Latest phone call from "Microsoft Security"

[mitchell65]

Had yet another call purporting to come from MS "Vindows" security department. Led him (Martin?) on a bit and eventually told him that I didn't have a computer. He then got very abusive and called me a liar. He was almost threatening. Doesn't cut any ice with me but I help a number of oldies with their minor PC problems and I think one or two of them who are even older than me will feel quite intimidated by these nasty calls. I will contact my little group and assure them that the best thing to do is just put the phone down and forget them. I have the originator's UK phone number and will make a few enquiries to see if anything can be done to curb this practice.

 

[RolandJS]

Forgot the phone numbers, usually, a black box masks the real number. Definitely assure your group to:
-- quickly, quietly, hang up the phone [do not blow whistles, do not curse, do not bang down the receiver]
-- do not engage in conversation or argument [do not curse, do not yell]
If one gives no opening to such callers, most if not all will simply move onto other possible targets.
The above is what my wife and I have done for some time now.

 

[LMiller7]

The problem with any scammers phone numbers you might see is that they are almost always fake.

 

[mitchell65]

Thanks Roland. That's basically what I have already told them but still it causes some of them concerns. We oldies tend to always find something to worry about.

 

[RolandJS]

I can relate! I even worry about the worrying I already do! -- Roland Dangerfield

 

[Ranger4]

The most annoying part of these scammers is that they keep ringing you when you have told them to get lost. Obviously they have an automatic dialling system & it rotates the answered phone to the first available scammer, because there is always a delay when you answer the phone.

I have told them on many occasions to remove my phone number from their database, but they stupidly persist, even after I have repeatedly told them they are a rip off scam.

 

[Seffrid]

The other way of dealing with such callers is to ask them to hold on for a moment while you e.g. answer the door, then put the phone down on the desk and leave it. The caller will very likely hang on for a while until finally realising you're not returning, and that is time he cannot devote to conning someone else.

 

[indianacarnie]

The other way of dealing with such callers is to ask them to hold on for a moment while you e.g. answer the door, then put the phone down on the desk and leave it. The caller will very likely hang on for a while until finally realising you're not returning, and that is time he cannot devote to conning someone else.

 

[bigmck]

What I have done on occasion, if it is a slow day for me, is continue to talk to the guy and give him strange answers to his questions. After a while he hangs up on me.

 

[Mellon Head]

I just tell them I have a Mac. They usually hang up right away and they eventually stop calling.

 

[GEWB]

I've been getting their calls twice a day this week. Now they ask for my wife by name! Anyway, I enjoy playing with them until they hang up.

Regards,
GEWB

 

[margrave]

Does your phone have an ignore button. It's one of my most-frequently used buttons.
Also, does your phone have a block list? If so, use it.
Mine does not, so I block spam numbers on the Verizon web site.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What determines who receives these calls?

I've never got one and don't knowingly take any precautions to prevent such a call.

Luck only?

I'm feeling left out.

I get no more than 2 or 3 unsolicited spam type calls per year, and none ever regarding a PC.

 

[bigmck]

What determines who receives these calls?

I've never got one and don't knowingly take any precautions to prevent such a call.

Luck only?

I'm feeling left out.

I get no more than 2 or 3 unsolicited spam type calls per year, and none ever regarding a PC.

I think they just call randomly. If you don't get them it has to be some luck involved. I have signed up for the State and National "No Call List", but it doesn't do any good.

 

[LMiller7]

No Call Lists only work for callers who want to operate legally. Scammers know their calls are not legal and won't be influenced by such things.

 

[tns1]

The telescammers are all using VOIP which allows spoofing of name and caller ID. If you have a reliable low-jitter ISP connection (low speed is fine), then you should also consider replacing that expensive land line with a VOIP service. These can be a fraction of the cost and include free features such as unlimited blacklisting. If you can setup a router, you can setup a VOIP box.