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Scam phone calls

  • 11-04-2012 05:38PM
    #1
    _LilyRose_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 211 ✭✭_LilyRose_


    Has anyone else experienced the 'your computer has a virus follow my instructions' phone calls circulating at the moment?

    My mother answered the phone to one last week, but knew about it so she just played along until they told her to turn on her computer to which she replied that she wouldn't as this was a scam, goodbye.

    Received another one today, but didn't answer as I recognised the number- the international code is 00253...from Djibouti...and Eircom can't block the number or anything.

    I know someone who actually got caught...they held her bank details for ransom until she emptied some of her account.

    Such annoying feckers!


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Mickey H
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,822 ✭✭✭Mickey H


    Never have had this myself but have heard of it.

    Tell them to f**k right off.


  • #3
    Cantona's Collars
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,709 ✭✭✭✭Cantona's Collars


    _LilyRose_ wrote: »
    Has anyone else experienced the 'your computer has a virus follow my instructions' phone calls circulating at the moment?

    My mother answered the phone to one last week, but knew about it so she just played along until they told her to turn on her computer to which she replied that she wouldn't as this was a scam, goodbye.

    Received another one today, but didn't answer as I recognised the number- the international code is 00253...from Djibouti...and Eircom can't block the number or anything.

    I know someone who actually got caught...they held her bank details for ransom until she emptied some of her account.

    Such annoying feckers!

    I'd love them to ring me,they are ripe for trolling.

    Anyone who gives them access to their pc deserves to be scammed.


  • #4
    cloptrop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭cloptrop


    Yeah idiots , I can fix your computer from here for you , dont trust phonecalls. Just log on there and pm me your password. Dont fall for these scam artists.


  • #5
    TwoShedsJackson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭TwoShedsJackson


    Ring Eircom and tell them to take you off the Direct Dial Database (or Marketing Database or whatever they are calling it now). I did this five years ago and haven't got a marketing call, let alone a scammer, since.


  • #6
    kirving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,372 ✭✭✭kirving


    Kept a guy on the phone last week for ages going through the motions, telling him I had Windows 95 after about 10 minutes, then onto the "supervisor" for another while saying I worked for Microsoft. He eventually gave up after I asked him what football team he supported. Doubt they'll ring back. :D

    12/4/2012 EDIT: I was wrong, they rang back today. Kept him on the phone for only 7 minutes this time. And told him there was no errors whatsoever(there was actually only 2 irrelevant ones anyway). I'll record the next phonecall if I can and put it up here.


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  • #7
    I Heart Internet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,678 ✭✭✭I Heart Internet


    You should have been listening to joe duffy today.

    Gullibility of some people is amazing


  • #8
    cena
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,400 ✭✭✭✭cena


    We use to get them everyday for months. I told them on day that the harddrive etc was replaced. They just don't listen


  • #9
    Sunnyisland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,562 ✭✭✭✭Sunnyisland


    Got a text from some prince idiot today saying I won 9000000 GBP or some thing like that, This reminds me must call it back :-)


  • #10
    stanley1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭stanley1


    why not just say you don't have a computer.


  • #11
    Tedette
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭Tedette


    I had a similar call to my Skype yesterday, a recorded voice telling me I had something up wit my Skype account and to go to some website to fix it, thought it was a scam so hung up and blocked number.


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  • #12
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,029 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    zerks wrote: »
    Anyone who gives them access to their pc deserves to be scammed.

    That's a bit cold in fairness.

    Some people are vulnerable to these kind of scams.


  • #13
    Jammy Donut
    Closed Accounts Posts: 606 ✭✭✭Jammy Donut


    Ohhh kept them on for 15mins last time, Asking about the weather and how his day was. He asked me to go my computer then so I said hang on I'll get me glasses put him on hold came back talked away then said iv another phone call would he mind waiting :) He hung after 5mins of waiting :D


  • #14
    Degag
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,162 ✭✭✭✭Degag


    _LilyRose_ wrote: »

    I know someone who actually got caught...they held her bank details for ransom until she emptied some of her account.

    Might be a silly question.... but why didn't she just change her account details?


