Computer Scam - Cold Calls

IrishEyes19

Got a call for the 6th time this week from a call centre informing me that my microsoft windows system on my computer was "infected". Probably a no brainer but for anyone out there who isn't computer savy like my grandparents for instance, its a scam that could catch people out. After taking the call which is ID withheld by the way, decided to just see what these people are up to. 10 minutes later on the phone, on the laptop, the woman on the other end of the phone had me draw up files on the computer which apparently are "infected" and said only way to fix this to avoid my whole internet and computer from breaking down was to purchase their anti virus, at which stage, I said no and hung up. Anyone else get this scam call? Going to ring eircom tonight to see if these cold calls can be blocked but with the with-held number dont know if its possible.

B.A._Baracus

Been going on for ages now op. All pretty much the same thing ... buy anti virus or give them remote access to your pc.

Loads of threads on boards.ie about them. They are coming from indian call centres.

humanji

If you want to PM me your credit card details I can have a look into it for you.

Seriously though, I've had a few of these. I just tell them to f*ck off and hang up. Not sure if there's anything you can do.

IrishEyes19

humanji wrote: »

If you want to PM me your credit card details I can have a look into it for you.

Seriously though, I've had a few of these. I just tell them to f*ck off and hang up. Not sure if there's anything you can do.

Just send them there, humanji, you're a sport haha

I think you could request to be taken off a list that these centers use to call houses and we did that, but a few fall through the cracks I guess.

B.A._Baracus

IrishEyes19 wrote: »

Just send them there, humanji, you're a sport haha

I think you could request to be taken off a list that these centers use to call houses and we did that, but a few fall through the cracks I guess.

I highly doubt such illegitimate 'companies' would take you off a list ... even if you asked nicely :P

brian ireland

Girl in work was having trouble with her home pc. The husband said he would sort it.
A few days later they got one of these calls, she thought the husband arranged it and gave them full access to the pc.
Won't go through the whole story but they got rid of the internet because of the cost to them from that call.

Rabidlamb

I only had them once & I handed them onto my 3 year old daughter.
She said it was a nice chat & the man had funny words, when I picked up the phone after she got bored they were still there.
Anyway I called them a shower of shisters & they got abusive on their end.
Haven't called back since.

One thing to note is the automatic diallers used by these people ring 5 to 10 people at once, also used by marketers & debt collectors.
Great rule of thumb, if you answer a call & the other end is ringing then hang up straight away.

TwoShedsJackson

IrishEyes19 wrote: »

Going to ring eircom tonight to see if these cold calls can be blocked but with the with-held number dont know if its possible.

When you ring them just ask to be taken off their Direct Dial Database, this stops almost all cold callers. Did it years ago and haven't had a sales call since apart from Eircom of course :rolleyes:

SillyMangoX

We got a call like this a few years ago. Them: "hello madam, we have just done a check and saw your windows system is corrupted, if you follow the instructions on this website ___ you can download software to restore all your files."
My mom: "oh right and which computer should I do it on?"
Them: "its your windows system madam."
Mom:"well thats funny, because I have a mac."
They hung up

irishgeo

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

When you ring them just ask to be taken off their Direct Dial Database, this stops almost all cold callers. Did it years ago and haven't had a sales call since apart from Eircom of course :rolleyes:

Still won't stop random phone number generators which these people use from guessing your phone number.

I wonder if a they have a database to which I can remove my address from to stop sales people calling to me at my front door.

Duggy747

Just act like a complete idiot and waste their time, sometimes it can be fun coming up with new ways to play with them.

Sofaspud

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

When you ring them just ask to be taken off their Direct Dial Database, this stops almost all cold callers. Did it years ago and haven't had a sales call since apart from Eircom of course :rolleyes:

I work for a research company (surveys) in the UK and we get numbers from a data supplier, each called one at a time. When we're asked to "take my number off your list", we click the exact same button as if they just said a simple "no thanks", it just means my company won't call again but has no effect on whether other companies do or not.

That's why having an "ex directory" number doesn't stop us calling either.

Mental Mickey

IrishEyes19 wrote: »

Got a call for the 6th time this week from a call centre informing me that my microsoft windows system on my computer was "infected". Probably a no brainer but for anyone out there who isn't computer savy like my grandparents for instance, its a scam that could catch people out. After taking the call which is ID withheld by the way, decided to just see what these people are up to. 10 minutes later on the phone, on the laptop, the woman on the other end of the phone had me draw up files on the computer which apparently are "infected" and said only way to fix this to avoid my whole internet and computer from breaking down was to purchase their anti virus, at which stage, I said no and hung up. Anyone else get this scam call? Going to ring eircom tonight to see if these cold calls can be blocked but with the with-held number dont know if its possible.

