Have had 2 calls in 2 days about 'my computer' from an Indian call centre. Can't even be bothered to string them along, just go no and hang up. They always ask for my Mam though and that annoys me. She hadn't got a computer thankfully, hate to think they're trying to scan a pensioner.
Unsolicited calls concerning your computer
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I came across a particularly malicious one this week. The guy did the usual of remoting in and pretending to fix the elderly lady's PC. But when she realised it was a scam and refused to pay the £200, he placed a password on Windows and locked her out of the computer. It wasn't even the regular and easy to remove Windows login password.
I get 2 calls a day from these bastards, usually around lunchtime and then again at teatime. The last one I told the guy I didn't have a computer just to get rid of him. I also informed him that we were on telephone preference and shouldn't be getting these types of calls anyway. He said, and I quote, "It doesn't matter what you have, we are allowed to call you. You're not very helpful are you, sir? I'm just trying to fix your problem". When I told him we don't have a computer he responded, "Well, how do you explain these error messages we keep getting from your house?" He then read my address out. I told him that it was his error, not mine and that if he called again I was calling the police to report his company. He swiftly hung up. But he will be back. And the more they keep calling, the more abusive I'm going to be with them. Two phone calls a day for months is an absolute disgrace. 
Worrying that they have both your phone number and address. Did they also know your name?
My guess is some web sales data has worked its way into mailing lists. I tend to use minor spelling errors when buying from small companies and have traced some junk mail this way back to companies where I have deinitely opted out of "sharing information with trusted partners".
One strategy that might work is asking them if they have found Jesus, and going into detail about how that has helped your life. You might even get them to help pray for your computer to heal. See how long you can keep them on the line.
My guess is some web sales data has worked its way into mailing lists. I tend to use minor spelling errors when buying from small companies and have traced some junk mail this way back to companies where I have deinitely opted out of "sharing information with trusted partners".
One strategy that might work is asking them if they have found Jesus, and going into detail about how that has helped your life. You might even get them to help pray for your computer to heal. See how long you can keep them on the line.
Apparently, a good way to get rid of them and stop them calling back is to pretend that you are a call centre yourself, and they delete the number from their system then. Just act like you are BT or something and ask for their customer number or name. This should stump them and they hang up and hopefully not ring back.
Had another one of these calls today only where as before they have always asked me to go to Event Viewer, today they got me to type in "Inf Hacker". I see this is a folder with what I assume is a lot of windows file but the bloke said because I hadn't created them they must be put there by hackers. 
When I questionned why windows would hide these warnings in an obscure folder, he hung up on me but I can see why an elderly person might be fooled by this rubbish.
Any way, what I'd like to know is, what IS this folder for? Can anyone help.
When I questionned why windows would hide these warnings in an obscure folder, he hung up on me but I can see why an elderly person might be fooled by this rubbish.
Any way, what I'd like to know is, what IS this folder for? Can anyone help.
Originally Posted by Miss Anthropic:
“Had another one of these calls today only where as before they have always asked me to go to Event Viewer, today they got me to type in "Inf Hacker". I see this is a folder with what I assume is a lot of windows file but the bloke said because I hadn't created them they must be put there by hackers.
When I questionned why windows would hide these warnings in an obscure folder, he hung up on me but I can see why an elderly person might be fooled by this rubbish.
Any way, what I'd like to know is, what IS this folder for? Can anyone help.”
“Had another one of these calls today only where as before they have always asked me to go to Event Viewer, today they got me to type in "Inf Hacker". I see this is a folder with what I assume is a lot of windows file but the bloke said because I hadn't created them they must be put there by hackers.
When I questionned why windows would hide these warnings in an obscure folder, he hung up on me but I can see why an elderly person might be fooled by this rubbish.
Any way, what I'd like to know is, what IS this folder for? Can anyone help.
”
Doh! Not to worry. I realise Windows wouldnt recognse the space and you could type in "Inf Pink Elephants" and be taken to the same place.
Originally Posted by Miss Anthropic:
“Doh! Not to worry. I realise Windows wouldnt recognse the space and you could type in "Inf Pink Elephants" and be taken to the same place.”
“Doh! Not to worry. I realise Windows wouldnt recognse the space and you could type in "Inf Pink Elephants" and be taken to the same place.
”
I don't know why you even answered the phone. Someone rang me at lunchtime, no idea who they were.
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“I don't know why you even answered the phone. Someone rang me at lunchtime, no idea who they were.”
“I don't know why you even answered the phone. Someone rang me at lunchtime, no idea who they were.”
I don't have caller display so I always answer.
Originally Posted by Desolate one:
“If you have BT the a call to them and you can eliminate those errant callls.”
“If you have BT the a call to them and you can eliminate those errant callls.”
