Just had my first PC scam phonecall :D

smarteyeball · 05 Apr 2011

I just got off the phone with my first telephone scam artist. Till now, I've only ever heard about this widespread scam and now I got to experience it

Adam: *In a very heavy Indian accent* "Hello, my name is Ad-am. I am calling you to inform you that you have a problem with your computer, but do not worry, I will help you"

Me: *feigning surprise and alarm* "Oh no! What is wrong with it?"

Adam: "Please do not worry Sir, I will help you. Please go to your computer and I will help you through it"

Me: *In a grateful, overly friendly voice* "Thank you very much Adam! Please wait until I get to my computer"

*put the phone down for about a minute, made a few random noises, then picked the phone back up*

"Okay, I am now in front of my computer"

Adam: "Okay, now on the bottom left of your screen, please click the button that says start"

Me: "I do not have a button named start."

Adam: "It is the button on the bottom of your screen, to the far left"

Me: "I don't have a button that says start. Do you mean the big round button?"

Adam: "Yes. Left click on that please and then -"

Me: "- What do you mean 'left click'?"

Adam: "Yes. Left click on that - "

Me: "- sorry, do you mean left click with the mouse thingy?"

Adam: *starting to get frustrated* "Yes. When you click on that, there will be a word called computer in the menu, please click on that and I will be able to help you from there."

Me: "Okay, I have clicked the big button and I'm looking, please wait till I find it"

*made some random mouse and keyboard noises while Adam is getting further annoyed*

*Suddenly changing my tone to serious* "Sorry, I don't have 'computer' in the menu, but I do have a button that says you are trying to access my computer illeagally and when I click on it, it says THIS IS A SCAM!"

Adam: *click... beep...beep..beep*

I could have kept stringing 'Adam' along, but I got bored

Orbital Shark · 05 Apr 2011

Ecellent mate

I would have carried on too just to get to the point where I ask him if I need to allow access to a certain memory segment (maybe x80000201) in order to re-route RDP to a new server whilst remaining in full control of the internal system process...

Anak · 05 Apr 2011

Here in the States I use both the Do not call for land lines and cell.
I also use the one for junk mail, and I have been happy with it for the last 10 years
Some lists take 30days to 6months to really calm down the hits you get. Your mileage may vary.

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers went Public last month March 1st.
REMINDER..... All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years.

You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number. It takes about 20 seconds.

Note
I was in error when I posted the above deletion. But, I feel it is still a good idea to add your cell number to the DNC.

In the United States: https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

Junk mail in the States: DirectMail.com's Mail Preference Registry - Get rid of junk mail

United Kingdom: TPS Registration

Australia: Do Not Call Register

Canada: https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/
More Canadian info: Telemarketing

New Zealand Name Removal Service: Consumer Services : Marketing Association

China/Hong Kong: Digital Marketers: Hong Kong Initiates Do-not-call Registry - ChinaCSR.com - Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business Intelligence, and Sustainability News for China

India: National Do Not Call Registry

An easier to digest version of India's: TRAI's National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC), Telemarketeers and the great Indian spam Industry

More on India: Techno World ...: Do Not Disturb / Call List - India

I could not find one for Japan or Africa (South Africa), and it seems the one for India covers Southeast Asia, and the Philippines.

johnwillyums · 05 Apr 2011

I've had 3 of these calls over the past year. This leads me to believe that there must be more than one "company" doing this scam.
I have led them all on like you did Smarteye and ended up berating them for scamming people, get a proper job etc. so you would have thought they would have taken me off their list if it was just one bunch doing it.
I imagine they get a great deal of success with people who are only interested in their pc as a tool and know very little about it's workings. J

smarteyeball · 05 Apr 2011

Anak said:

Here in the States I use both the Do not call for land lines and cell.

Australia: Do Not Call Register

Already on it. It works okay for 'legitimate' calls, but scammers aren't worried about legality

johnwillyums said:

I imagine they get a great deal of success with people who are only interested in their pc as a tool and know very little about it's workings. J

It's been going on for a few years and it spans a few countries under various guises, so it's quite a large operation and considering it's scope, unfortunately appears to be quite viable.

Fayla · 05 Apr 2011

I would have said "What's a computer?" than hung up. Scammers aren't worth spending precious time over.

smarteyeball said:

I could have kept stringing 'Adam' along, but I got bored

Anak · 05 Apr 2011

We have had one scam call in the last year, and one text on the cell this month.

Guess I was not quick enough.

Joan Archer · 05 Apr 2011

I got one a few weeks ago, I was busy trying to watch a TV program so I just said "There's nothing wrong with my computer" and put the phone down

couldn't be bothered to spin it out.

ProTruckDriver · 05 Apr 2011

I don't do business with any incoming phone calls. I tell them to send me a letter in the mail about what they are trying to sell then hang up. Easier putting their paperwork through the shredder than listening to them waisting my time.

Ciara · 05 Apr 2011

Anyone I don't know I say (we are on TPS your number is now logged from exchange) and hang up :)