Another phone and computer scam

[xs11jack]

Wife came into the everything room and told me that a phone call left a message say something like Your Windows license has been suspended. This is an emergency call to notify you that the windows license and all programs has been suspended. Here comes the hook To get your license reinstated call 855... I didn't get the rest of the numbers but they were a bunch of 5s and 4s. The 855 number is a toll free area code. This seems to be a revival of the scam that came out of India several months ago that a bunch, 70 or more, were arrested. So be careful out there.
Ole Jack

[mold maker]

There is always a shyster out to pinch profits from the uninformed.
Thanks for the warning.

[rancher1913]

I get calls from "microsoft tech support" quite often, always a non-english speaking person. the last time I was not very nice to them

[gwpercle]

I keep getting telephone calls from Angola, La. ....that's where the men's State Prison is located.I know about their scams.
The other day got a call from St. Gabriel , La. ...that's where the women's State Prison is located !
I didn't answer either one nor did they care to leave a message.
Caller I,D. is the one piece of technology I do enjoy and approve of...If I don't know your # I'm not answering the phone....leave a message.
Gary

[KenT7021]

Microsoft will never call you about a problem.I used to get the India based computer calls a few years ago.I just told the caller I don't even own a computer so what kind of problem could I have.I recently got a call from India about computer problems so they never give up.

[bangerjim]

Ignore all that stuff from "Microsoft". They, like the IRS, do NOT call you!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get 3-4 of those a week on my office lines.

If you want to have some fun, tell them you are running Win 2.2 and it still works!!!!!

Also for carpet cleaning calls..................tell them you have dirt floors. And for window estimates.......you live in a cave.

banger

[xs11jack]

My wife said the woman sounded like a whiskey and cigarette voice, real gravel like. She didn't sound like a foreigner.
Ole Jack

[Harter66]

I've had a series of Michigan numbers calling about 2-3 times a week . I mostly ignored or refused the calls . " We have a special offer for you because you stayed in one of our resorts....."

I started answering with " hey I'm glad you called ! You are lucky caller 100 and we have a spe.......... Hello .......hello " huh , look at that they hung up , again .

[nvbirdman]

I had one the other day from a guy who said he could help me with my pain medication and he asked me where my pain was. I told him in my butt because these calls were a pain in the a**.
I was telling a friend about it and he told me he got the same call and gave the same response.

[6bg6ga]

Got one from medicare. This is medicare and you are not covered. I asked if this was a government agency and they hung up.

[DougGuy]

But! But! I been a Linux user for years! What license? Huhhhhh??? Click. Hey where'd you go this was about to be fun!

[alamogunr]

We've been getting calls that the caller ID shows as a local number. I answered the first one thinking it was a neighbor. They started the spiel about credit card something or other and I hung up. We are a small town in a small county and I couldn't see how they could be local.

I called the phone company(a small company) and they said this is the latest thing. Somehow the scammers can show a local number even though they are a long distance away. This has made us very careful about answering any call that we don't recognize the ID.

BTW. We bought a new cordless phone system a couple of months ago that has a feature that allows us to block unwanted numbers. I've started writing down the numbers that I have blocked to see if it works. Not sure I would know unless one of those numbers manages to get thru.

[mozeppa]

If you want to have some fun, tell them you are running Win 2.2 and it still works!!!!!
banger

but , but, but i AM still running win2.2!

are you makin' fun of me Jim?:cry:




:bigsmyl2:

[Outer Rondacker]

When I get those kinda scams I just say, "hold on let me get my checkbook." Then hang up.

[evoevil]

I get 15 a week or so ............ wonder if my phone has a limit on blocked numbers

[OptimusPanda]

They get mighty angry when you keep them on the line for a few minutes then reveal you don't own microsoft products and you've enjoyed wasting their time. :bigsmyl2:

[bangerjim]

Got one just a few minutes ago from "Microsoft". A local number with a horrible thick India accent! Told him I still used a kerosene powered abacus and iron gall ink on parchment that still worked just fine..............and he hung up REAL FAST!

banger

[MaryB]

Got one today about back braces... told the caller to stick a grenade where the sun dosn't shine and pull the pin. For some reason they hung up on me LMAO

[Rufus Krile]

They get mighty angry when you keep them on the line for a few minutes then reveal you don't own microsoft products and you've enjoyed wasting their time. :bigsmyl2:

My record is 45 minutes... Somehow I finally work into the conversation that I don't own a PC.. only a Mac, and it doesn't seem to have any Windows applications. Other times I've used the "No, this time let ME be Raji and YOU be Rufus... so, Rufus, what's your bank number?" Another fun one is "OK, JimBob, what's a naughty boy like you wearing?" They have no sense of humor.

[D Crockett]

you guys are great. I get these kind of calls only they tick me off some kind of bad. think I need to start having some fun with them. thank you for the idea D Crockett

[bangerjim]

My wife used to work for a financial concern and they bought trunk lines in major cities to appear like local calls. Not hard to do at all. And perfectly legal.

Not-so-honest concerns can "spoof" the system with fake numbers. That is NOT legal from what I have been told.

Most personal phones can block only a certain quantity of phone numbers. And most of these clowns use MANY rotating numbers so it is darn near impossible to block all of them.

Best blocking system is your own common sense! And have fun with them while keeping them occupied on the phone call!!!!!!

[woodbutcher]

[smilie=s: Used to like the ones saying we have been tracking your credit card use.Then let the live person get on the line.Then let them ramble on for a minute.And then tell them that that is most interesting as I have`nt had a credit card in almost 50 years.Don`t get any more calls.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Down South]

We've been getting calls that the caller ID shows as a local number. I answered the first one thinking it was a neighbor. They started the spiel about credit card something or other and I hung up. We are a small town in a small county and I couldn't see how they could be local.

I called the phone company(a small company) and they said this is the latest thing. Somehow the scammers can show a local number even though they are a long distance away. This has made us very careful about answering any call that we don't recognize the ID.

BTW. We bought a new cordless phone system a couple of months ago that has a feature that allows us to block unwanted numbers. I've started writing down the numbers that I have blocked to see if it works. Not sure I would know unless one of those numbers manages to get thru.
It’s called Spoofing. I get calls from my area code and prefix regularly. They go through some type
of computer system to spoof the number so that you will think it might be someone who you know or someone close by.
The drawback for me is my phone is a business phone and although I’m pretty sure it is a Spoffed call, I have to answer just in case.

[SyberShooter]

I tend to string them along then if they try to tell me my computer is spreading virus I say ' you caught me, now what are you going to do about it' like I am intentionally doing something.... or I let them go on about Microsoft to the tell tem I'm running Linux- havent used MS in years - Had one bright fella try to switch his speel in minstream- telling me first my MS os was bla bla then it was my Linux system that was the problem.... click

[Gunslinger1911]

My dad used to keep score how long he could keep em on the line - 33 min was his record.
I got one about Microsoft problem. Told em "That's funny, I run an Apple Mac laptop - a govt issued lap top, same as this phone - CIA issue - everything traced and tracked". Can't imagine why he hung up.