Posted on 08/25/2018 8:59:46 AM PDT by Scooter100
Don't you just love receiving calls from computer scam artists?
First, we all know for a FACT that Microsoft, Dell, HP, Norton, Facebook, Twitter, or any other computer or networking company on the surface of the planet WILL EVER CALL ANYONE regarding home computers being infected with viruses, malware, or errors. Cold-calling is a common tactic used by scammers to con you out of money for false fixes or security programs your computer does not need.
Second, I am not using Windows 10, I'm using Windows 7. If my machine was sending them error data (as he claimed), then he should have known that.
Third, I don't think Brown & Morgan are common Indian/Pakistani surnames.
So....I decided to have a little fun.
"Steve" asked me to open up the Event Viewer from the "Run" command line feature. I told him I couldn't find the "Event Viewer", nor could I find a "Run" command line feature. He then asked many questions trying to figure out why I couldn't follow his instructions. I told him I couldn't see ANY of the features, or windows, or buttons he was referring to. After 10 minutes or more of time-wasting frustration not being able to find anything on my machine, he finally asked me what version of Windows I was using. I told him I wasn't using a PC or Windows, that I was using Solaris 10.5 (a UNIX operating system) on a Sun SPARCstation (a UNIX machine). [[ OK, big deal, so I lied ]]!
He immediately hung up on me.
Bwaah-haaw-haaw-haaaaaaaaah!
It's the little things in life that can be so much fun.....!
* Note: Computer scam artists should be taken out behind the woodshed and horse-whipped with a bundle of CAT-5 data cables !!
We had to install a phone shut-off switch because these idiots were calling around 11pm to 2am.
Gee the NSA records all phone calls and yet the government cannot find and shut down these scammers. If I was President that would be the number one issue I would use to get re-elected.
I read another one where after not finding various prompts, the scammer asked what prompts the victim actually saw.
“Thaw, Popcorn, Reheat,...”
I got a call from a computer scammer purporting to be from Microsoft. He kept trying to get me to enter certain commands that would allow him access to my computer. I played dumb for awhile and finally told him I have an Apple computer. No problem, I’ll switch you over to the Apple tech. Apparently he didn’t realize that the real Microsoft isn’t going to be able to help out Apple users or he thought I was that dumb. So the “Apple” tech also starts to try and give me commands to enter so he can have access to my computer. Again, I play dumb for awhile and then tell him I have a Windows based computer. No problem, I’ll switch you over to the Microsoft tech, which he does. He must of sent me back to the original caller, who recognized me and cursed me out before hanging up. When you’re retired, you can actually have some fun with these scammers.
“EventVwr” not found.
My latest one was a recorded message from someone with no accent telling me Dell was ceasing all operations in North America and that I was entitled to a refund. They gave me a number to call to get my refund. Knowing it was a scam, I called the number and a guy with a heavy Indian accent answered “Dell.” Without giving him a chance to say anything, I told him not to call my number again. He said okay and hung up.
I got the same call about 2 years ago. Evey time he said something I twisted it into a question about Linux. After a while he hung up. I was so disappointed. I never got to use my best material.
I friend about the same time got the call. She stopped the guy right away and said, “I’m a software engineer. This call won’t go well for you.”
Enter ‘Hello, this is Lenny!’ into your web search for a hilarious series of recordings of an automated system to frustrate scammers.
When I get a scam call the first thing I say:
I ask them in a low voice, “What are you wearing?”
They hang up every time.
These computer scammers are another good reason to enact caning as a suitable punishment for certain crimes in this country. Those convicted should have their names & the actual prosecution made public. Might be a good deterrent for others thinking about trying it.
And, if I’m alert/awake, I start breathing heavily then ask them.
They called me before. Asked me to open my windows. So I opened the one over the kitchen sink.
I just uttered a single “quack” after everything the scammer said. He became frustrated with me and put his “supervisor” on the phone. With time to spare, I kept this up for a good 15 minutes until the “supervisor” said he was going to “track [me] down and rape my daughters” before he slammed down the phone. True story ... though his threat would be difficult to accomplish from the turd-world country he was calling from. We all had a good laugh over here!
I looked up “Hindi insults” on line and told the “Microsoft” tech guy that the hair on his mother’s rear end was infested with dried lizard eggs. It’s evidently a popular phrase over there.
How about the ones from the “IRS” saying you have a tax debt and will be prosecuted if you don’t pay.
Or the one where you get a vacation on a Caribbean cruise ship. Just call this number and provide your name and credit card information.
Anyone stupid enough to believe these scams deserves to be ripped off.
I found NOMOROBO a few months ago and I love it. Was getting 15 to 20 robo calls per day. Now I get about 3 or 4 a month. I report them to NOMOROBO and they don’t get thru again. It even handles the ‘number unavailable’ calls. It is free for landlines, $1.99 per month for cell phones.
I smile everytime I hear a single ring knowing NOMOROBO stopped another robo call.
It’s amazing how many “Steves” there are in India and Pakistan. Must be a really popular name over there.
These people call time and again. I’ve reported them.
To the peanut gallery: Never use the word “yes” or repeat your name or anything else ... people have used recordings of things like that to help steal identities.
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