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Alert

A call from the technical department of Microsoft

Sep 25, 2015 8:34AM PDT

I received a call on my husband's landline from Microsoft Technical Department. The caller identified himself as Peter Jones. He had an Indian accent. He wanted me to go on the internet with my computer, because there were many corrupt files downloaded on my computer every time I go online. He had to help me to remove it.

I thought it sounded strange, because how would he link the landline to my computer? in any case, I asked him to call me on Saturday, because my laptop was not with me. I gave him my mobile number. He gave me a code: 05.

I did not trust this, and Googled Microsoft Technical department. I found interesting information there, and could not wait for Peter to call back.

Today, Friday, I received another call from my friend. He called from the number +1 516-342-5264. It said New York on my phone. He said he wanted more information from me. I asked him how on earth he would know that my computer has problems if he wanted info from me. He should know certain information. I also told him that I contacted Microsoft, and they said they don't do things this way. (I did not)

When I told him that he was a fraud, he put the phone down. Just an alert that this is still continuing. I live in South Africa.

Discussion is locked

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A Good Way to Have Them Remove Your Number
Sep 29, 2015 8:09PM PDT

I answer the call by saying "Delaware State Police. Sargent Smith. May I help you?" They hang up quickly.

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I get the calls in clusters
Sep 29, 2015 8:20PM PDT

They tend to call me every day for a week or so and then not call for a month. I always ask which one of my computers has the problem. They tell me the one running windows. I say I have several computers running windows and again ask which computer has the problem. One time the person(?) on the phone took a shot in the dark and said it was my laptop running Windows 7. Good guess, but I told him/her that my Windows 7 laptop was powered down. Etc.

I agree that there should be a special place in heck for those guys. I need to get an air horn, because I just don't have the patience or the self control to string them along.

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HAVE A LITTLE FUN....
Sep 29, 2015 8:28PM PDT

Check out how Tom Mabe takes care of a telemarketer - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50 Perhaps it could be modified to fit the situation. I always tell them that I am working on my computer and it's a Mac. Never fails.
Berkey

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Have been getting these calls for what seems like forever!
Sep 29, 2015 8:33PM PDT

Usually I don't have the time, but if I do I LOVE to mess with them. Get them soooooo confused that they give up trying to figure out what to say to me next and just hang up. What gets me is on the calls I get, they say they are calling from Windows Technical Support. REALLY? Hmmm, I could swear it would be from Microsoft Tech Support instead (have even mentioned that one a time or two before as well). But my usual approach is as follows:

"Hello, I'm calling from Windows Technical Support. I was calling to inform you that you have received a few really bad viruses on your Windows computer. I can help you to get rid of them to help your computer run better again."
"Really? Hmmm, well which computer are these viruses on?"
"Your Windows computer."
"Which one? I have more than one."
"The one you use the most to connect to the internet."
"I use them all. Which version of Windows is the computer with the viruses running?" (At this point the person on the other end is trying desperately to come up with something to say as a diversion to that question.) They usually don't answer that with any definitive response, but then I tell them, "Well, if you are able to track the fact that my computer has these viruses, you should also be able to tell me which version of Windows it is running." This usually goes back and forth for some time before their frustration gets the best of them and they hang up. I just sit back and laugh out loud - especially since I tried so hard to hold it in while on the phone with them! LOL If they want to waste our time, I think it's only right for us to be able to return the favor in kind!!! Wink

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Never had em
Sep 29, 2015 8:33PM PDT

In Australia they seem to hit landlines as they find your name in the phone book. I don't have a landline so it has never happened to me. Here's a few ideas though. Tell them I don't have a computer, put them on hold, blow a whistle at them, or just plain swear the hell at them and hang up.

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Call fromantic tech support
Sep 29, 2015 8:36PM PDT

I fib. I tell them I have all apple stuff. Then I ask thme how long has apple outsourced their tech support to micto soft. Usually they ask if I have any Microsoft equipment to which I say no. Then they hang up. Works every time.

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Reverse everything they say
Sep 29, 2015 8:43PM PDT

I tell them that I am with the computer support department and offer to help them with their computer. Whatever they say, I "misinterpret" it to be a request for my help, rather than their helping me. They get confused. One said "you aren't really. Are you?"

