An early morning call woke me a couple of weeks ago.
"Hello", I answered sleepily.
"Madam, I am calling from Microsoft to inform you that your computer has a malfunction in Windows that needs to be corrected." This fellow had an Indian accent.
This jarred my brain awake. Could it be? Would Microsoft be calling everybody to tell them their computer has a problem? I'd just gotten a new computer with Windows 8.1. Was there something to fix? Should I call my techie son-in-law? Should I call my brother?
After a few more replies, I realized it was a hoax and was furious. I used my strongest teacher voice and told him, "Young man, you need to get an honest job. You should be ashamed of yourself! Stop this immediately" and hung up.
When I mentioned this episode to my brother, Dennis the other day, he laughed. He said that when he got that call, he played along with the fellow for 15 minutes to see what he was up to and to lessen the scammer's time to call other potential victims.
The fellow told him to go to his computer and type in some numbers. Dennis didn't, but said he voiced surprise at what was supposed to be on the screen. The scammer said all the error messages that popped up could be fixed for a price.
Eventually, Dennis said the scammer realized he was being played with and said, "Bollocks!" and hung up.
Bollocks? Who says, "Bollocks" in the US anyway?
There are so many of these horror stories going around these days, often targeted at seniors. It's a scary world out there.
Please be careful.
POSTSCRIPT: I'd already written this blog post when Art answered the phone and heard an Indian accent again. I'd mentioned the phone call I'd gotten earlier so he was more prepared than me.
Art used a very local, rather uninformed accent to see what the fellow was really up to.
The phone call was much longer as the fellow tried over and over to get Art to our computer to type in whatever he was going to direct Art to do.
I was laughing so hard for half that call that Art was having a hard time keeping a straight tone of voice.
And if that fellow calls again? Art says I should tell him I only have Apple computers.
Be careful, everybody!
"Hello", I answered sleepily.
This jarred my brain awake. Could it be? Would Microsoft be calling everybody to tell them their computer has a problem? I'd just gotten a new computer with Windows 8.1. Was there something to fix? Should I call my techie son-in-law? Should I call my brother?
After a few more replies, I realized it was a hoax and was furious. I used my strongest teacher voice and told him, "Young man, you need to get an honest job. You should be ashamed of yourself! Stop this immediately" and hung up.
When I mentioned this episode to my brother, Dennis the other day, he laughed. He said that when he got that call, he played along with the fellow for 15 minutes to see what he was up to and to lessen the scammer's time to call other potential victims.
The fellow told him to go to his computer and type in some numbers. Dennis didn't, but said he voiced surprise at what was supposed to be on the screen. The scammer said all the error messages that popped up could be fixed for a price.
Eventually, Dennis said the scammer realized he was being played with and said, "Bollocks!" and hung up.
Bollocks? Who says, "Bollocks" in the US anyway?
There are so many of these horror stories going around these days, often targeted at seniors. It's a scary world out there.
Please be careful.
POSTSCRIPT: I'd already written this blog post when Art answered the phone and heard an Indian accent again. I'd mentioned the phone call I'd gotten earlier so he was more prepared than me.
Art used a very local, rather uninformed accent to see what the fellow was really up to.
"What? You say you're calling from Microsoft about a problem with my Windows? What do you want me to do?
I should go to my computer? But I can't. My computer is in the other room. No, the cord is too short. Can you just tell me what to do and I'll do it? No, I don't have a speaker phone.
Where are you calling from?
UK? UK what?
England? Really? Can you tell me your name? Ahhh... hello, Sam Smith.
How about I go to my computer turn it on and I call you back. Can you give me your phone number? OK, Let me write it down. 1/800-247-0830... So that's a direct number to you, Sam Smith?
Uhh oh... Have to go, it's my dinner time."
The phone call was much longer as the fellow tried over and over to get Art to our computer to type in whatever he was going to direct Art to do.
I was laughing so hard for half that call that Art was having a hard time keeping a straight tone of voice.
And if that fellow calls again? Art says I should tell him I only have Apple computers.
Be careful, everybody!
We never answer our phone unless we recognize the caller ID. We rarely get messages from unanswered calls. Now that the elections are looming we are getting lots of calls from all over the country.
ReplyDeleteI also was awakened by a call about my computer and I said I don't have a computer. It is really annoying! Good thing you know better than to give any info!
ReplyDeleteHi Mare! It's so good to hear from you!!! I do know not to give info on the phone, but I can be gullible from time to time.
DeleteThanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to imagine that those callers ever have much success but they must since they keep calling. I like the way Art wasted some of the guys time.
ReplyDeleteIf he calls again just say "That's weird I have a Mac".
ReplyDeleteMy neighbors were talking about this at our "Thirsty Thursday" get together last night. These are so obvious, it's really hard to believe anyone falls for them.
ReplyDeleteBollocks! To the lot of them. We hear of a new scam every where we turn.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are simply wonderful. I'm laughing too.
ReplyDeleteHow repulsive!! You're right, he should have been ashamed of himself! Loved that!
ReplyDeleteI get the duct cleaners calling ALL the time. I scold them, hang up on them, and it makes no difference.
ReplyDeleteDuct cleaners? Oh my! That's the first time I've heard of that.
DeleteI've had loads of calls like this;I just tell them I have an Apple computer and hang up. We also get calls purporting to be from an insurance company about an a accident we are supposed to have had. Sadly, whenever I hear an Indian accent giving an English name I immediately get suspicious.
ReplyDeleteI usually hear that there are calls coming in from Nigeria. This is the first time that the person said they were from England. Is Sam Smith common in England? If the scammer were from the US, it would be John Doe or John Smith, I guess.
DeleteI actually DO have Apple computers and have never gotten one of these calls. I wonder how they knew you had just purchased a new computer? That always scares me a little. Glad you all have a sense of humor about all this! :-)
ReplyDeleteI really don't think they knew I had a new computer. That was just me wondering if there was a problem with my new system. They were calling everybody. I just talked to my Zumba group and two of the ladies had gotten that same call.
DeleteThanks for the tip. Glad you guys were too smart for them
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu - Side
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>
They try it on down here as well - The Golfer enjoys stringing them along, Sometimes I just say I don't have computer and other times (if I'm annoyed at having to answer the phone) I tell them very curtly to get a proper job and stop annoying people!
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be trying a new ploy here as the other day one of them indicated he was calling from our national communication company (Telstra) which would certainly confuse a lot of people,making it almost believable for some. Unfortunately a lot will be taken in and pass on bank details
Cathy
They must have been very busy making these calls these last few days. I got three in one day day before yesterday. The first one got me out of bed. I started laughing when he told me why he was calling, and said, "I can't believe I got up for a scammer." The man said, "No scammer." I hung up. Later they called again. I said they should stop calling me. The third time, I also used my best teacher voice and told him, "Young man, I told you to stop calling me. I expect you to do what you were told. Now, don't call me again." So far, no new calls.
ReplyDeleteI love it, Sally. Your teacher voice was better than mine since he did call back again and got Art.
DeleteLaughed when you told him to get an honest job. I usually hang up rudely but never thought of messing with them. like Art did. That might be fun.
ReplyDeleteI get the same call. Sometimes it's two or three times in a week and then I don't hear about it for 6 mo. or a year. I'm onto them but I'm sure some people could be taken in.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! I'm sure there are people who are taken in. I already know of two people who went to Western Union to send money to someone who claimed to be a relative needing the money immediately in some foreign country.
DeleteThat's why we NEVER answer our home phone... We only use it for business calls ---and have a caller ID .. IF we don't recognize the call, we don't answer it. 99.9% of the time --they will NOT leave a voicemail.... I just don't answer that junk!!!!!! You did give him a good answer.. Don't think I would be that NICE.... ha
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
I love my mac computer!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the heads up. So far this type of scam has not gotten here yet though there are other types of phone scammers here.
ReplyDeleteI should be safe. I don't answer my land line at all and I never answer an unknown phone number on my cell. Still I might enjoy messing with these folks too. lol
ReplyDeleteit is fun to play those games with telemarketer like that.
ReplyDeleteGot a call like that from a 202 phone number. The scammer tried to make it sound like it's urgent and important for him to fix the problem. But I knew what he was up to and I hung up. I also reported the phone number to Callercenter.com to warn others.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your information. I looked it up and added our experience. I've written a post for tomorrow about what I learned.
DeleteOh I hate this kind of stuff
ReplyDeleteI love your teacher voice admonition and how Dennis and Art played the game. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! My son-in-law's geekie friends put them on, but I suppose these are dumb people finding a bad way to make a living.
ReplyDeleteWe gave up our land line and just use our cell phones now but they still get through occasionally. I look numbers up on the internet and always find out about a scam. So many out there.
ReplyDelete