| | Phone scams??Page 1 of 2 (1, 2) | I have just had somebody phone me today (twice) and tell me his name was Jay and he was from the Technical department and they had reports of my internet activity over the past few weeks and he told me to turn on my computer so he could go through it with me, so I asked what websites I had been on lately and he put the phone down on me!!
10 minutes later he called again and said the same thing, I asked which company he worked for and he said Windows!!! I said oh so Microsoft are now phoning people up, he said no I am not from Microsoft I am from Windows technical department lol!! I said well hard luck because I have a Mac (I don't).............
Has anybody come across this before? What scam would he have been pulling? Bank account details maybe? Pay for the "report?" | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 5:38:21 AM | | Yes all the time. If you do a 1471 (as I expect it comes through on your landline) the number will be very odd. They are just trying to hack into your computer. They told me my antivirus wasnt working and they could talk me though it if I switched my pc on and did what they instructed. lol | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 5:43:43 AM | ^^^^^^^^
Thanks, I just did 1471 and it said we do not have the caller's number to return the call.
These scammers are everywhere!!!! | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 5:45:11 AM | | Exact same thing happened to a colleague of mine about 2 months ago and they have phoned back at least 10 times. She just hangs up on them. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 5:47:31 AM | I haven't heard of this but it sounds like at some stage he would have asked for 'specific' details, either bank or personal etc. Other possibility and bear in mind, I think this one is highly unlikely and I don't want to worry you is that he was checking if the house was occupied or was trying to get access to your internet.
You did exactly the right thing in challenging him, even better that you said you had a mac.
Doubt if there is a lot you can do about it unless you had caller number showing so could report to your phone company. Might be worthwhile giving local police a call although I doubt if they would do anything.
I wonder how many people will be caught out by this. Probably quite a few elderly that don't know much about computers and think this is genuine (and of course others who are just gullible).
Just did a quick search and came up with this
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 6:05:49 AM | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The thing is I work with elderly people and while they may think they are whizz kids on their laptops, I have a feeling a lot of them don't really understand.
And yes Gemini lady I would say it was from an Indian call centre, thanks for that article I will print it off for them. | |
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Posted: 4/13/2012 6:17:02 AM | with windows you can give anybody on the net full control of your computer, thats why they need to talk you through it "you have to enable it" which would allow them to do whatever they wanted and install anything they chose to.
it exists to allow remote tech support, never allow it is the best advice i can offer.
edit:
here's a couple of links that describe it
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300546
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Remote_Assistance
note it's xp and all versions after. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 6:20:29 AM | Here you go OP,
Look what I've found
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
They may have been trying to get your email address so they can send you a trojan to access your
system. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 11:22:38 AM | This is a well known scam, they also say they are going to fix what the problem is and then ask for payment via credit card. This was announced on the local radio, where a husband gave all details and the presenter(wife) was fuming. Her husband thought it was genuine and he wont have been the only one taken in, she was just glad they took the £50 quid from credit card. But if they had got access to their computer, no telling what would happen to their private stuff or kept passwords, bank account details etc. There was also discussed the possibility of being able to regain the £50 they took from the credit card, due to consumers rights of goods not as specified, but not sure, up to your discussion with your credit card provider.
Do not take these calls! I have had many over the years and I do not let them go further than say who they are. My family are also told about it, so pass it round yours. Since when did Microsoft call you all the times you have had a computer? and they always sound like we should realise they are the real deal (almost exasperated that we dare ask!) and we should be grateful they called!!! | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 11:52:34 AM | it's hard to believe how many people when called by a stranger get taken in!
one rule of thumb is any genuine caller will first say who they are and who they represent.
non genuine callers will not, it doesn't matter if they ask to speak to you by name know your age sex and preferred colour of underwear, just say no! not interested! and hang up!
or just hang up.
even for any otherwise genuine caller don't tell them anything.
if they ask they are not genuine, if they are genuine and it's important they will stick it in the mail asking you to contact them.
in which case you should use the number in the book or at least one you "know" is theirs.
the quicker you cut them off the less likely they will call back.
if you give them any time the more likely they will call back, as they will see that as you being unsure and worth another try. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 1:03:45 PM | I am so sick of unsolicited phone calls to my landline we simply NEVER answer the phone anymore, ever.
My daughters and I have mobiles, if people need us they call us on those. My son is away at the moment working, he knows to start speaking and we then pick up, but all the other calls we ignore. I am talking dozens of calls a day,all cold callers.
