Bogus "Microsoft" Telephone calls

lawnmower74 · 05 Jul 2018

We are regularly getting telephone calls from people saying they are from Microsoft and that there is a problems with our computers I know this is a con and tell them to get stuffed my sister in law was conned by them and lost £5000.I know that most people on this site will know it is a con but millions of other users do not and this is a world wide problem could not Microsoft put on their websites and communications with customers that they do not phone people saying they have problems the banks and other large organisations do it. If anyone on this site has any influence with Microsoft could they bring this problem to their attention

dalchina · 05 Jul 2018

This is not just an issue with MS. (I've had those too). I had a call 2 days ago from someone in Luxembourg wanting to sell me some investments.

The UK has been flooded with international scam callers and UK-based cold callers these last few years. As the spurious MS people with their quaint accents are overseas, it's a difficult matter, not a regulatory issue for one country. At best, perhaps MS could contact some regulatory body.

Fortunately our phone companies have come up with a great scheme, for free.

They've added an optional challenge system- callers have to leave a message, which you hear when you pick up. You can then add the caller permanently to an approved list- so they don't get the challenge next time. Or you can accept just once.

Previously you had to buy a box to do that, somewhat expensive.

Result- almost no rubbish calls.

One downside- legitimate systems that use automated calls can't get through unless you know the number and approve it. (They can't leave a message and press #). E.g. library service, some bank services...

Within the UK the fine for cold calling companies has been increased, but few prosecutions.

lx07 · 05 Jul 2018

lawnmower74 said:

could not Microsoft put on their websites and communications with customers that they do not phone people

I'm not sure how that would help. Unfortunately the type of people who fall for such scams are unlikely to be looking at Microsoft website and it isn't just them anyway.

I have had to disconnect my landline, not really because of scammers, just the huge volume of cold calling sales people. I tried going on the list to hide my number but despite having recently moved house and told absolutely no-one the number they still tracked me down. Either never answer the phone or don't trust anyone who calls that you don't already know is the unfortunate moral. Interestingly I don't have the same problem on mobile presumably because international calls to landlines are free whereas international calls to mobiles are not.

I like the approved list @dalchina mentioned but it doesn't exist here yet unfortunately.

Bastet · 05 Jul 2018

Regularly we receive calls purporting to be from British Telecom (we’re not customers), Windows technical department or Microsoft technical department - scammers the lot of ‘em.
In the UK there’s the Telephone Preference Service but it’ll not stop international scam calls.

dalchina · 05 Jul 2018

...and many claim to have checked the TPS database - or simply ignore it.

I'd love the telcos to simply block any call with an invalid or invalidly formatted CLI. What else are computers for?

Samuria · 05 Jul 2018

With the new data laws in the UK with massive fines it's hoped it will cut down a lot of this but it won't effect International callers

swarfega · 05 Jul 2018

We bought the BT 8500 phone system and it comes with call barring which means we've not been bothered with spam calls since. Its a dream.

f14tomcat · 05 Jul 2018

We have a "Do Not Call" list in the U.S. It's beyond a joke. Worthless. Scammers just use it to let them know when to move their cubicles in India to another block.

Access Denied · 05 Jul 2018

The mobile spam calls have gotten real bad over the last year. They have been using local numbers to make it appear as if someone in town is calling. You answer... and then it is some bull *** about your warranty or some other BS.

dalchina · 05 Jul 2018

swarfega said:

We bought the BT 8500 phone system and it comes with call barring which means we've not been bothered with spam calls since. Its a dream.

I had 200 numbers barred on my call barring device as bought, then added progressively another 200-250.

Using the free challenge system I no longer need that call barring device,