I nearly got fooled by them once, but every time they call now, as soon as I hear the Indian voice, I hang up.

bluecode

Had one of those calls but I'm savvy enough not to fall for it. My wife on the other hand............

But I was caught out by malware coming in off a seemingly innocent website. Don't assume they come from dodgy or porn sites. They've got quite clever about it.

Up popped a legitimate looking window which told me I was infected and telling me what I needed to do. Immediately suspicious. I shut down, pulled the plug in fact and opened again in safe mode. Found out it would have deleted my anti virus programmes and replaced them. I spent the near enough the rest of the night battling the thing and finally got rid of it. It was a nightmare. The computer was never the same afterward though.

They are scum those people. I'd love to find a way of messing up their systems.

Duck Soup

SillyMangoX wrote: »

We got a call like this a few years ago. Them: "hello madam, we have just done a check and saw your windows system is corrupted, if you follow the instructions on this website ___ you can download software to restore all your files."
My mom: "oh right and which computer should I do it on?"
Them: "its your windows system madam."
Mom:"well thats funny, because I have a mac."
They hung up

I have a Mac, but sometimes I also have a lot of time on my hands. Last year a nice lady with an Indian accent called me saying she was from Microsoft Security Centre (or somesuch) and that my system software had been compromised.

I just chatted along happily - I was really bored - and pretended to follow her instructions. In between, I managed to start a monologue about what I was doing that day, what it reminded me about times past etc.

After 40 minutes, I was still digressing into infinity and the woman was sounding weary and desperate to get off the phone. Eventually she mumbled "I have to go now" and I was still asking her what to do next on my fictional Windows computer. I never did get tell her about my 12th birthday party.

gozunda

SillyMangoX wrote: »

We got a call like this a few years ago. Them: "hello madam, we have just done a check and saw your windows system is corrupted, if you follow the instructions on this website ___ you can download software to restore all your files."
My mom: "oh right and which computer should I do it on?"
Them: "its your windows system madam."
Mom:"well thats funny, because I have a mac."
They hung up

Ok role play....

Caller: hi I am calling I have just checked and you have a serious virus

Me: omg!

Caller: yes if you follow these steps we can fix the problem....

Me: right great so...

Caller:

Do you have the Windows OS open

Me: yeah windows are open.

Caller: ok start at the desktop

Me: ehhh ok so -

Caller: what can you see?

Me: a bunch of stuff - files and things

Caller : can you navigate to the program file

Me: eh?

Caller: The program file

Me: I don't have a file called program

Caller: you do - you can access from the program list

Me: what are you talking about?

Caller: why fixing your PC of course

Me: but I dont have a PC! you said I had a virus and to open the window and check my desktop - how the hell is that going to cure me of a virus - are you even medically qualified? (Slams down phone)

Larbre34

Its on the go for 5 years now, I get occasional calls to my landline from them

I use the opportunity to shout the most offensive things I can think of down the phone at them and call them things you wouldnt hear in a free bar at a Dockers convention. Its very theraputic. Some of the callers will actually get into a barney with you about it which is all the more satisfying.

Or, as english isnt their first language, its easy to confuse them

"Im sorry, I dont own a computer, Ill just go and turn it on"

"There must be some mistake, I dont have a phone"

"Sorry, this is Batman here, Mr xxxxx isnt home right now, both he and his laptop are with the League of Shadows for the day, you can catch him there"

keithclancy

I got a call for this once, they asked for credit card details.

I said hang, I need to activate my new card, I'll call the cc company on the house phone.

Left the line open and fecked off to the shops, came back an hour and a half later and they were still on the line.

Said sorry for the delay, was still on hold with the credit card company.

Went off and made dinner.

Checked about 30 minutes later and they were still there.

I just said that unfortunately I had been trying to activate a birthday card with a sex line .. silly me .... had to repeat 2 or 3 times.

They said 'ok' and hung up.

Wonder how much they paid for over 2 hours to a German mobile number.

TwoShedsJackson

Sofaspud wrote: »

I work for a research company (surveys) in the UK and we get numbers from a data supplier, each called one at a time. When we're asked to "take my number off your list", we click the exact same button as if they just said a simple "no thanks", it just means my company won't call again but has no effect on whether other companies do or not.