When he gets back I am considering unplugging the landline completely, I only have it for the internet anyway.
Edit vvvvvvvvvv
Thanks, is it a free service? I am even ex-directory...no point really these days is there. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 1:15:08 PM |
I am talking dozens of calls a day,all cold callers
I registered with the TPS and i have not recieved any cold calls in the last 6 months since registering with them .
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a central opt out register whereby individuals can register their wish not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls. It is a legal requirement that companies do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 1:19:54 PM | Well if that's the most convincing argument that the scammers can come up with I cant see them making much money. Frankly if they rang me I'd just take the pi55 out of them and their lack of knowledge....
They wouldn't be calling back anytime soon.
Bob. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 1:31:23 PM | There are several vids on youtube where people have recorded their conversations with these people...most of them wind them up something rotten. I have been crying with laughter at some...Hit youtube and search for :
Scam onlinepccare.com call - The Highlights! 1/3
At the6 to 7 minmark when the guy is trying to get him to run internet explorer from the run box is some of the funniest stuf i have heard since the infestation of 419 scammers and people who took them for a ride :) | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 1:33:05 PM |
Thanks, is it a free service? I am even ex-directory...no point really these days is there.
Yes its free contact BT
BT Privacy
If you are a BT customer, you can also register with the Telephone preference scheme through the BT privacy service which, in addition will give caller display at no extra charge. This is a free service -
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/13/2012 1:33:13 PM | Simple - don't have a landline
why pay 2 phone bills anyway if you have a mobile as well?
and the Brazilian lass above is right about the TPS, put my mum on it years ago | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/14/2012 12:20:44 AM | I will get onto TPS today, thanks for the tip, as I also get a lot of these "Have you been mis-sold PPI insurance calls" too, bloody annoying to say the least.
I have to have a landline for my Internet and BT Vision so no choice really.
You wouldn't think people would be suckered in but they are every day, they prey on people's vulnerabilities and lack of knowledge. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/14/2012 9:47:29 AM |
I am so sick of unsolicited phone calls to my landline we simply NEVER answer the phone anymore, ever.
Me too. I even turn it down so I can't hear it ring most of the time. At the moment I'm getting lots of calls and mail because (I think) my car insurance is due. No one ever leaves a message or number though.
I registered with someone years ago, can't remember who, but it never made any difference. Will try registering again, thanks for that. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/14/2012 9:49:55 AM |
I have to have a landline for my Internet and BT Vision so no choice really.
That's why I went with Virgin, you can have internet only | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/14/2012 9:50:03 AM | | I get some but Im not inundated with them. Im ashamed to say that if I hear an indian accent I put the phone down. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/14/2012 10:13:27 AM | | Iv'e had something similar like this a few months ago. stating " There's something wrong with your computer?" I replyed there's nothing wrong with my computer and put the phone down.LoL. I knew about this scam as i read about it in a local paper. I haden't long just bought a new computer last september. All there wanting is to get you on-line and get your bank details. | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 4/14/2012 10:37:52 AM | | Wow that sounds fun never had that phone call before sadly | |
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Posted: 8/2/2012 10:15:51 PM | my ex was getting phone calls last year for 'microsoft' saying the same about
her computer needing sorted.
luckily we were both at my lassies when she told me and so i looked the number
up that the calls were coming from i think it was
0123456789 and from what she said they sounded like they were from the
indian sub continent
IF a number is left check it with this lot or just do a search and see if its a scam
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/0123456789/12
some scary stories on the forums on various sites about this. one wummin in sweden
parted with nearly £400, she said they actually made her believe it was her fault.
on a lighter note another person on a forum said when asked 'excuse me sir, do you have windows?'
he replied 'yes so fvck off i dont want your double glazing' and put the phone down after
much cursing from the window seller lol | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 8/2/2012 10:50:50 PM | | i would to know how they take off credit card as terminals are registered, they could clone it . ive had these calls and i have gave them all the details they want but not the correct ones, otherwise i wind them up best i can | |
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| Phone scams??
Posted: 8/3/2012 12:36:27 AM | We used to get the 'Microsoft' scam twice a day - it started off from an Indian(?) call centre and progressed to an American(?) sounding one - in the end I told them to fck off and received three abusive calls back (!).
I just answered the call & immediately dumped it - not had one since.
Had a similar situation with 'accident compensation' chasers - did the same to them and we've had no issues.
The automatic 'urgent call about your payment protection insurance' is daily. I think we are on TPS, but I'll recheck.
If in doubt - don't!
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