New
#11
Microsoft does have this warning on their website and has for a long time. But unfortunately the people who are most likely to be conned are also the least likely to have seen it. Even if the warning was featured prominently on the Microsoft website few of these people would see it. Many are not even aware that the Windows OS is a product of Microsoft. In the many such calls I have received the caller claims to be from "Windows", not Microsoft.
I blocked all calls that I do not recognize the phone number calling but now my memory is full. Microsoft will NEVER call you without you contacting them first.
I agree - the calls are out of control. I've changed my answering message on all my numbers "If you don't leave a message, your number will be automatically blocked." And then I block each and every one of them. But they spoof their caller ID, so it's difficult to block everything.
Answering those calls or even letting the answering machine get it just confirms that there is a person at that number.
MS will never call you about licensing, infections, etc.
I downloaded the sound of a fax machine connecting. When I get a number from out of state or something I don't recognize, I pick up the phone & play that (I keep the MP3 file of that sound on my desktop for just that purpose).
The machine that dials those calls will usually recognize that sound & list the phone number as a fax number & take it off the list. Since I started doing this, our spam calls have dropped by about 70%.
The "do not call" list has done no good & there are too many loopholes for companies to use.
When you answer just say you are Inspector Homes from the anti-fraud squad. Tell them they are breaking the law and request their name and address. Also say their phone has been located and the police are on their way to arrest them.
Another tactic is just to ask them to wait a while while you attend to something. Then just leave them hanging there costing them a phone call and wasting their time when they could be phoning someone else.