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Microsoft computer scam
Sep 29, 2015 8:53PM PDT

Oh I love when I am called by this scammer! In the past year it has happened several times, and each time by the same person. Yes, I DO recognize His middle eastern voice people. The caller ID says Canada, but you know how that goes.
Since these guys as a whole are, well, what they are, here is how I deal with this guy, and every time he has fallen for it, to my amusement.
I play along with his speech, then pretend to follow his prompts to allow remote access, and then when he finally asks me - "ok what do you see now on your screen?", I reply - Oh um well what I see now is a picture of your face, sucking a big fat C**K!!! Ha! Now you may feel that this is vulgar, which it is, but after his 3 second pause while he realizes what I just said, believe me it is worth every bit of it! He then gets up to speed realizing what he is dealing with and attempts to throw equally and More obscene replies at me, involving similar acts and with my mother, etc, etc. This just happened a few days ago, and this time he finally remembered me. These people are young punks scamming whoever they can but we all just need to be informed. BTW I too am on a MAC. Duh.

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A different twist...
Sep 29, 2015 9:05PM PDT

I got an urgent message box pop up on my laptop screen saying that my computer had been hijacked and that I should call "this number" to get help. The message box appeared as a communication from Microsoft. I called for the fun of it and yup, it turned out to be a scam artist. He had a strong Indian accent and tried to convince me he was calling from California. And yes, he said that if I wanted to solve "the problem" on my laptop he'd need to have access to it. What BS!! What I don't get is what motivates people to do this??? Are they paid by someone?? What's the incentive, other than to cause havoc??? Long story short: I said I'd need to talk with someone at Norton (my security system) to check on their credibility....Next thing I hear is CLICK!!

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Messing with these people can be fun.
Sep 29, 2015 9:06PM PDT

The only down side is to realize that they are doing it because some people fall for it.

My wife got the first couple of their calls and told them she didn't have a computer. (She technically doesn't. She uses my old laptop.)

When I got the call, the first thing I asked for was the IP address. I was going to explain that I needed it to tell which computer. I didn't get that far though. They didn't even understand the question and hung up after the second time I asked.

We haven't received any calls since then.

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Same Old Story Here
Sep 29, 2015 9:14PM PDT

I get a call from these guys every couple of weeks. I use a similar technique that others have posted, only I have a Mac as my primary (I also have MS Win 10 on a laptop). I usually play along with them telling them I can't find the start menu etc, where they are telling me to look, playing ignorant all the way until they finally are exhausted with the effort. Then I let them know, kinda as an aside, that I am running Yosemite OS10, and they sometimes get really irate.
Once, one of them put his super on the line and I gave him a little walk though of the same effort - he got really PO'ed when I broke the news to him. Other times I just flat tell them that I know it is a scam and to go get a real job and make their mama proud.
...........HaHaHa! Ain't this fun?

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Yeah, they are back with a vengence
Sep 29, 2015 9:25PM PDT

It's not the first time I have experienced this type of call. The advent of the MS10 gave them licence to dust themselves off and pick up their relentless persuit. Please type in xxxxx and what does it say and now type in ... and lo and behold there is an unholy plethora of of red circles with white 'x's ... this is now proof that the computer has been severely attacked by hackers and they can help repair this if their invitation to let them into the computer is accepted. They feast on people's fear and the fact that, for some at least, the Microsoft upgrade has been far from problematic free has given these shysters a licence to abuse, what some may say ignorance, but I prefer to call it a momentary lapse in the cognitive thought process.

Yeah, I have a field day with these guys but I would like to point out that I am 52 years old and was using an electric typewriter (google it!). My second job I was self-taught using a computer for data -entry... gah!! remember those days! So to keep it short, I am familiar with computers and have gone through a lot of experience and courses since. This is not to say I am in any way technical, just computer literate. My son who has just started college obtained a distinction in IT. I know for a fact that I put a lot of work into that but he has done it for himself and gets irritated at my slowness....don't judge or do, your choice.

So, for all that, I would be the first to admit that falling for these scams is plausible to certain groups of people who are in no way expecting it. I do fervently believe that, before anyone who could fall for this scam, there should be advisement at the time of purchase. To hell with it, make it mandatory to everyone regardless of their competence that at no time would Microsoft contact you for your personal information. Just like banks will never phone you or send an email to request any personal information.

