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Unsolicited calls concerning your computer


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Old 14-09-2011, 14:52
late8
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That's easy. I bet you are in front of your computer right now.

They just harvest phone numbers and call people randomly. If they called someone without a PC we wouldn't get to know about it on here would we.
True - unless its leaked information from ISP's - phone companies do share info hence why these calls most of the time are from India.
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Old 14-09-2011, 18:18
James2001
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If they called someone without a PC we wouldn't get to know about it on here would we.
They've phoned my grandmother- she wouldn't even know how to switch a PC on!
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Old 14-09-2011, 23:12
DB5
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I just tell them I don't have a computer. I presume they know I do, but they can hardly call me a liar over the phone so they hang up. Works every time.

A colleague of mine just has a whole fake security questionnaire typed up and waiting by the phone for cold callers. He's perfectly polite and says that, of course, he'll answer their questions. But first, and he's sure they'll understand, he needs to run them through some security questions first. And then he takes them through this whole lot of cock he's made up as he asks them for passwords, Mother's maiden name, etc. He says it's astonishing the reaction he gets - a few of them even answer some of the questions!
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Old 15-09-2011, 12:12
RobinOfLoxley
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A Police Impersonation Scam reported now.

Cocky little blighters.
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Old 18-09-2011, 17:33
Xwater7
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If I had a black and white computer, I'm sure the problems would be much better.

I have small problems with my computer, more about the way the screens sticks on boot. Given time its ok. I think about a few weeks ago it was so fast i could not believe it and thought it must have been something i had cleaned up with some sofware.

I also get messages come up on my screen that says script, I don;t know where these come from because I have not downloaded anything.
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Old 18-09-2011, 18:14
zx50
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If I had a black and white computer, I'm sure the problems would be much better.

I have small problems with my computer, more about the way the screens sticks on boot. Given time its ok. I think about a few weeks ago it was so fast i could not believe it and thought it must have been something i had cleaned up with some sofware.

I also get messages come up on my screen that says script, I don;t know where these come from because I have not downloaded anything.
You might get an answer if you post a thread in the actual help section. You might.
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Old 19-09-2011, 15:49
Miriams Sister
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I have just had a second phone call from "International" begging me to turn on my computer. I said no, and they insisted they were getting reports from from computer and that is why they keep ringing and if I just turn it on they would help me and I would be thanking them and not have any more calls.

I said I already have Malwarebytes spyware and Norton and there is nothing wrong with it. He said they were getting reports of malicious stuff in my computer. I said I would go and buy a new one then and he said it wouldn't make any difference it was the internet. He said they would keep ringing so I said then I will click off like I am now, and clicked off.

Is this right for me to do this?
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Old 19-09-2011, 15:52
anniebrion
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Is this right for me to do this?
Just tell them you don't have a computer, they'll soon put the phone down
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Old 19-09-2011, 15:54
Orbitalzone
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What hang up? - of course you can do that!!!

Other people say that they'll just going to turn on the computer, put the phone down and let the scammer waste their time waiting for you to come back (obviously you don't come back, but put on the TV or such like)

These people are scammers trying to trick you out of money for a problem that does not exist, you're perfectly entitled to pretty much do what you like, so hanging up is no big deal.

People seem to have great difficulty in being rude or abrupt to these nuisance calls, think nothing more about it, they'll be calling the next person as soon as you hang up.
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Old 19-09-2011, 19:47
Miriams Sister
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Thanks. I was beginning to think maybe there was something wrong.
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Old 22-09-2011, 09:12
Tadpole
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One of the local councils put out a warning yesterday about such scams, so they're setting off alarm bells with Trading Standards.

http://www.northwarks.gov.uk/news/ar...puter_fix_scam
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Old 22-09-2011, 20:49
Tadpole
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Microsoft have taken action against an India-based Gold support partner for scamming

Microsoft has thrown out one of its "Gold status" partners after finding it was taking part in a tech support scam.

...

