Just had my first PC scam phonecall :D

smarteyeball · 05 Apr 2011

Newt' said:

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

I nearly laughed and was going just going to tell him to piss off, but I was feeling flippant, so a couple of minutes to play with him was worth the chuckle I got from it.

I was sitting in front of the PC anyway, so it wasn't like I went out of my way :)

Everlong · 05 Apr 2011

Never had one myself. What do they lead to asking you to go to Computer?

smarteyeball · 05 Apr 2011

There's no lead in, they just come straight out and say there is a problem with your computer.

From others who've had the pleasure, they'll either say they have noticed a problem, or they have detected that you have a virus. It's a scare tactic to prey on the gullible and technologically naive.

My 'friend' today didn't even claim to be from a company

severedsolo · 05 Apr 2011

Haven't had one myself, but a friend of mine has had a couple, all claiming to be from "Microsoft"

I was there when one of them phoned, so he handed over to me with the excuse "Oh I don't know much about computers I'll just pass you over to my friend"

Can't remember the guys name now, but he got me to look at Event Viewer, and told me all the yellow exclamation marks and stuff were problems,

At that point I got bored, so I just replied "What you mean the one that tells me my boot has taken longer than 30 seconds? The machine is 10 years old, I'd expect it to, if you think I'm going to download your buggy virus filled software for that you can..." Well I can't say what I actually said to him, but I'm sure you can fill in the blanks.

Funnily enough he hung up....

Bongo · 05 Apr 2011

Never had one about the PC but when I get someone on the phone like that I just say can you hang on a minute I have something in the oven or something like that and set the phone down on the table and just forget they're there then when I get that tone that tells you your phones off the hook then go hang it up
Jerry

smarteyeball · 05 Apr 2011

severedsolo said:

Funnily enough he hung up....

It's bewildering isn't it?

Bongo said:

Never had one about the PC but when I get someone on the phone like that I just say can you hang on a minute I have something in the oven or something like that and set the phone down on the table and just forget they're there then when I get that tone that tells you your phones off the hook then go hang it up
Jerry

Before the days of being on the Do Not Call register when you could set your watch by a telemarketers call, I used to do things like that often.

Or I would keep saying hello, over and over and over again until they got annoyed and hang up. Alternatively, I would pick up - say nothing and just breath quietly and make them say hello over and over again

In a small way, I kind of miss messing with telemarketers. The options were endless.

Fayla · 05 Apr 2011

Probably something to do with that team viewer program.

Everlong said:

Never had one myself. What do they lead to asking you to go to Computer?

mickey megabyte · 05 Apr 2011

my mommy always said there were no monsters, no real ones, but there are.

and they mostly phone you at night...mostly.

Phone Man · 05 Apr 2011

Anak said:

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.

Where did you get that information. Please supply a link. The last I heard my cell operator (Verizon Wireless) refused to release that information and I believe most operators also refused.

UPDATE: Snoops says FALSE.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

Also from FTC.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/dnccellphones.shtm

Jim

Anak · 05 Apr 2011

Phone Man said:

Anak said:

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.

Where did you get that information. Please supply a link.

All I can say is it came in an email from my Sister-in-law, It might have something to do with this: Over 2.4 Million Cell Phone Numbers Made Public in First Phase of New Phone Directory - Press Release

I stand corrected, and will make a clarification.