Computer Scam - Cold Calls

Lawrence1895

Back in Germany, I was talking to them in English, claiming not to understand any German. Now, I answer the phone in German, not being able to speak English properly. Always worked fine for me

Esoteric_

s8n wrote: »

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 !!!!

teehee.

Lawrence1895

LyndaMcL wrote: »

teehee.

Shouldn't there be a comma after ''I'm sure'' and ''upsets them''...talking about punctuation?

*gets coat*

The One Who Knocks

A little off topic, but still related.

The worst virus I have ever come across was a "Police Ransomware"
Depending on what country you're in, you get a message from your local police (in my case, the Gardaí) where it says the computer has been locked because it has been used "to examine banned websites, sites containing child pornography, to illicit information exchange or used for storing/viewing pirated content" and demands a fine to be unlocked.

It was a complete pain to remove, and it even had the ability to repair itself, I've never seen anything as advanced in my life. It completely locked down my computer, it had 100% control of it. The worst part was that I didn't download anything, (purposely) I just visited an infected website!

I recommend that you use a USB wireless network adapter, as opposed to your computers internal one, as you can disconnect from the internet immediately, as soon as your screen freezes and starts downloading the malware...(alternatively, pull the plug on it)


Again, slightly off topic, but still computer scam related, so watch out for it,

Scruffles

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

dad only uses his ubuntu partition now and he got phoned by them once,he said he was a indian guy with poor english called dave.
he kept the guy on the phone for ages,pretending to be trying to find the event window/system logs,it pissed the guy off more and more as he tried to get dad to check out the logs, eventualy he told the guy he worked out the problem; he hadnt turned the computer on nor did he use windows anymore,good old dads computer illiteracy won through in the end and desperate dave hung up.

The One Who Knocks

Yeah I love playing along with them...

I can easily spend hours winding them up!

"My computer's infected, oh no, please help me"
"Hang on, my cat's blocking the model no."
"Where is this so called "any" key"
"Hang on, just waiting for Windows ME to load"
"Can you hold the line for 2 secs, apparently Irish girls are waiting for me"
"Now is that a right click or a left click"
"Oops, I accidentally turned off the computer"
"Hang on, I'll get my credit card....do you accept bank of Nigeria? or Disney Dollars perhaps?"

parc

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.

well that's retarded

Jamez735

Jamez735 wrote: »

A little off topic, but still related.

The worst virus I have ever come across was a "Police Ransomware"
Depending on what country you're in, you get a message from your local police (in my case, the Gardaí) where it says the computer has been locked because it has been used "to examine banned websites, sites containing child pornography, to illicit information exchange or used for storing/viewing pirated content" and demands a fine to be unlocked.

It was a complete pain to remove, and it even had the ability to repair itself, I've never seen anything as advanced in my life. It completely locked down my computer, it had 100% control of it. The worst part was that I didn't download anything, (purposely) I just visited an infected website!

I recommend that you use a USB wireless network adapter, as opposed to your computers internal one, as you can disconnect from the internet immediately, as soon as your screen freezes and starts downloading the malware...(alternatively, pull the plug on it)


Again, slightly off topic, but still computer scam related, so watch out for it,

The old ransomeware con, a few years ago there was one that re-wrote the FAT table on the hard drive so that the my documents folder was unreadable. You had to buy some dodgy drugs at an on-line "pharmacy" to get the unlock code.

The scammers used the same code for all the attacks and the scam was quickly killed off when the unlock code was published on white hat websites.

rocoso

malewarebites gets rid of them (free) should be run with your antivirus programme......usually these things get onto a computer with an administrators permission.....after its installed your antivirus treats it the same as any other installed programme

bnt

I've heard that these guys say something like "there's a problem with your IP Address". So, ask them "what's the IP Address, then?" They won't know, and if they guess, they'll get it wrong.

You can see your "external" IP Address at http://www.whatismyip.com/ . That's what anyone on the Internet will see - but if you're behind a typical broadband router, that's the IP Address of the router, not of any of your computers. Which is a techie way of knowing that they're definitely talking crap.

Marian Walsh

I've had two calls this week. I told them the first time that I knew it was a scam but still they rang back today and asked if I was ready to listen to them!

Anyway I've picked up some great ideas here for when the ring again. Thanks:D.

fussyonion

I got my first scam call today! I feel part of the club now

Indian sounding man called and said he was calling from Windows Online Services and that he wanted to refund me "the money I had paid some months ago"

When I asked what money he was referring to, he said "you paid someone, I don't know, scammers or some people".
I told him I hadn't paid anyone money for anything and he insisted I had and that he wasn't looking for money, but that he wanted to refund ME €156. He said he'd send me a form to fill out and then return.

