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"I am calling you from the Windows Department of Technical Support"

  • 14-06-2014 02:59PM
    #1
    A pint o Guinness
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭


    Yeah these still exist.
    For anyone who doesn't know. Indian guy cold calls landline claiming to he from Microsoft/Some phony company affiliated with MS, gets remote access to computer and attempts to charge you for a fake service.
    My parents got one in February and nearly fell for it (old piece of ****e computer we didn't really need got bricked because they refused to pay), I wasn't there to intervene. According to them the guy said that he got our number from eircom (likely pulled from some directory).
    What I like doing now is just screwing with them with a fake Bollywood accent whenever they call "No I am Windows Support Department you are impostor!"
    Anyone still get these? I heard some older people lost money to it, makes me sick to the stomach.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    A pint o Guinness wrote: »
    Yeah these still exist.
    For anyone who doesn't know. Indian guy cold calls landline claiming to he from Microsoft/Some phony company affiliated with MS, gets remote access to computer and attempts to charge you for a fake service.
    My parents got one in February and nearly fell for it (old piece of ****e computer we didn't really need got bricked because they refused to pay), I wasn't there to intervene. According to them the guy said that he got our number from eircom (likely pulled from some directory).
    What I like doing now is just screwing with them with a fake Bollywood accent whenever they call "No I am Windows Support Department you are impostor!"
    Anyone still get these? I heard some older people lost money to it, makes me sick to the stomach.

    Never heard of it.


  • #3
    A pint o Guinness
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭A pint o Guinness


    Mint Sauce wrote: »
    Never heard of it.

    I know people in the US, UK, Australia, NZ and even Sweden who get them regularly, pretty ridiculous.


  • #4
    Landoflemon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 424 ✭✭Landoflemon


    There's a very long thread here about the same thing.


  • #5
    Grayson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,442 ✭✭✭✭Grayson


    My mother has gotten them a few times. the first time she called me from her mobile whilst she had them on the other line.


  • #6
    pragmatic1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,573 ✭✭✭pragmatic1


    Got a call from them yesterday. Scumbags.


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  • #7
    Teagwee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 371 ✭✭Teagwee


    I had been getting a lot of these calls over the past few months, including the silent version from the same numbers, which disconnected after a few moments - obviously automated dialers. These calls were coming in several times a day until late at night and were hugely annoying. After one day when I received 15 such calls, I was tearing my hair out!

    I then discovered a phone (in Argos no less) with nuisance call blocking and I'm sorted. Withheld numbers get sent silently to the answering machine and up to 15 other numbers are totally blocked (the usual offenders from 'Microsoft'). I informed family and friends who have withheld numbers that they would get the answering machine unless they dialed 142 in front of my number before calling - the choice is theirs.

    In addition, I can silence all calls at night (or whenever) but keep VIP numbers that always get through (mainly family), so the drunken wrong numbers at 3am looking for a lift home are a thing of the past. The peace is absolute bliss!


  • #8
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,244 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    Tell them you use Linux or a Mac, that'll keep the call real short. "Start button? What Start button?"

    Government resting upon the will and universal suffrage of the people has no anchorage except in the people's intelligence.

    — Grover Cleveland



  • #9
    corner of hells
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,439 ✭✭✭corner of hells


    Teagwee wrote: »
    I had been getting a lot of these calls over the past few months, including the silent version from the same numbers, which disconnected after a few moments - obviously automated dialers. These calls were coming in several times a day until late at night and were hugely annoying. After one day when I received 15 such calls, I was tearing my hair out!

    I then discovered a phone (in Argos no less) with nuisance call blocking and I'm sorted. Withheld numbers get sent silently to the answering machine and up to 15 other numbers are totally blocked (the usual offenders from 'Microsoft'). I informed family and friends who have withheld numbers that they would get the answering machine unless they dialed 142 in front of my number before calling - the choice is theirs.

    In addition, I can silence all calls at night (or whenever) but keep VIP numbers that always get through (mainly family), so the drunken wrong numbers at 3am looking for a lift home are a thing of the past. The peace is absolute bliss!

    Wait till you get a call from the" Argos technical support department ".