There isn't much that BT can do. They can set up the "anonymous call" reject feature or "number withheld" reject feature but the problem with doing that is that GP surgeries and hospitals routinely withhold their numbers as do many government departments (eg the DWP, HMRC) so by blocking one type of call you run the risk of blocking important calls.
Just has one about 15 minutes ago. Fortunately out phone is wired and away from the computer, so we can't take it to the computer. They didn't seem to understand that and hung up.
I must be getting more tolerant of these calls as I had one today and managed to keep the guy going for 15 minutes before he hung up. They appear to have changed the remote software they use and now ask you to visit www.ammyy.com
I did ask if they could they tell me which computer they were concerned about and all they could say was the one with Windows XP which would be great if I had one that still used XP but at least I was able to keep transferring music to my iPod whilst listening to them struggle with their script. Maybe we need someone to come up with a counter script we could use at times like this in order to keep them on the line for as long as possible without being aware we know what they are doing
I did ask if they could they tell me which computer they were concerned about and all they could say was the one with Windows XP which would be great if I had one that still used XP but at least I was able to keep transferring music to my iPod whilst listening to them struggle with their script. Maybe we need someone to come up with a counter script we could use at times like this in order to keep them on the line for as long as possible without being aware we know what they are doing
Well, the PPI calls are tailing off now and the PC maintenance ones have started again! One of them came along before I'd had my morning coffee, so she got both barrels. I really couldn't be rsed stringing her along, I just told her she was a criminal and to clear off.
I just had one of these calls..it was on my home line but I said I could not talk because I was driving.!!.stupid idiot called back 30 mins later ..I told him my computer tech would look into it when he gets in before I go to court..I told him my speciality was investigating fraud..he hung up..
Originally Posted by Anne_Kirkby:
“I just had one of these calls..it was on my home line but I said I could not talk because I was driving.!!.stupid idiot called back 30 mins later ..I told him my computer tech would look into it when he gets in before I go to court..I told him my speciality was investigating fraud..he hung up..”
“I just had one of these calls..it was on my home line but I said I could not talk because I was driving.!!.stupid idiot called back 30 mins later ..I told him my computer tech would look into it when he gets in before I go to court..I told him my speciality was investigating fraud..he hung up..”
good answer
There is now a variation of this scam using Skype. An unknown Skype caller claims they are from the 'Skype Maintenace Team' and they try to use the same remote connection method to 'fix' your PC.
An easy defence for this is altering your privacy settings to allow calls and IMs from your contacts only.
An easy defence for this is altering your privacy settings to allow calls and IMs from your contacts only.
43 minutes. a new record
Gave me a big, big laugh though. It was the "CLSID" approach, so after a while, I said "You do realise that this identifies a COM Class Object don't you ?". He said "And how do you know this Sir?".
I said "Well I work as a computer programmer". He said "Well you may be a programmer but we are windows support - we have more knowledge than you".
I laughed out loud at that and hung up
Gave me a big, big laugh though. It was the "CLSID" approach, so after a while, I said "You do realise that this identifies a COM Class Object don't you ?". He said "And how do you know this Sir?".
I said "Well I work as a computer programmer". He said "Well you may be a programmer but we are windows support - we have more knowledge than you".
I laughed out loud at that and hung up
quoting TPS to these guys is no good. They are not a genuine firm. They are fraudsters. It is like asking a burgular why he did not see the sign on your window for no "cold calling".
I hadn't had a call for a long time maybe 6 months but got one yesterday. I have had my 'fun' playing along so instead it was a quick f*** o** and hang up. I was not in the best of moods at the time so next time it will be 'go forth and multiply' in a nicer tone.
I've just had another. They made it long-winded enough themselves without any help from me. After 12 minutes I told them they were just a bunch of effing criminals who are trying to get control of my computer'.
'Just a minute sir, you cannot call us criminals!'
'I'll call you what I effing want. If you call me with the intention of ripping me off, I can call you criminals. Now get stuffed!'
A period of silence followed, then the phone went down.
'Just a minute sir, you cannot call us criminals!'
'I'll call you what I effing want. If you call me with the intention of ripping me off, I can call you criminals. Now get stuffed!'
A period of silence followed, then the phone went down.
Just had my first call today so I followed all his instructions even though windows wasn't even turned on.
wanted me to type in msconfig told me that all the services marked as stopped were errors he could help me to fix told me to download team viewer so he could see what was going on . once he asked for the 9 digit code for team viewer I hung up .
Phone rang about 9 times in the next half hour I think he's given up for today at least.
wanted me to type in msconfig told me that all the services marked as stopped were errors he could help me to fix told me to download team viewer so he could see what was going on . once he asked for the 9 digit code for team viewer I hung up .
Phone rang about 9 times in the next half hour I think he's given up for today at least.
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