The callers claim to be from Microsoft or associated with the company, and offer to remove the malware for a cost - with some charging as much as £185.
From PC Pro : http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/370054/m...port-call-scam
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Old 02-10-2011, 12:16
PhilH36
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People seem to have great difficulty in being rude or abrupt to these nuisance calls, think nothing more about it, they'll be calling the next person as soon as you hang up.
I'm getting these calls almost every other day now,,on one of them I just shouted at the guy that 'I know how to look after my computer and there's nothing wrong with it so stop fu*king ringing me all the time' and banged the receiver down.
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Old 02-10-2011, 12:39
GPW
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhV6r...eature=related
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Old 03-10-2011, 09:49
GetFrodo
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Is this right for me to do this?
My Dad has this problem, with every marketing call he has to be polite, listen to their spiel and then explain that no, he is not interested this time.

I, on the other hand, think I am being very polite when, as soon as I realise that it is a cold call, interrupt them with "No thanks, good bye" and hang up. Fair play to those who play along and waste the caller's time, but I really can't be bothered.
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Old 03-10-2011, 11:54
late8
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My Dad has this problem, with every marketing call he has to be polite, listen to their spiel and then explain that no, he is not interested this time.

I, on the other hand, think I am being very polite when, as soon as I realise that it is a cold call, interrupt them with "No thanks, good bye" and hang up. Fair play to those who play along and waste the caller's time, but I really can't be bothered.
I must admit I have been doing the same recently. although it is fun to play along because they get very angry.
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Old 03-10-2011, 13:53
plankwalker
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If you can click on a forum or posting site and leave it, then comeback later and sign on (perhaps even after you have rebooted), they could be tracking you.
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Old 03-10-2011, 13:55
plankwalker
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If you can click on a forum or posting site and leave it, then comeback later and sign on (perhaps even after you have rebooted), they could be tracking you.
Sorry, should have said rejoined the site later, but not had to go through signing on, then they could be tracking you.
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Old 15-10-2011, 20:13
dsnik
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I spun them on for at least 15 minutes over two calls today.
I started off being very concerned that I had a problem.
When they asked me to turn my computer on I asked which one. I said that I had three
Pretended to be suspicious as they wouldn't tell me which one.
After lots of faffing about they said that it was probably the oldest one.
Pretended to turn one and and then kept them waiting saying it was very slow.
I then told them that it said that there was a disk error and that the PC was doing a Checkdisk
After sometime I said that it was on 8 percent.
Even though I said that it was doing a checkdisk he said that I should press the start button.
I spent a few minutes going around this loop saying that the start button wasn't there yet.
14% I said sounding concerned.
Every now and them I would ask are we wasting your time or mine, just to give them a little clue.
23%
Throughout this conversation I was passed to different tech support/supervisors.
At the next next hand over I reverted to the old "Answer every question with yes" routine using my very best "Goon Show" voice.
This conversation took some time to get to
Can you speak English? Yeeeeeees
Can you say anything other than yes? Yeeeeeeeeeeess

When this became boring I asked why he was phoning me up on a Saturday afternoon trying to steal my money. Extended conversation followed ending with him saying that you don't get good support for nothing. The last minute or so was mainly me asking him if he thought that it was honourable to be cheating people out of their money for a living and him saying that I thought that I was so clever and that I would need technical support very soon.
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Old 21-10-2011, 16:03
ziderhead
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I had a call earlier asking to speak to the home owner, I said thats me etc

This indian guy in not very good english then said he was calling from Microsoft as they had noticed that I had some viruses on in my Windows software and that my current anti virus protection wouldnt be able to correct this.

He then proceeded to tell me he could correct this for me via the internet...

At this point I said can you connect me to Bill Gates to discuss further to which it went silent...

He then asked if I had credit cards..

I said yes thanks, why do you sell them too ?

Again silence.

I then said i would much prefer if he came round and sorted it as I prefer to deal in cash...

Again silence.

I then started laughing lots and he hung up, how rude lol

So I think that was a con, anyone had anything similar ?
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Old 21-10-2011, 16:04
TheMagic8ball
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Fonejacker.
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Old 21-10-2011, 16:05
divingbboy
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Oldest tech scam in the book..........
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Old 21-10-2011, 16:05
Chizzleface
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It's a regular scam, they hit as many phone numbers as they can and eventually they get through to some gullible poor fool who believes them.

If you know anyone who might be fooled by something like this, let them know and let them know never to give bank or card details out over the phone.
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Old 21-10-2011, 16:07
fmradiotuner1
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More info on this here

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1435992
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Old 21-10-2011, 16:50
the gold room
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this guy knows how to deal with them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvn6m...eature=related
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