Telephone SCAM

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larryinnewyork
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Telephone SCAM

Post by larryinnewyork »

Good morning all,

So, yesterday evening my phone rings.
I answer it and wait. A few seconds later I hear it 'ringing'.

A female with India accent answers and says "hello, is this Larry (last name).
I say, "yes it is"
She says: "she's with Microsoft and there's a problem with my computer"
She says: "someone in South Carolina is using my computer"
She says: "are you on the computer now ?"

At this point I figure it's a scam and hung up.

Question:
1) Anybody familiar with this scam ?
2) How do they benefit from this scam ?
3) Why do they want me to be on my computer ?

This same thing happened 6 Months ago.
The Male (India accent) called me two different Evenings.
Both times I also just hung up.
Now I'm curious.

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livesoft
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by livesoft »

Google is familiar with this scam.
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SmileyFace
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by SmileyFace »

There are many variations on this scam (I've gotten it a few times as have others I've spoken with).

Here's Microsoft's page on this:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/onlin ... scams.aspx
Philliefan33
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by Philliefan33 »

Yes, it is a scam. From what I've read, the caller will direct you to do this and that on your computer -- and you end up installing "ransomware" that makes it impossible for you to do anything on the computer until you fork over $$ to have it disabled.

I got a call like this a couple of weeks ago. I responded with a profanity-laced tirade to the effect of "do you think I'm an idiot? don't you ever *** call here *** again". There were probably a lot more **** in there.

Afterwards I sort of wished that I had strung them along a bit to waste their time before tearing into them. But that would have been a waste of my time also.
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archbish99
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by archbish99 »

My wife just tells them I work at Microsoft, too, and she'll have me look into it when I get home. They generally hang up on her at that point.
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Topic Author
larryinnewyork
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by larryinnewyork »

Of coarse this just confirms my suspicions.

Question: How do they get my phone number ?
Crow Hunter
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by Crow Hunter »

I like scam calls unless I am busy doing something else.

I usually string them along and then I start with the offensive questions.

Like asking them "Granny, French or Thong"? They usually hang up on me.

Sometimes I tell them I have a competing product and start doing a sales pitch.

Sometimes I counter offer their Nigerian scheme with an even bigger number if they will send me a check first.

If I am busy doing something else I pretend to be an answering machine. Sometimes they try to leave a message before I hang up on them.

I don't get as many telemarketing/scam calls as I used to.

I think I am on their do not call list. :D
HoosierJim
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by HoosierJim »

I do not answer the phone unless I recognize the number. 99.999% of unsolicited calls are MARKETING, JUNK, SCAMS, SURVEYS or time wasters. Even then,caller ID can be spoofed, if you think the call might be legit, look up the number (not the number that called you) and call them.

I especially like calls that start with (from FTC site) :oops:
  • You've been specially selected (for this offer).
    You'll get a free bonus if you buy our product.
    You've won one of five valuable prizes.
    You've won big money in a foreign lottery.
    This investment is low risk and provides a higher return than you can get anywhere else.
    You have to make up your mind right away.
    You trust me, right?
    You don't need to check our company with anyone.
    We'll just put the shipping and handling charges on your credit card.
Jack FFR1846
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by Jack FFR1846 »

If you do download ransomware, it is possible to get past it and get your computer back. There's a fix on microsoft's website that you can burn onto a dvd. You then startup the infected computer that boots from the dvd and allows you to revert to factory settings. Yes, you will lose programs and files. Yes, you need a second computer to do this.
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cheese_breath
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by cheese_breath »

larryinnewyork wrote:Of coarse this just confirms my suspicions.

Question: How do they get my phone number ?
Possibly someone you did business with in the past sold it to them. There are also Internet sites where scammers buy and sell personal information they've collected about people.
Last edited by cheese_breath on Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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tim1999
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by tim1999 »

A friend's 70-something mother recently fell for one of these "ransomware" scams. I think some people are just too trusting of strangers in today's environment, or are too under confident in their knowledge of computers.
SimonJester
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by SimonJester »

cheese_breath wrote:
larryinnewyork wrote:Of coarse this just confirms my suspicions.

Question: How do they get my phone number ?
Possibly someone you did business with in the past sold it to them. There are also Internet sites where scammers buy and sell personal information they've collected about people.
Or sold it to someone else who sold it to someone else who sold it to them... Same goes for email addresses....
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Topic Author
larryinnewyork
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by larryinnewyork »

Here is a youtube video of someone who had the same type call.
Kinda funny.
Maybe next time I'll string the caller along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AAr1Je71RU
lululu
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by lululu »

I thought we weren't going to post every telemarketing scam to the forum.
skepticalobserver
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by skepticalobserver »

I've been through this scenario about four times. The first call really shook me-I ended up calling MS. Of course nothing was wrong with my PC.

During the last call, from someone with a heavy foreign accent, I asked where where they calling from, and they replied: "Texas, USA!" So much for subtlety.
Oleanmike
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by Oleanmike »

Two days ago I got this call three times. Sometimes I just play along. I always tell them I need to restart my computer so I pretend that it's taking a very long time to boot up, just to see how long they'll hold on. One time the guy scolded me for wasting his time!

Finally I just added the calling number to my blocked call list.
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damjam
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by damjam »

I've gotten this type of call as well.
More recently I got another type. The scammer left a message starting with "The IRS is about to begin legal proceedings against you..."
FYI, the IRS never makes first contact with a taxpayer by phone. They always send a letter first.
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cheese_breath
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by cheese_breath »

lululu wrote:I thought we weren't going to post every telemarketing scam to the forum.
Every or any? :P
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Re: Telephone SCAM

Post by LadyGeek »

This thread is now in the Personal Consumer Issues forum (scam).

It's also locked. Please see this thread: Standard Phishing/Scam Threads are now Off-Topic
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