and let them fondle around as much as they liked, downloading different registry cleaners and the like ... playing dumb of course and praising microsoft for bringing it to my attention, they even brought up a notepad onscreen to show a breakdown of thier costs and comparing examples as such with "bought products"...... i liked they way they said "notice how all your icons have disappeared from the desktop, thats the errors on your computer causing that".
I've got to admit they could be very convincing to anyone without knowledge of computers/software, but as this was a new install with minimal updates i knew theres nothing on there to be faulty..... about 45 mins into our deep and meaningful conversation and some back 'n' forth about the price i mentioned that what they've downloaded is all Free from the web and they've just accessed a totally fresh install with NO errors and they were talking utter crap...... with this length of time on the phone they didn't want to give up and i think i got passed on about 5 times to various "technicians" and "managers" in all, i ended our session by disconnecting my broadband while they were active at my computer (incase they wanted to install a virus when i hung up), i then thanked them for completely wasting thier time and put the phone down, i've not been called since!
a shame really because i enjoyed it immensely, i was hoping they would ring back.
i couldn't be bothered to see exactly what they did..... i just formatted and re-installed XP.
While these tales are all very entertaining - I suspect most of us just wouldn't have the time to string them along. Just say you don't have a computer and hang up, is the best policy IMHO.
If you receive an unsolicited telephone call from someone wishing to discuss the performance or security of your computer, it is a scam. Do not divulge any personal details, and do not download anything to your computer.
Mods: please make this sticky
Thanks guys! I just received a call ( international unavailable ) The guy with an asian accent asked for me by name and said he was from windows technical and this was an emergency, my PC had been infected by malware and if I would go to the computer he would walk me through what to do, I immediately put the phone down, but he was very keen and rang twice more!
I couple of weeks ago I had someone phone with a thick accent telling me "we're phoning about your computer", I just left the phone off the hook, put it next to the TV speaker and walked off for a few minutes, he'd gone by the time I got back.
the strangets internet scam iv seen is the PCeU scam,,,,,as a virus it puts a program in your star up box,,,,everytime you boot up your computer you get ascreen saying your computer has been locked by PCeU due to child porn or violent content or terrorist activity (this happens even if you haven.t been doing illegal stuff as it is a virus). Nothing works to get out of the screen not even Ctrl alt del.
The screen goes on to say that your computer has been locked and frozen until you pay a fine of £100.
The real PCeU have put out a statement saying they would never do this. The only way to get rid of this is to start up in safe mode go to your start up folder and delete the strange .exe file (it usually has lots of numbers.exe) make sure you do a virus boot up scan and your computer should boot up as normal.
DO NOT PAY THE FINE AS IT IS A VIRUS AND A SCAM
I have started a cold caller policy that when it is convenient to do so every call I get I try to keep the person on the phoneline as long as I can, the longer I can keep this up the better it is a challenge. Making sure that I never devulge any personal detaills I appear to be very interested and keep asking them question after question, actually I get a sort of kick out of doing it knowing I am wasting their time. In the end I tell them something like I apologise because I have to go to the loo and if they hear a strange noise not to worry, then I take the phone into the loo make a massive farting sound and then flush the loo. 9 times out of ten by then they are gone but I had one persistent guy the other day who was still there on the phone.
My favourite is the one that I have fault on my computer and keep asking me to do things which I tell them I am doing when I am not.
Luckily now I am retired I have the time to mess these cold callers up big time as I spend lots of time at home doing a project on my computer or reading books, so it just creates a bit of free light entertainment for me.
If everyone could try to do this, just waste their time, if you have not got the time to spare just tell them to hold on a moment and just leave the phone off the hook, anything at all just to waste their time. I despise any type of cold calling, the sooner it is stamped out the better, TPS is as good as useless as it will not stop any "international" calls.
I got a slightly different one this morning - "James from Safe Services calling about your computer and laptop - offering a free check to see if there are any problems and we will fix them. I believe you are working on the system at the moment?" The ones I've had before have all been along the lines of them having a report that our computer had viruses, so just thought I would report the new variation. I couldn't keep him on the line to see what he would say next as I had an appointment to get to.
It shows how amateurish they are that their so-called expert couldn't recognise a Linux desktop and said they don't support Macs, and asked me to use the Windows computer.
Are you aware there's a Linux theme that looks exactly like XP? That could be fun watching them try to load windows software onto that
I just received a call from someone with a strong Indian accent claiming to be Jake Tyler from Microsoft who had recieved error reports from our PC, I hung up, I presume it was a scam?
Comments
Thank you. Lol yes she certainly has, I've shown her a bunch of articles about the scams and she feels very silly bless her.
