Call from Windows Service Centre

[Wolf K]

A scam of course. The guy told that "they" had noticed my computer had
downloaded some junk files within the last two weeks. I asked what
dates. I asked what files. I asked how they knew, he said there were
error messages. I asked for error numbers, etc and so on and so forth.
Caller wanted to me let him into my computer so he could show me the bad
files. I asked which computer, since I have four. Managed to waste 4:54
min of the spammers' time. I wanted at least 10 minutes. Bummer.

 

[Scott]

A scam of course. The guy told that "they" had noticed my computer had
downloaded some junk files within the last two weeks. I asked what
dates. I asked what files. I asked how they knew, he said there were
error messages. I asked for error numbers, etc and so on and so forth.
Caller wanted to me let him into my computer so he could show me the bad
files. I asked which computer, since I have four. Managed to waste 4:54
min of the spammers' time. I wanted at least 10 minutes. Bummer.

Think I managed 10 minutes. I told him I was really glad he had
called as my computer had a virus. He asked me if it was switched on.
I said it was not and I would switch it on. I told him it might take
some time to boot up because of the virus. He said that was okay. I
left the phone for five minutes then went back and said the computer
was really slow - must be the virus. I went back after another five
minutes and said it was nearly there. Then I left the phone for five
minutes and hung up. He rang back a couple of times but I hung up.

 

[Buffalo]

"Wolf K" wrote in message news:[email protected]...

A scam of course. The guy told that "they" had noticed my computer had
downloaded some junk files within the last two weeks. I asked what dates. I
asked what files. I asked how they knew, he said there were error messages.
I asked for error numbers, etc and so on and so forth. Caller wanted to me
let him into my computer so he could show me the bad files. I asked which
computer, since I have four. Managed to waste 4:54 min of the spammers'
time. I wanted at least 10 minutes. Bummer.

Why didn't you just let 'him' take charge of your computer and let 'him' fix
all those problems?
At least you could have found out which 'junk' files 'he/she/it' were
talking about.
Some folks are just too paranoid to trust anyone!!!
4:54 is a lot longer than I could have kept that spammer busy.
Brush up on your BS so that next time you can do it properly, Bucky!!

 

[Buffalo]

"Scott" wrote in message news[email protected]...

Think I managed 10 minutes. I told him I was really glad he had
called as my computer had a virus. He asked me if it was switched on.
I said it was not and I would switch it on. I told him it might take
some time to boot up because of the virus. He said that was okay. I
left the phone for five minutes then went back and said the computer
was really slow - must be the virus. I went back after another five
minutes and said it was nearly there. Then I left the phone for five
minutes and hung up. He rang back a couple of times but I hung up.

What a great idea.
Thanks,

 

[Ed Cryer]

A scam of course. The guy told that "they" had noticed my computer had
downloaded some junk files within the last two weeks. I asked what
dates. I asked what files. I asked how they knew, he said there were
error messages. I asked for error numbers, etc and so on and so forth.
Caller wanted to me let him into my computer so he could show me the bad
files. I asked which computer, since I have four. Managed to waste 4:54
min of the spammers' time. I wanted at least 10 minutes. Bummer.

The ones I hear about get told to look in Event Viewer and look at the
error count at the head of the Windows System Log page.
They see tens of thousands, panic and become docile and obedient.


The callers usually have an Indian accent.

Ed

 

[Ken Blake]

Think I managed 10 minutes. I told him I was really glad he had
called as my computer had a virus. He asked me if it was switched on.
I said it was not and I would switch it on. I told him it might take
some time to boot up because of the virus. He said that was okay. I
left the phone for five minutes then went back and said the computer
was really slow - must be the virus. I went back after another five
minutes and said it was nearly there. Then I left the phone for five
minutes and hung up.

A wonderful way to handle the call! Congratulations!

I've never gotten such a call, but if I do, I'll handle it your way.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Think I managed 10 minutes. I told him I was really glad he had
called as my computer had a virus. He asked me if it was switched on.
I said it was not and I would switch it on. I told him it might take
some time to boot up because of the virus. He said that was okay. I
left the phone for five minutes then went back and said the computer
was really slow - must be the virus. I went back after another five
minutes and said it was nearly there. Then I left the phone for five
minutes and hung up. He rang back a couple of times but I hung up.

You're a pro, obviously

I did manage to lead the guy on for a while before I started asking him
why he was trying to scam me, and other impolite & cynical remarks.

I did similar things more than once, but eventually I got bored with the
game, and with subsequent calls I reverted to the quick on-hook twist of
the wrist.

