Bogus "Microsoft" Telephone calls

essenbe · 31 Aug 2018

I just received a recorded message from "Microsoft Help Center" that someone was trying to hijack my computer. I don't know what the rest of the message was, I hung up. Now they have automated scammers. What next.

Edwin · 31 Aug 2018

essenbe said:

I just received a recorded message from "Microsoft Help Center" that someone was trying to hijack my computer. I don't know what the rest of the message was, I hung up. Now they have automated scammers. What next.

Ain't technology a riot!?!?!?

f14tomcat · 31 Aug 2018

essenbe said:

I just received a recorded message from "Microsoft Help Center" that someone was trying to hijack my computer. I don't know what the rest of the message was, I hung up. Now they have automated scammers. What next.

Automated Hanger-Uppers?

Berton · 31 Aug 2018

essenbe said:

I just received a recorded message from "Microsoft Help Center" that someone was trying to hijack my computer. I don't know what the rest of the message was, I hung up. Now they have automated scammers. What next.

I was getting that at least once a week until I had to go to the hospital last month but it would divert to a recording and a "poll taker" then diverted to the scammer or just disconnected.

jimbo45 · 01 Sep 2018

Hi folks
@Berton

@essenbe
and others.

I posted a standard reply in another thread about this stuff :

if one can be bothered to answer at all : give them something like this :

My windows are tripled glazed have robust security locks and have been inspected and approved by the Police. !!

Bogus "Microsoft" Telephone calls-triple.png

(In winter here Triple glazing is not really a luxury !!).

That will shut them up !!!

Cheers
jimbo

x509 · 04 Sep 2018

Borg 386 said:

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.

I like the idea of playing a fax machine sound. How do I connect my desktop to my phone line? I have VoIP, if that matters.

Steve C · 04 Sep 2018

Tell them your PC says your password is ********

CountMike · 04 Sep 2018

x509 said:

I like the idea of playing a fax machine sound. How do I connect my desktop to my phone line? I have VoIP, if that matters.

You need an analog modem for that.

simrick · 04 Sep 2018

x509 said:

I like the idea of playing a fax machine sound. How do I connect my desktop to my phone line? I have VoIP, if that matters.

Just use this and hold the phone up to your speaker
Fax Machine Sound | Free Sounds from Orange Free Sounds
.

flycaster · 20 Sep 2018

About two weeks ago I got a call from an "MS tech" telling me that my MS windows computer was being hacked and they could solve this issue if I let them in. Over the years I have received similar calls. Well, of course, I just love these calls. So, after playing real naive for a while, I complemented the guy at the other end on his command of English (he was speaking with an accent) and how well he understood me. He acknowledge my "compliment." And. with that, I told him to "go **** himself."

Now here's the interesting part. I had the phone number of his call and looked it up. Would you believe that it was MS's number on 42nd street Manhatten??? However, his call was just a few minutes after MS's closing time???