I said "I wasn't born yesterday, I'm well aware of these scam phone calls, you must think I'm really stupid".
He kept talking over me saying "No, madam, you have it wrong, I am trying to refund you".
I told him to get off the phone and pester someone else.

PS He also mentioned that my computer was probably infected because I had downloaded certain files. B*******
Called Eircom to see if they could help but they said they hear about these calls all the time and to just ignore them.

It's vulnerable people I feel sorry for that aren't aware of these scammers.

runawaybishop

Jamez735 wrote: »

A little off topic, but still related.

The worst virus I have ever come across was a "Police Ransomware"
Depending on what country you're in, you get a message from your local police (in my case, the Gardaí) where it says the computer has been locked because it has been used "to examine banned websites, sites containing child pornography, to illicit information exchange or used for storing/viewing pirated content" and demands a fine to be unlocked.

It was a complete pain to remove, and it even had the ability to repair itself, I've never seen anything as advanced in my life. It completely locked down my computer, it had 100% control of it. The worst part was that I didn't download anything, (purposely) I just visited an infected website!

I recommend that you use a USB wireless network adapter, as opposed to your computers internal one, as you can disconnect from the internet immediately, as soon as your screen freezes and starts downloading the malware...(alternatively, pull the plug on it)


Again, slightly off topic, but still computer scam related, so watch out for it,

This is doing the rounds again recently, according to a mate who runs a small repair shop. Seems to be a bit of a bitch to remove too for normal users as it persists in safemode.

the purple tin

Keep a whistle by the phone and when a scammer calls give them a good loud blast It's fun and informative (you'll learn how to swear in Indian).

the purple tin

the purple tin wrote: »

Keep a whistle by the phone and when a scammer calls give them a good loud blast It's fun and informative (you'll learn how to swear in Indian).

Here's a primer!
http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Hindi

the purple tin

Deleted User wrote: »

Here's a primer!
http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Hindi[/QUOTE]

:eek::eek::eek:

Lawrence1895

the purple tin wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

Here's a primer!
http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Hindi[/QUOTE]

:eek::eek::eek:

There's even German curses on that website, I didn't know yet :eek:

mfceiling

Chat away for ages and then when they are at breaking point tell them you are a fool and that you are looking at your microwave!!

thiarfearr

If you stay on the phone to them, can it cost you money?

Maire2009

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

Ha ha I did the exact same thing and the woman at the other end hung up.

They rang back again and again though, sometimes we say we're getting the "person in charge" and leave the phone unattended for ages or else a bit of abuse.

Told one fella that rang that I knew it was a scam and to f off, he said "No Ma'm" to which I replied "DON'T YOU Ma'M ME MISTER"

GoldenLight

Scruffles wrote: »

dad only uses his ubuntu partition now and he got phoned by them once,he said he was a indian guy with poor english called dave.
he kept the guy on the phone for ages,pretending to be trying to find the event window/system logs,it pissed the guy off more and more as he tried to get dad to check out the logs, eventualy he told the guy he worked out the problem; he hadnt turned the computer on nor did he use windows anymore,good old dads computer illiteracy won through in the end and desperate dave hung up.

I love this reply, my Mom would be the same (she uses the same OS), as for the spell checkers, give it a rest, it not as if you didn't understand the guy (and you really are making yourselfs look like gob****es)

Luckily enough I've never experienced the phone call, but I generally won't give out it (my phone number) to sites I don't trust, eg hotmail/gmail/facebook they all ask for your mobile number, I reckon that is where they get your numbers from. (maybe not, who knows):)

uck51js9zml2yt

Never had a call but had great crack reading this thread

TroutMask

Duck Soup wrote: »

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.

That's great - i do something similar with them - it's like a don't get mad get even scenario

saintlysinner

Had the same call just yesterday, thankfully was clued up enough to know it was a scam although dialling code and number were a bit of a give away 001234567890.....when i was informed there was a problem with my windows, i advised the wonderfully kind Indian lady, i was hoping there was no real damage done, as i had just had them all replaced with double glazing....and did she think that an anti-virus would protect my windows in the future, as i was now slightly concerned about viruses or corrupted files, hitting my new windows and causing un-told damages!! needless to say they hung up