  • #10
    XxMCRxBabyxX
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,442 Mod ✭✭✭✭XxMCRxBabyxX


    Pretended to follow the instructions of the last guy who called up to a point where I then said that the screen had gone blank. What filed was a load of abuse from Mr Technical Support asking if I thought he was a fool and telling me what a fool I was for not wanting to fix my computer. They're getting fairly angry these days it seems. My dad's life was threatened by another one.

    And I still don't know how to save my computer from the dangerous virus.


  • #11
    A pint o Guinness
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭A pint o Guinness


    XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »
    Pretended to follow the instructions of the last guy who called up to a point where I then said that the screen had gone blank. What filed was a load of abuse from Mr Technical Support asking if I thought he was a fool and telling me what a fool I was for not wanting to fix my computer. They're getting fairly angry these days it seems. My dad's life was threatened by another one.

    And I still don't know how to save my computer from the dangerous virus.

    I actually saw a video where two guys gave them access to a virtual machine with Internet Explorer redirecting to an actual virus. Unsurprisingly, it was an actual infection so the scammer couldn't do anything to "fix" it.


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  • #12
    XxMCRxBabyxX
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,442 Mod ✭✭✭✭XxMCRxBabyxX


    Pretended to follow the instructions of the last guy who called up to a point where I then said that the screen had gone blank. What filed was a load of abuse from Mr Technical Support asking if I thought he was a fool and telling me what a fool I was for not wanting to fix my computer. They're getting fairly angry these days it seems. My dad's life was threatened by another one.

    And I still don't know how to save my computer from the dangerous virus.


  • #13
    MRnotlob606
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,642 ✭✭✭MRnotlob606


    i like to have the craic and ask them what they are wearing


  • #14
    Pinch Flat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,779 ✭✭✭Pinch Flat


    I usually just repeat back the order from my local Indian takeaway.


  • #15
    Teagwee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 371 ✭✭Teagwee


    corner of hells wrote: »
    Wait till you get a call from the" Argos technical support department ".

    A maximum of one call and they'll be on the blocked list :pac:


  • #16
    darkpagandeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 24,461 ✭✭✭✭darkpagandeath


    You can keep them on the line until they realise you are talking about Linux


  • #17
    KKkitty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,537 ✭✭✭KKkitty


    I cleaned my windows with windolene so they're grand.


  • #18
    fussyonion
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,827 ✭✭✭fussyonion


    Get these all the time.
    Got one yesterday and after letting the idiot speak for nearly 15 minutes, I said "Oh wait now..I don't have Windows. I have a Mac."
    He called me a motherf***** and that he was going to have me killed.
    I asked him to ask his Dad if I could have my socks back.


  • #19
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    On one occasion he said he was calling about windows so I thanked him and said two needed replacing. He said OK so I asked it he would recommend PVC or aluminium. He asked if I would turn on my computer so I said that I'd like a quote for the windows, which he said he would give me in a minute. I asked how he could quote me without measuring them. Then he caught on and said it wasn't that type of window and that he was from eircom. I apologised for the confusion and said it was interesting that he was from Eircom as I was a manager with eircom myself. He hung up and that was the last call - 3 weeks ago after daily calls for the previous 2 months. Idiots!


  • #20
    shruikan2553
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,113 ✭✭✭shruikan2553


    Havent gotten one yet but if I do Ill yell about jimmy and those video games. Then put the phone down and act out domestic abuse turned manslaughter. I doubt they would call back.


  • #21
    Woofstuff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 239 ✭✭Woofstuff


    Pinch Flat wrote: »
    I usually just repeat back the order from my local Indian takeaway.

    I'll have chicken korma..mild.. With boiled rice and a portion of naan bread, thank you sir.