  • #15
    Lawrence1895
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    Can you just forward those calls to the next Garda station? :D


  • #16
    cocoshovel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,036 ✭✭✭cocoshovel


    There is usually a 3-5 second delay before they speak. I probably have hung up by then.


  • #17
    Cork24
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,663 ✭✭✭Cork24


    Here is the Topic for this

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055837564


  • #18
    TeddyTedson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,758 ✭✭✭✭TeddyTedson


    It's a sex line....
    Don't answer.


  • #19
    Perla Shy Showboat
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Perla Shy Showboat


    my grandmother got a call from them once

    "how do you know i have a computer, sonny???"
    not tech savvy in some ways, but not likely to fall for scams anyway :D

    i got one as well but i was rolling around laughing at his attempts and hung up


  • #20
    jaspertheghost
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 231 ✭✭jaspertheghost


    They nearly caught my grandfather out last year....i came home and he was talking to a guy and had given him access to the computer,he though he was working for eircom,the guy had complete access and was controlling the mouse on the screen... luckily i came home and disconnected the internet straight away,rang eircom about it and they said they would never do that,after we disconnected the guy kept ringing back saying my grandfather owed him 200 euro,i have had about 4 or 5 calls from them in the last few months and i just string them along for a while before telling them to bugger off....its the elderly that really need to be careful of this as the guys can be very persuasive and scare people into thinking their computers at risk..


  • #21
    Latchy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21,190 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    I just put my hand over mouthpiece ,then put them on hold like I do with other annoying 'repeat' cold callers and they quickly get the message when they realise they are talking to themselfs .


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  • #22
    Ally Dick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭Ally Dick


    I Heart Internet wrote: »
    You should have been listening to joe duffy today.

    Gullibility of some people is amazing

    The best one was the secret shopper one, where the bloke was sent a cheque from the company and "to prove his loyalty" had to lodge the cheque, and take a few hundred for himself as payment, and then forward his own money to the company, before the original cheque had even cleared ! I nearly fell off the seat laughing


  • #23
    whatlliwear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,050 ✭✭✭whatlliwear


    I think I know an old lady that was caught out with this..
    How bad i it? What can she do now?


  • #24
    uncle_sam_ie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭uncle_sam_ie


    whatlliwear wrote: »
    I think I know an old lady that was caught out with this..
    How bad i it? What can she do now?

    If they had access to her PC then I would reinstall windows fresh.


  • #25
    whatlliwear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,050 ✭✭✭whatlliwear


    uncle_sam_ie wrote: »
    If they had access to her PC then I would reinstall windows fresh.

    Hmm ok. Thanks I was expecting some mean sarcastic answers. The poor woman hasn't a clue!


  • #26
    numbnutz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 595 ✭✭✭numbnutz


    got that call too about the pc virus scam told them there was a bomb in their building and promptly told them to fook off...they still rang back!:D


  • #27
    x_Ellie_x
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭x_Ellie_x


    They ring me almost everyday. Sometimes I take the pi$$ out of them if I'm bored but mostly I just unplug the phone for a while. I always turn off the computer and the router when they ring though and leave it off for a while. I do be worried that they might be able to hack into the computer while I'm on the phone with them.


  • #28
    mackg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,938 ✭✭✭mackg


    Got a message a few days ago from @usarmy.mil email that read:

    I'm Capt Williams, I will be transfer to your location in 3 weeks, please email me for urgent discussion.

    had me and the lads in stitches.


  • #29
    IrishEyes19
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭IrishEyes19


    zerks wrote: »
    I'd love them to ring me,they are ripe for trolling.

    Anyone who gives them access to their pc deserves to be scammed.

    thats kind of harsh. My own grandparent never touched computers up until a year or two ago when I showed my grandmother easier way to pay bills, my granmother relied on everything I showed her as she hadnt a clue how to work it otherwise. so someone ringing her up in the last year if it was a scam would probably have convinced her too. and she is in no way unintelligent, just not up to date with technology the way our generation is.


  • #30
    x_Ellie_x
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭x_Ellie_x


    lol did you email back mackg??


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  • #31
    herisson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,676 ✭✭✭✭herisson


    i once got a text saying my blackberry phone has been selected as the winner of €5mill in the Netherlands lotto....i never entered in that lotto...nor do i own a blackberry!! :pac:


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