More holding on, another 5 minutes wait (with my wife assuring him that I was just getting another machine to keep him interested). I then came back on line and said that the machine was booting up. He asked me to log in but I explained that it hadn't finished booting up yet. I said that I'd just put him on hold again and come back when the machine had booted up. I put the phone alongside the radio so that the nice man could listen to Sounds Of The Sixties with us. I gave him a chance to listen to "Boom Bang A Bang" and "Sunshine of your Love" - good choices Brian Matthew
I picked up the phone and explained that the laptop still wasn't booting up. The man then called me a very rude word and hung up. Honestly - some people.
The guy then rang me back and starting swearing at me and saying I had wasted his time!
I would love to get another call so that I can watse their time again as it stops then conning other people.
Another guy comes on and tells me he is the manager and then directly asks me to type a web address into my browser. Up comes this page with free download of remote access software. He asks me to double click the download button. I said "I can't". He said "why not" and I said "because there is a warning message". He says "what does it say" and I said "do not click on this site". Again, he discusses with the women and comes back and says "no problem sir and hung up". Defeated them!
Did you tell him you had a Mac?
He told me to look for the CTRL key, but I insisted I couldn't find one. Increasingly exasperated, he told me to look to the left of the spacebar, but I just said there was nothing there, no keys at all.
I kept him (actually 3 of them!) faffing around for ten minutes and when he finally asked me what it said on the screen, I said:
"BBC micro 32K".
..and the fun begins....
I love these calls.
The fun started when I started saying how the hell have you got this number and how are you on the computer. Do you know who I work for. When he said no, I said I work for MI5 and we are in the process of tracing this call and within 10 minutes expect a knock on the door by the local authority because you have hacked into a government computer and telephoned a government telephone number.
He panicked and hung up....
Strung him along for a few minutes (computer booting, someone at the door etc) then just as he was about to launch into his Event Viewer spiel I asked him if he would do something for me.
Him: Pardon?
Me: You sound like a very nice man. Just before we start would you kindly do something for me?
Him: yes sir, what would you like me to do?
Me (sniggering like a schoolboy): Bend over and stick your phone right up your arse!
Click....
I've got to admit they could be very convincing to anyone without knowledge of computers/software, but as this was a new install with minimal updates i knew theres nothing on there to be faulty..... about 45 mins into our deep and meaningful conversation and some back 'n' forth about the price i mentioned that what they've downloaded is all Free from the web and they've just accessed a totally fresh install with NO errors and they were talking utter crap...... with this length of time on the phone they didn't want to give up and i think i got passed on about 5 times to various "technicians" and "managers" in all, i ended our session by disconnecting my broadband while they were active at my computer (incase they wanted to install a virus when i hung up), i then thanked them for completely wasting thier time and put the phone down, i've not been called since!
a shame really because i enjoyed it immensely, i was hoping they would ring back.
i couldn't be bothered to see exactly what they did..... i just formatted and re-installed XP.
Thanks guys! I just received a call ( international unavailable ) The guy with an asian accent asked for me by name and said he was from windows technical and this was an emergency, my PC had been infected by malware and if I would go to the computer he would walk me through what to do, I immediately put the phone down, but he was very keen and rang twice more!
just say to the guy or gal
please give me your e mail address
Ill send you an e mail and we can go on from there.
10 to 1 they wont give you their e mail addy !
"Jim" from "Computer Maintenance" got the phone put straight down on him.
I was in the middle of doing my lunch so no chance for fun.
The screen goes on to say that your computer has been locked and frozen until you pay a fine of £100.
The real PCeU have put out a statement saying they would never do this. The only way to get rid of this is to start up in safe mode go to your start up folder and delete the strange .exe file (it usually has lots of numbers.exe) make sure you do a virus boot up scan and your computer should boot up as normal.
DO NOT PAY THE FINE AS IT IS A VIRUS AND A SCAM
My favourite is the one that I have fault on my computer and keep asking me to do things which I tell them I am doing when I am not.
Luckily now I am retired I have the time to mess these cold callers up big time as I spend lots of time at home doing a project on my computer or reading books, so it just creates a bit of free light entertainment for me.
If everyone could try to do this, just waste their time, if you have not got the time to spare just tell them to hold on a moment and just leave the phone off the hook, anything at all just to waste their time. I despise any type of cold calling, the sooner it is stamped out the better, TPS is as good as useless as it will not stop any "international" calls.
Kind of wish I'd played along for a bit now just for a laugh
Take a look here for anyone who hasn't seen it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4StlvX-kOg