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| 1997 Florence (MIL seated) with Marian Wilson, standing |
Meantime today back home, I never answer the phone when the caller ID shows, "unknown" or "unavailable" or especially 800 numbers, but right after I ate lunch I was standing near the phone and picked it up to be greeted by a "hello Mam" an East Indian sing song voice of a man who claimed to e calling as a Microsoft contractor with a windows server about my computer (I almost laughed out loud). I asked him "what computer?" to which he responded "Mam do you have your computer on?" And again I asked"What, which one and mumbled" I smelled a rat and decided to amuse myself so began my time scamming the scammer...he continued to explain something about my computer "rejectifications" (no kidding that was the word he used) to microsoft updates. I continued with my act as tho I'm a non techie old lady saying, "what, is my computer doing...who are you?? huh...." he kept saying "don't worry mam, I am going to fix, can you please turn on your computer?" I knew I had him and said it would take me a long time to go to the room with the computer, that I am slow, meantime I was Googling uh huh..sure enough a scam. .I acted even stupider responding to his questions..and said, "oh my computer is not turning on..." He tried to assure me he had time to wait and I should not to worry he would help me. He said my computer was slow because of a virus and he would help me. I told him it was old and always was slow, just like me. (Ha ha) He continued with his sing song solicitation..that he got my number from the microsoft customer service and was calling to get this taken right care of today, he continued I was infected, the virus "is blocking everything...and Microsoft cannot call you...I am calling from off shore." .(.BS this fool thinks I am falling for this) After stalling and mumbling more feeble like nonsense to him and then saying the computer doesn't work, I will have to get help...and his responding "well mam can you turn on another computer I can help you from it." ( In my questions to him I told him I have 5 computers,,actutally it's 4) I got tired of toying with him and hung up. He called right back and apologized for being cut off, this time he identified himself as "Jerry" ..I cut him off saying "Back off you jerk off, this is a scam get lost before I report you to the FCC" and I hung up, no more call back.
Please be aware, these clowns have been pulling this stunt on the unsuspecting or under informed for about 4 years. Here is but one answer that Microsoft has on their website..." It is a SCAM!!! Microsoft does not do that nor do they have partners who do that nor do they hire sub-contractors or people or even get volunteers to do that. There are probably thousands of such companies out there doing this every day - we get two or three messages like this (or more) every day asking about it. You are the lucky ones who recognized the scam enough not to be sucked into it and end up with identify theft, infections, hacking of your computer, convincing you to buy software or services you either don't need or that don't really exist at all, and all sorts of nefarious tricks. You'd be surprised by how many contact us AFTER they realized they'd been suckered asking what to do. Do not waste time talking to these people, do not give them any personal information whatsoever, do not be tricked by what they may get you to see on the computer - in fact, don't do anything they suggest on your computer or even visit websites they recommend, and for heaven's sake don't give them access to your computer." My Google search shows this particular scam has been around since at least 2010, so nothing new out there and they operate by WCField's philosophy, "there is a sucker born every minute." They spring up like dandelions in the spring and change their business names and locations, BE AWARE and never answer their questions....or take some time to amuse yourself as I did today not having much else pressing. This is good humor for a rainy day and we are laughing about it here....maybe I will begin to answer more of these calls and act dumber. who knows I could try speaking Spanguish and or my version of Polish to them. Pretty soon they will avoid this landline phone number like the plague, wouldn't that be a treat to be blacklisted by scam artists. By the way the phone number on this call was 888-505-3020 both times.
I was sad to find these guys were back earlier this year, since there was a serious effort to shut down their operations in late 2012. One of the big giveaways other than the ridiculous script they use is the long delays in responses. This is because they are using VOIP to route their calls over the Net.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you blogged about it, the more people that do the more easily others will find information on the scam when they search for it.
Pat, we well know about these scammers and have done a couple of posts also forwarning other folks. But, they seem to be never-ending and I also received yet another call this week. I was so angry that the call had interrupted me that I to,d "John" that I knew it was a Scam call, and when he protested that it was not, I cut him off with a sharp do not call again retort, but of course, they will recall. Perhaps, the next time, I will be in. Better mood to have some fun like asking for an ID no. Which usually gets the caller to hang up. Thanks for your post cause it is always good to alert folks to these dangers.
ReplyDeleteIt happens in Australia too. I get at least one phone call a month from them. I hang up, tell them to get a real job instead of trying to rip people off or tell them what I think of them. Leading them on gets a bit boring after a few years. We have a new one happening here where they tell us they are from the most popular Australian internet provider and tell us we have internet problems. I just hang up.
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