My opinion is based on the 'kill it before it breeds' statement. Stop giving them air. Sure take the pxxx if you have time or feel so inclined but my last caller ... I think these people have had surgery to remove pretty much everything that makes up human beings could have been less obvious to my attempts to shame. Even cold callers and sales callers and ppi callers will not keep asking you to give them information when you have made it plaintively clear that you know what they are about! I honestly felt dirty after the call ... that I had been talking to a complete and utter imbecile and wasted time that I will never get back. Bloody pointless!!! They either genuinely do not understand or they have some threat over them that makes them void to any comprehension whatsoever.

OK. That's my two cents for what that is worth. Like they say.. opinions and bottoms ... everyone has one.

One thing I do believe is the younger generation are more savvy so these scammers will have to come up with new approaches no doubt. Where that's all leading to I can only imagine. I just wish the people that do 'panic' when they see what the screen reads, have their own personal technicians who they can ask first.

I always peruse c|net and am very grateful to the writers who help keep me informed. I will not normally comment due to what has been said before covers what I would have said. On this topic I have, apparently, made a decision to say something.

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Seriously?
Sep 29, 2015 9:33PM PDT

Please tell me you did not give them your actual mobile telephone number.
Never, ever give anyone calling unsolicited ANY personal information.

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Fun Time !!!
Sep 29, 2015 9:49PM PDT

I'm retired so I have time to play on the phone when they call. My goal is to keep them on the line until "they" give up.

I'll make them shout by saying I can't hear them. I may pretend I'm really confused and hitting the wrong computer keys every time they tell me what to do. I'll ask them to hold while I find my password cards. Ask them to hold while I make a trip to the rest room. You get the point. My personal best. ---- I pretended to go to my car and start troubleshooting its door locks, windows and on and on and on. Then I pretended to understand he wanted me at my home computer only to return to the car troubleshooting when he thought he was making some headway. The car trick lasted over 30 minutes and I know he thought he had found a dummy who would open it all up to him. Finally, he started cursing me.... so then I pretended not to understand him for another 5 minutes. He finally gave up.

If I have them on hold or talking trash.... he can't call someone else. Plus I always get a good chuckle.

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Scamming the scammers
Sep 29, 2015 9:53PM PDT

I first got one of these calls last year I ignored them at first but after receiving two calls a week. I said they need to be messed with, so I started by asking the caller to please repeat themselves because I did not understand them. Then I had the caller explain in detail what they were calling about. He kept telling me my windows was not working properly I told him it looked cloudy outside but I could still see through them. He kept telling me I did not understand the windows is broken. He had a very heavy accent. I kept telling him he was wrong that I walked all around my house and all 24 windows are fine. I could here the fustration in his voice. He just spent several minutes explaining to me why he called probably assumed I would go along with his crab. I continued messing with him, I tapped on the glass with my phone. I told him that sound was the glass on my windows that are solid and not broken. He was trying so hard, finally after hear me tell him he is wrong I can see perfectly fine through my windows. He said mam do you have a computer I said what is that he stayed silent apologized for distrubing me and hung up. I timed the call at 27 minutes of back and forth. Did not receive a call again for the rest of 2014 until May this year. Once again I knew what to do and the calls stopped for now. Also received a call about calling back the IRS at a non irs number or I will go to jail. Just like Microsoft the IRS does not make calls. Most of these calls come from another country I wish a database could be made of these numbers so they can be blocked. I'm sure a lot of people have fallen for the scam this is the reason the calls go on.

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The Sad Thing
Sep 29, 2015 10:33PM PDT

Most of us "techies" know how to handle this scam. The problem is, once again, with the older people whose grandson just installed a computer in their living room with a BIG BUTTON marked "Facebook" or "Family Photos". And the grandson didn't explain enough about scams like this. OK, add another button to their screen that says "BANK" or "Inheritance Info". You know, the same people who will tell their family about this Nigerian prince who is going to help them make a lot of money to leave to the grandkids after they die....
All of these scammers need is ONE thing: a person who actually falls for this stuff and loses everything. Then listening to horns and people telling them about their Mac or asking questions is totally OK with them.