 

[Stan Brown]

Managed to waste 4:54
min of the spammers' time.

And almost five minutes of your own.

And you meant scammer's, not spammers' -- one person, not multiple,
and this wasn't spam.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

And almost five minutes of your own.

And you meant scammer's, not spammers' -- one person, not multiple,
and this wasn't spam.

How much time did this reply cost you?

 

[Steve Hayes]

And almost five minutes of your own.

Aye, there's the rub.

A guy phoned yesterday, wanted to speak to my son. I said "He's at work", and
he wanted to know when he came home. I said 6:30. Obviously after the bloke's
knocking off time. So he asked for my son's phone number. I said I didn't know
it (I don't, and didn't feel like stopping what I was doing on my computer to
look it up). At that point he began trying to sell me a mobile phone package
and I put the phone down. I really resent having to waste time to listen to
sales spiels or scam spiels, and don't distinguish between them.

 

[Mike Barnes]

A guy phoned yesterday, wanted to speak to my son. I said "He's at work",
[...]

Do you not ask who's speaking when a stranger calls?

 

[Michael Swift]

A guy phoned yesterday, wanted to speak to my son. I said "He's at work",
and he wanted to know when he came home. I said 6:30. Obviously after the
bloke's knocking off time. So he asked for my son's phone number. I said I
didn't know it (I don't, and didn't feel like stopping what I was doing on my
computer to look it up). At that point he began trying to sell me a mobile
phone package and I put the phone down. I really resent having to waste
time to listen to sales spiels or scam spiels, and don't distinguish between
them.

Caller display is worth every penny, International or Out of area, lift
and drop, number withheld are a bit more difficult as we do have calls
from these and they have a valid reason for it.

Mike

 

[Rob]

Think I managed 10 minutes. I told him I was really glad he had
called as my computer had a virus. He asked me if it was switched on.
I said it was not and I would switch it on. I told him it might take
some time to boot up because of the virus. He said that was okay. I
left the phone for five minutes then went back and said the computer
was really slow - must be the virus. I went back after another five
minutes and said it was nearly there. Then I left the phone for five
minutes and hung up. He rang back a couple of times but I hung up.

I have an old fashioned clock (you know, tick.. tick.. tick..) next
to the phone and when these types of calls come in I do similar and
say 'I'm just powering the computer up' and place the handset on
the clock. Sometimes I even check back 10 minutes later to see
if they're still there.

 

[Steve Hayes]

A guy phoned yesterday, wanted to speak to my son. I said "He's at work",
[...]

Do you not ask who's speaking when a stranger calls?

When they begin by saying "How are you?" I uxsually respond by saying "Who
wants to know?" but in this case he had said who he represented -- a cell
phone company that I knew my son doesn't subscribe to.

 

[Bob I]

Caller display is worth every penny, International or Out of area, lift
and drop, number withheld are a bit more difficult as we do have calls
from these and they have a valid reason for it.

Actually they don't have a valid reason, if you stopped to think about it.

 

[Wolf K]

Actually they don't have a valid reason, if you stopped to think about it.

Cell phone numbers are generally hidden, several of our friends live out
of town, don't have a land line.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

On 7/26/2013 5:33 AM, Michael Swift wrote: []

Caller display is worth every penny, International or Out of area, lift
and drop, number withheld are a bit more difficult as we do have calls
from these and they have a valid reason for it.

Actually they don't have a valid reason, if you stopped to think about it.

Some hospitals and doctor's surgeries use CLI-withheld - would you
consider that valid?

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Actually they don't have a valid reason, if you stopped to think about it.

How about people in the witness protection program? Or women whose
ex-partner is stalking them? Or men with a similar problem?

But then, I stopped to think about it...

 

[Michael Swift]

and drop, number withheld are a bit more difficult as we do have calls
from these and they have a valid reason for it.

Actually they don't have a valid reason, if you stopped to think about it.[/QUOTE]

Why not? Please explain.

Mike

 

[The Lizard]

A scam of course. The guy told that "they" had noticed my computer had
downloaded some junk files within the last two weeks. I asked what
dates. I asked what files. I asked how they knew, he said there were
error messages. I asked for error numbers, etc and so on and so forth.
Caller wanted to me let him into my computer so he could show me the bad
files. I asked which computer, since I have four. Managed to waste 4:54
min of the spammers' time. I wanted at least 10 minutes. Bummer.

Good for you!

My wife got that call, too. She told the guy that her husband (me) was the
techno-geek in the house and asked for the phone number where I could call
them back. They hung up on her and it took 5 minutes for her to stop
laughing.