That's why having an "ex directory" number doesn't stop us calling either.

Fair enough, but in the six years since I got them to do that, I have had no marketing calls and no Indians telling me my PC has a virus. So what's causing the lack of calls?

Yamanoto

141_Oscar_Mike wrote: »

I'v never had one of these calls. How the hell did they get your contact info?

In the course of say registering a warranty or troubleshooting an issue, many folks pass personal data to Indian call centres subcontracted by brands they feel they can trust - airlines, laptop & PC manufacturers, subscription TV providers etc.

Many of those call-centres are at best cavalier with how they manage user data, while the more shoddy operators are happy to pass it on for profit.

hawkhead

A good blast of an air horn generally gets rid of them

Sofaspud

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Fair enough, but in the six years since I got them to do that, I have had no marketing calls and no Indians telling me my PC has a virus. So what's causing the lack of calls?

Sheer luck I'd say

It is generally down to the company itself calling random numbers, my GF's house phone is unregistered (as she takes delight in telling me so "my type of people" can never call her) but I've gotten the Indian Virus calls and survey calls in her house before.

Niamh Ireland

brian ireland wrote: »

Girl in work was having trouble with her home pc. The husband said he would sort it.
A few days later they got one of these calls, she thought the husband arranged it and gave them full access to the pc.
Won't go through the whole story but they got rid of the internet because of the cost to them from that call.

Hi Brian,

We got a similar type phone call today - my sister was in the process of giving remote access, when the call was terminated accidentally by her son, we don't think they were successful but aren't too sure. Just wondering what kind of damage was done to your friend from works computer?
Thanks

Big Bottom

I keep getting calls from India asking if I have taken any loans out in the last few years because I might get some cash back.

I have a private number from UPC but they still know my name?

Johnny D. Mudd

Yes I have heard of this recent scam. It's a horrible scam that preys on the gullibility of those who may not be as tech-savvy as most and who may be more suspectible to such tricks.

gurramok

Big Bottom wrote: »

I keep getting calls from India asking if I have taken any loans out in the last few years because I might get some cash back.

I have a private number from UPC but they still know my name?

This was raised in the Consumer Issue forum. Apparently these scammers got personal details of thousands of landline customer of all companys(not just UPC). When I say personal details, its usually name, address and or course your landline number.(not bank details).
The ISP's have said they are investigating(blah blah) so common sense says never give your details out to cold callers especially when they have an Indian accent(yes PC brigade). Also they may ring even 20 times a day, they are automated. Just don't answer calls that don't have a proper international number and of course you expect the call number.

cheepnis

As others have mentioned, the extent of information they're working with is name, address and landline phone number.

My advice is tell them you don't own a computer. You won't be hearing from them again. I know I've never heard from them since.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres

gurramok

cheepnis wrote: »

As others have mentioned, the extent of information they're working with is name, address and landline phone number.

My advice is tell them you don't own a computer. You won't be hearing from them again. I know I've never heard from them since.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres

I know that article is 2 years old but how do they get your exact living arrangements?

Me thinks there has been a "encrypted" laptop lost somewhere or our ISP's have been hacked.

emsie80

my poor mother nearly fell for one of these calls a couple of months ago. funnily enough i had left her laptop in to be fixed and had just collected it the same day. she automatically presumed it was something to do that. luckily she called me from her mobile while these feckers were on the land line - needless to say, she wasnt long about telling them where to go!

s8n

Larbre34 wrote: »

Its on the go for 5 years now, I get occasional calls to my landline from them

I use the opportunity to shout the most offensive things I can think of down the phone at them and call them things you wouldnt hear in a free bar at a Dockers convention. Its very theraputic. Some of the callers will actually get into a barney with you about it which is all the more satisfying.

Or, as english isnt their first language, its easy to confuse them

"Im sorry, I dont own a computer, Ill just go and turn it on"

"There must be some mistake, I dont have a phone"

"Sorry, this is Batman here, Mr xxxxx isnt home right now, both he and his laptop are with the League of Shadows for the day, you can catch him there"

I'm sure your behavior REALLY upsets them and makes them sob uncontrollably. Considering the lack of spelling and punctuation in your post, it's a good job your not dropping them an email !!!!

petersburg2002

I just wound the guy up with lots of questions and after about ten minutes told him that I couldn't possibly give him my card details over the phone. Then he got quite pissed off and hung up. Have to hand it to these Indian guys, they must have balls of steel to be able to con people so brazenly.