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These stupid calls!
Sep 29, 2015 10:41PM PDT

I received one of these calls today. I told him my computer used the Andriod operating system. He asked me to hold for a moment and then came back on the line to tell me to have a good day!

BTW I have gotten several of these calls in the past ... but knew it was a scam from the first call. I sure would like to know who the scum company is that sells them my land line phone number!

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Scamming the scammers
Sep 29, 2015 11:18PM PDT

I like to play with these guys when they call. I ask them if they are so sure it is my computer, what is its MAC address? Or, what OS does it run? (I run Linux on nearly everything) These guys are good at being persistent. Eventually, I tell them I am an IT professional, and that I am familiar with their scam.

Next time, I'm going to try speaking to them in the Na'vi language (the constructed language created for the movie 'Avatar'). That should throw them for a loop!!

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How to irritate MS Scam Callers
Sep 30, 2015 12:02AM PDT

I like to just play with them sometimes and all I do is grunt or just say huh every time the say something or ask me a question. I've also done Special Ed from Crank Yankers before and it was hilarious... Knock, knock..lol

Last time they called I just let them go through their entire spiel then at the end I just told them "I don't have a computer". They didn't seem too happy about that but it worked and I haven't heard from them for some time. Laugh

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A tool for blocking robocalls.
Sep 30, 2015 12:10AM PDT

Good news. There is a robocall blocking service called NoMoRobo that will block all of those robocalls by checking them against their database of several hundred thousands recognized scam numbers. Consumer Reports reviewed four robocall blockers in the September issue and NoMoRobo was tops at over 90% effective, so I signed up by registering my phone number on their website. It was free.

Now when the phone rings once and stops, it's a robocall being blocked. Works great for me. You can add numbers to a blacklist or a whitelist, although I haven't tried it yet. Drawback: It can only be used with VOiP internet based phone lines.

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A variation of the scam
Sep 30, 2015 12:31AM PDT

I have not only had the Virus scam phone calls in the past but recently a variation of the scam where the person purports to be from my ISP and says that there has recently been seven new computers added to my network or 14 or 21 depending each call the number increased by seven for whatever reason. The first time it happened I was suspicious but curious as I had recently had trouble with my internet and spoken to my ISP call centre in India about the problem. I asked them to identify themselves but they were cagey about that just telling me they were network managers so I asked them outright who were my internet service providers, from the answer they obviously did not know and therefore were nothing to do with my ISP so I told them in no uncertain term what to do with themselves, they then hung up but I got another call later the same day so I just told them to F O . they then rang again a couple of days later so they got the same reply but much much louder. I have no proof but I suspect that whoever is behind the scam has information on phone numbers and names from the Indian call centre of my ISP as the phone calls came through on both my land line and my mobile the number of which I had just given to the ISP call centre so they could ring me back while they tested the land line the mobile number is one I kept just for that purpose.

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I've had calls from "The Windows Operating System" itself!
Sep 30, 2015 3:19AM PDT

We get a few of these every month, mostly my wife takes them as she only works a 3-day week so is often home when they call. I've given her lots of buzz-words and phrases to use to bamboozle them ("We have several computers, can you tell me the IP of the one with a virus? The one connected to the internet? Well we have a two connections, an ADSL and an ISDN. Which one is it connected to? Hello...? Hello...?"). But on the rare occasions I get them, I string them along as much as possible. I'm most proud of the time I kept one on line for 20 minutes trying to connect to my Linux KDE desktop. At the end I even told him that I was stringing him along for a laugh and he still didn't take the hint, until I used the magic words "IT Technician" and then he hung up.

As for what they're after, it's not to install malware on your PC, it's your Credit Card details. My wife works in a High Street bank and no end of (often elderly) customers come in questioning huge bills on their Credit Card, only to admit that they recently had a call from "Microsoft" about viruses on their PC.

Be warned though, these people can be nasty. A female friend told them to "F" off, and the guy rang her back minutes later and subjected her to a torrent of verbal sexual abuse ("You want it, you know you do, and you want me to give it to you!" kind of stuff), which made her too scared to answer the phone for the rest of that day.