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  • #22
    TroutMask
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 743 ✭✭✭TroutMask


    Had a great time winding up one of these oafs. Strung him along forever, pretending the machine was slow to start, that it crashed, had to find my password etc. Finally he gives me some instruction involving the Control key (finding my IP address, no doubt). I was getting a bit bored so I finally revealed my Mac-ness by saying:
    'Is that the one with the Apple?'
    He screams: 'YOU ARE ON A MAC ... A MAC!!!!"
    I couldn't resist so I say: 'Yes, but I have Windows on a VM" ..... Silence ...... then he bites: 'Which version of Windows?' And we're off again, with him waiting for me to boot into the mythical Windows XP partition on my laptop; of course there are even more 'problems', finding passwords again etc. Finally he gave up .... sure was fun while it lasted :)


  • #23
    UCDVet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,894 ✭✭✭UCDVet


    One of the perks of using Windows....they have the resources to provide support. With Linux, you wouldn't get a support phone call, you'd have to Google for a few hours, check random forum posts, cut-n-paste random command lines you don't understand (and hopes it doesn't delete everything).


  • #24
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,244 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    UCDVet wrote: »
    One of the perks of using Windows....they have the resources to provide support. With Linux, you wouldn't get a support phone call, you'd have to Google for a few hours, check random forum posts, cut-n-paste random command lines you don't understand (and hopes it doesn't delete everything).
    Yet - assuming you're right - some of us enjoy the process, for the same reasons people fix their own cars, or play a guitar rather than just listen to whatever's on the radio. You're not just fixing a problem, you're learning how things work, maybe even preventing future problems, getting more done than you expected, or just making your life easier.

    You have the sense of accomplishment you get from doing something yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it for you. An added benefit, to bring us back on topic: if you know even a little bit about how your computer works with the Internet, you can see through scams like these. Terms like "IP Address" will not confuse or impress you. :cool:

    Government resting upon the will and universal suffrage of the people has no anchorage except in the people's intelligence.

    — Grover Cleveland



  • #25
    desertcircus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭desertcircus


    Has nobody been tempted to try some more adventurous methods of keeping them on the line? Claiming you've got a dead body in a third-floor apartment in the middle of the city, you broke your computer in half producing the dead body, and you'll absolutely, definitely do exactly what they say and buy whatever they want if they can just talk you through the best method of disposing of the corpse?


  • #26
    A pint o Guinness
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭A pint o Guinness


    desertcircus wrote: »
    Has nobody been tempted to try some more adventurous methods of keeping them on the line? Claiming you've got a dead body in a third-floor apartment in the middle of the city, you broke your computer in half producing the dead body, and you'll absolutely, definitely do exactly what they say and buy whatever they want if they can just talk you through the best method of disposing of the corpse?

    Then just give them access to a clean Windows VM with a zipbomb disguised as a document called "bank details".


  • #27
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Well known scam at this stage. Many threads in AH and Computers about it.


  • #28
    manutd4life
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 282 ✭✭manutd4life


    Got a call from them today and the guy on the end of the phone got quite mad at me.

    He told me to get my computer and turn it on. He said he would wait while I get me laptop. So I just sat there watching TV for about 10 minutes and then told him that I didn't have a computer. He started complaining that I kept him on hold for 10 minutes and got quite angry when I kept telling him that I forgot I didn't have a computer


  • #29
    silly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,722 ✭✭✭silly


    They ring my work place all the time , i just say "oh my god!!!! a Virus!!!!1 i'll get my boss....thanks so much" then leave them on hold - one guy held for 17 mins...yet they still ring...


  • #30
    LizzieJones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭LizzieJones


    A pint o Guinness wrote: »
    Yeah these still exist.
    For anyone who doesn't know. Indian guy cold calls landline claiming to he from Microsoft/Some phony company affiliated with MS, gets remote access to computer and attempts to charge you for a fake service.
    My parents got one in February and nearly fell for it (old piece of ****e computer we didn't really need got bricked because they refused to pay), I wasn't there to intervene. According to them the guy said that he got our number from eircom (likely pulled from some directory).
    What I like doing now is just screwing with them with a fake Bollywood accent whenever they call "No I am Windows Support Department you are impostor!"
    Anyone still get these? I heard some older people lost money to it, makes me sick to the stomach.

    I love watching these on Youtube. Great for a laugh.


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  • #31
    LizzieJones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭LizzieJones


    desertcircus wrote: »
    Has nobody been tempted to try some more adventurous methods of keeping them on the line?

    Check out the Youtube videos on this.


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