Posted on 04/20/2016 10:08:50 AM PDT by catnipman
Avoid tech support phone scams
Cybercriminals don't just send fraudulent email messages and set up fake websites. They might also call you on the telephone and claim to be from Microsoft. They might offer to help solve your computer problems or sell you a software license. Once they have access to your computer, they can do the following:
Trick you into installing malicious software that could capture sensitive data, such as online banking user names and passwords. They might also then charge you to remove this software.
Convince you to visit legitimate websites (like www.ammyy.com) to download software that will allow them to take control of your computer remotely and adjust settings to leave your computer vulnerable.
Request credit card information so they can bill you for phony services.
Direct you to fraudulent websites and ask you to enter credit card and other personal or financial information there.
Neither Microsoft nor our partners make unsolicited phone calls (also known as cold calls) to charge you for computer security or software fixes.
(Excerpt) Read more at microsoft.com ...
I receive those calls weekly. Monday I got one. Yesterday got two. It’s never the same caller ID but it sounds like the same guy. Sometimes I mess with the guy and sometimes I cuss him out and hang up. I don’t know where they got my cell number which is on the do not call list.
No no no... don’t just hag- up
WASTE as much of their time as possible
They get really pissed off when they figure out that YOU have figured them out long ago...and wasted an hour of their time
Tell them how rich you are an dhow much money you just deposited in your bank
pretend to be as helpful as possible - but you just don’t understand computers all that much... make them explain it over and over and over and over until they give up
(but DO NOT EVER install anything they tell you to install - just tell them you did, they can’t see your screen)
Have fun with it and remember- while you are wasting their time, they cannot be scamming someone else, so you are doing a public service
My favorite call from Microsoft was with a heavy Hispanic accent, and in the background I could hear small children screaming as well as the sound of chickens.
I decided to infuriate him by using a strong Hindu accent, and insisting that “It is not you who are being Microsoft, but we who are being Microsoft. And as soon as I finish my roast beef sandwich, I will be sending Microsoft security to your home to give you a very bad titty twister, sirrah.”
He just yelled a bunch of obscenities at me and hung up.
Standard answer is "Misters Smith and Wesson handle my security; drop by and you may meet them".
There are some great vids on YT of people trolling the scammers. The ‘IRS’ ones are the best.
Thanks for the post and the warning.
It’s good that Microsoft issued a warning.
I agree — the only way to deal with them is to hang up on them immediately, because, as Microsoft says, they do NOT make unsolicited phone calls. So any caller that claims that, is a scam artist, out to do you harm. Don’t listen to them at all, just hang up.
I just let my Mother inlaw play with them.
She has dementia and some expired cancelled credit cards...she does not even know what year it is, her address, or her SS number, or anything for that matter.
I just listen silently on the line for entertainment.
It goes pretty much like “Lenny”.
She gets the IRS lawsuit calls too.
“And you finish the call with “My computer is at my son’s house and he lives in Pakistan. Isn’t India a province of Pakistan?”.”
ROFL! Nice!
Me and 7 other friends (all retirees :) ) have formed a league where we have a contest to see who can keep these dumbasses on the phone the longest. My record of 57 minutes and 26 seconds was busted by a buddy last week, where he kept these turds on the line a full Hour and 11 minutes.
Get a very load whistle and have a blow into the phone ,the last guy was Chinese
I’ve been getting fake IRS calls lately. And the callers have thick Indian accents. LOL
My brother, and IT guy, like to toy with the “Microsoft” calls. He plays along, asking them things like, “Really? You can do that?!” Then when he gets tired of it all, he says, “I don’t have a computer.”
For the fake IRS callers, I ask their name, and then I tell them I’m a Special Agent with the Dept. of the Treasury, Office of the Inspector General and “I don’t see your name on the list...”
They hang up immediately.
you all gotta see this video of a man supposedly ownign a telemarketer- even if it’s fake, it’s very very funny- asnd owudl be funny to say to a telemarketer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DJNbD8mvL4
I don't see what's so funny about this. Seven goats seems more than adequate, especially if he pays shipping.
The “computer techs” rarely speak fluent English and I just warn them they are committing fraud and hang up the phone....
The other day my Caller ID displayed “IRS Audit”. I ignored it, figuring it was a scam. If I stop posting for a few years, you will know I was wrong.
“One time I said to the Indian sounding guy, “Oh, good, hold on, the police want to talk to you”. He hung up.”
“The next time I tried the same thing, he used filthy words on me that I still don’t know the meaning of, lol.”
Well, just spew some filthy words back. Say, “madarchod” and hang up. He’ll likely be stunned. Don’t ask why a white guy would know this, LOL!
The funniest case I’ve seen is our engineering software helpdesk receiving them, and the sputtering when you identify yourself as the helpdesk before they start their spiel.
I do not answer any number that I do not have in my contact list unless I recognize it.
“And you finish the call with “My computer is at my son’s house and he lives in Pakistan. Isn’t India a province of Pakistan?”.”
I will need to try that. Usually when they ask me what’s on my screen I say welcome to the FBI, please login.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.