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How do they get the Microsoft number to show up on Caller ID
Sep 30, 2015 4:08AM PDT

We get a call almost every day from the same person with an East Indian accent with the Microsoft scam. I have also received calls from what sounds like the same guy wanting to scam me about my Comcast internet account and I do not have Comcast. When I tell him that he fishes for who I have and then I blow him off. What is more cynical and interesting is that the phone number that registers on our caller ID is a legitimate Microsoft support number. How is this possible? I have been thinking about filing this question with the FCC. But beware if you go searching for that number. One of the URLs that popped up on my Google search actually hijacked my browser when I clicked on it with audio and video that my computer had a virus. The Federal Gov should put extreme pressure on the countries that these calls originate from.

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Soon After Uploading to Windows 10 - Tech Alert Yeah Right
Sep 30, 2015 4:14AM PDT

I've been using Windows 10 for about three weeks now, but during the first two weeks I kept getting these pop-up messages that I should call a yadda-yadda number so that some techie could do a remote analysis of my PC. What I did instead was to do CC Clean and Norton scans, and found there were a number of viruses and the threat of Trojans set to attack my system. Between CC Clean and Norton, the tech messages disappeared.

Besides, I felt, how would THEY know my system had problems unless, perhaps, they were the cause of it? In any event, once I cleaned up my laptop, no problems whatsoever, and the 'Microsoft techies' vanished.

To my knowledge and experience over the years of being an Internet citizen, Microsoft never initiated a call unless you did, first. So the 'technical department of Microsoft' is a scam. Don't fall for it. Glad this article has been put up in case there are newbies to the Internet who have no idea about how it works and some of the tricksters that await the unscrupulous.

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What about att connect techs that access my computer?
Sep 30, 2015 4:58AM PDT

I too have been scammed by them in the past, and have had my identity stolen.
My question is about the technicians from ATT connect tech. I pay $15/m for unlimited tech support for any device from ATT.
When I call, I am usually connected to someone, who accesses my computer to help me, and if he cannot help me or it takes to long, transfers me to a teck that justs texts me as he is working on my computer.
I've used them for years and seem to get help when I need it. But is it also dangerous or a scam for me to let them access my computer?

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An answering machine works well...
Sep 30, 2015 5:44AM PDT

We get the calls, too (Ohio, USA). For me, the easiest way to screen them (and others) is to have an answering machine on 24/7. There are a lot of hang-ups, which I have to assume are scam callers. And for those that do speak into the machine, it's very easy to decide if the call is worth picking up. Most are not.

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Scared them silly
Sep 30, 2015 5:55AM PDT

I was getting lots of these calls. Finally I had time during one call and asked the person how things are in Pakistan. He said "How do you know I'm in Pakistan". I said that I had to be honest this number is an NSA ********. I said do you know what that is? "It's a phone number to attract people like you, and here is the best part since your in Pakistan if I have a drone available I can send a Hellfire missile direct to your phone. Please wait. Yes, you win. Look at the nearest window and in about 30 seconds a missile will come through the window so have all your little friends gather around your phone." He starts yelling, swearing at me. Then I hear people in background yelling and what sounds like running. The calls stopped for about 2 months.

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Very Good
Sep 30, 2015 6:35PM PDT

I like that. Think I will try that one sometime.

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They prey on the vulnerable
Sep 30, 2015 6:32AM PDT

I get one or two of these calls a month. Sometimes I keep them going for a bit. On the last occasion it was a female and I said that if she knew that my computer had a virus she could presumably confirm the computer ID. That flummoxed her briefly, but then after a few more minutes I got fed up and said "Sorry, but I'm going to interrupt you here; if you think I'm going to let you have remote access to my computer, you must be out of your tiny mind." She hung up. Happy

I offer computer help locally and inevitably many of my clients are computer illiterate, elderly or both. I try to remember to warn them about this, but I sometimes forget to do so. A while back one of my clients fell for it up to the point at which they asked for money to 'remove' the 'viruses' they had shown him. At this point he smelt a rat and said that he wouldn't pay. The response was "If you don't pay, your computer won't work". He again refused and seconds later his screen went blank. A complete install of windows was required.

Another recent client, a real newbie aged 72, received one of these calls a few weeks ago. Eventually they had to give up, as he couldn't follow the instructions they were giving him. He later told me that his broadband wasn't even switched on. Happy

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(NT) Another option
Sep 30, 2015 6:51AM PDT