New breakthroughs in combatting tech support scams

Milton · 02 Dec 2018

A few weeks ago I was visiting the ex-wife (yes, we still talk) and a call came through which she immediately put on 'loudspeaker' and this guy claimed he was from Microsoft and he wanted to inform my ex that her computer had been 'compromised'...and that they were going to disconnect her internet connection within the next 24 hours. She passed the phone over to me (with a grin) saying "You'd better speak to my husband then". Well, I let him ramble on....just out of curiosity.....and then asked him why he....and not my ISP was notifying me. His answer was "Oh, I'm not from the billing department". He repeated this over and over. I then said, "Since you know so much about my computer, could you tell me which ISP I use ?
"Oh, I'm not from the billing department" was his answer again. I replied, "I'm not the idiot you think I am, goodbye" and hung up.

jimbo45 · 03 Dec 2018

Hi there
Technology isn't the best protection against these things

just use plain old fashioned commom sense.

I think I suggested this before but if you get a call about Windows and you can be bothered to answer simply say "My Windows are triple glazed and are fitted with high quality security locks which have been inspected and approved by the Police so I am not in need of any help - thankyou" and then hang up.

Another solution is to boycott businesses that use overseas call centres. Not always possible but more than you think - and it's effective if large numbers of people do it.

Cheers
jimbo

dencal · 03 Dec 2018

Just say....This call has been intercepted, please state your business.....(you can almost hear them craping themselves)

jimbo45 · 03 Dec 2018

dencal said:

Just say....This call has been intercepted, please state your business.....(you can almost hear them craping themselves)

Hi there
@dencal

another good old standby

"This is the Chinese Laundry -- can I please have your reference number"

another one

"You have connected to Dogging central -- please press 1 for latest news, 2 for partner info .... " etc.

Cheers
jimbo

VBF · 04 Dec 2018

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
@dencal

another good old standby

"This is the Chinese Laundry -- can I please have your reference number"

another one

"You have connected to Dogging central -- please press 1 for latest news, 2 for partner info .... " etc.

Cheers
jimbo

L (very much) OL

That had me nearly spitting coffee over my keyboard @jimbo !

I did on one occasion get one of these calls, put the phone on speaker and let the fool talk at me. All the while I was working away on my PC, doing some fairly mundane tasks and obviously not doing anything he said but he could presumably hear me tapping away. I was amazed that he was still on the phone after nearly 40 minutes (!) desperately trying to work out why he couldn't "see" me. By that time I was bored with the joke and needed to concentrate.

I then asked him "What is a computer, I only have a typewriter?" My next suggestion to him is probably best not repeated here and I hung up. Well it amused me at the time!

Oh and a small addition...my late Mother, when aged 85, would sometimes answer her phone (landline) with "Good morning. <Name of town> Police Station - may I help you?"
Seemed to work.......

Berton · 06 Dec 2018

Got a new thing in my E-Mail today:

Final e-Notification
uktvl-gbenforcement.uktvlicensing.couk.solveissue

Remember: You are hereby notified that we have authorised our officers to visit your home and interview you under caution, as our records show you are watching or recording live television illegally and we have received no response to previous communications from you.

Geosammy · 06 Dec 2018

@Berton

Berton said:

Got a new thing in my E-Mail today:

Final e-Notification
uktvl-gbenforcement.uktvlicensing.couk.solveissue

Remember: You are hereby notified that we have authorised our officers to visit your home and interview you under caution, as our records show you are watching or recording live television illegally and we have received no response to previous communications from you.

*sarcasm

The e-mail you received,
is obviously from a seasoned scammer with much experience.
I don't know how it is,
that you avoided getting caught up in their web.

Kyhi · 07 Dec 2018

Got 3 calls yesterday alone - from apple support and that my device was corrupt...
I let them go on and ask questions, But, not much to say after I notified them that I never have owned an Apple Device

jimbo45 · 07 Dec 2018

Kyhi said:

Got 3 calls yesterday alone - from apple support and that my device was corrupt...
I let them go on and ask questions, But, not much to say after I notified them that I never have owned an Apple Device

Hi there

you should have said what "device"

My apples are :
Golden Delicious, Cox orange pippins etc -- I ate some yesterday and they were perfect.

Cheers
jimbo