Another Scam

I got an automated call "From Microsoft" saying that they had stopped a virus on my computer and that I had to call to have it completely resolved. The only red flag is that the phone number was an off shore (To the US) number.

Not a big deal EXCEPT that the number was off shore. If you understand the way that the phone networks work, you can be charged a significant amount per minute for calling a "Fee for services" phone number. What is worse, because the number is off shore or international, you will be stuck for the charges. AND your local telco can not force a refund across the international boundaries.

In the real world, Microsoft ain't ever going to call you, unsolicited, to fix your computer. It just ain't going to happen. Microsoft has your money for the operating system and other software so have a nice life.

I got a similar scam call from a live individual purportedly from Microsoft about a virus on my computer. He wanted me to install "A permanent Fix." I told him that I don't have any computers at home but there are almost 2700 down at the server farm. "In traffic it will take me an hour to get there so give me your phone number and I'll call you back."

They usually just hang up. If they want to engage in conversation as to why no computer at home, I'll tell them, "I work all day in IT and the last thing that I want at home is another computer."

Why a return call phone number? I can give it to the authorities (FBI) and allow them to prosecute for wire fraud. With a real, non spoofed, phone number a physical address can be determined.

I get that many telemarketer, scam calls etc that i simply refuse to answer a number i don't recognise. I don't have a landline phone, just my mobile so i screen everything.

Occassionally i've answered a call in my car through bluetooth not realising and as soon as i realise its a scam/telemarketer, i either hurl a s$$t tonne of abuse at them, or put on some weird accent and string them along for ages and after i can't think of anything to say just talk normally and tell them "This is Trevor from ASIO, Your number has now been traced and local authorities have been contacted. Have a nice day!"

Usually stops them calling back for a while.

When we had a land line we got scammer / telemarketing calls about every other day and on some days it was not unusual to come home from work and find up to 10 calls from a no called ID that had not left a message.
When we were home and did answer calls they were nearly all from scammers with Indian or Asian accents with the remainder being from charities looking for donations. We seemed to get more calls than other folks we knew from charities, maybe our number got on a list of some kind or other
Eventually things got so isrritating we used to let all our calls go through to an answering machine and only picked up when we heard something that did not sound like a scammer or telemarketing.
Then some of them started using auto call back which gave us the shytes so a couple of years back we got rid of the land line and now just use mobiles.
Apart from the local Subaru dealer, who sends out SMS messages with a frequency that is just above my irritation level, so far no scammers or telemarketers have my number but I guess that will come

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Originally Posted by BobL

Eventually things got so isrritating we used to let all our calls go through to an answering machine and only picked up when we heard something that did not sound like a scammer or telemarketing.
Then some of them started using auto call back which gave us the shytes so a couple of years back we got rid of the land line and now just use mobiles.
Apart from the local Subaru dealer, who sends out SMS messages with a frequency that is just above my irritation level, so far no scammers or telemarketers have my number but I guess that will come

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My solution also. I let all calls on the landline be answered by the machine and only call people back if they leave a relevant message. Eventually decided that the $45 landline was not worth the money so called Telstra to have it disconnected. She asked why and when I said it was the cost she said "Oh we can fix that" and dropped the cost to $16.

What's auto call back Bob?

Unfortunately they already have my mobile number so when they try to sell me solar panels I make the appointment and when they turn up I ask them if their panels will fit next to the ones that I already have.

One comment from a salesman was "You're wasting my time".

My answer "Now you know how it feels".

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Originally Posted by Bohdan

What's auto call back Bob?

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If a number you call is busy, you don’t need to wait aroundtrying to get through. Simply set a Call Back and let oursystem watch the line for you. When the number you wantis available, you’ll get an automatic call back.

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Look up "call back" on the web.

I went onto the " Do Not Call " register. I still get the odd call but nothing like I used to get.

Seems there's not much you can do about the ones originating overseas. The DNC register stops most of the local sellers, and those who ignore it get reported. I've told all the political parties (in writing), and any charities and survey companies that call, that I charge $50 to answer their calls, and a dollar a minute after the first minute. If they call again, it means they've accepted my conditions, and by the way, I've a recording of this call in case they wish to dispute it. Seems to work.

Had a message on my answering service from the Indian branch of the ATO informing me they had an arrest warrant out for me. They left a number. I called the number and an Indian gentleman answered...before he could start his speil I asked him "How is your hearing?" to which he replied "excuse me, did you ask me how my hearing is?. "that's correct I said "now I want you to listen to this and then tell me how your hearing is". At that point I directed a loud blast from my brass hunting bugle down the phone line. At some stage during the serenade the Indian tax man hung up on me...so rude!!

Maybe they don't have a sense of humour?

Alan...

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Originally Posted by Uncle Al

Maybe they don't have a sense of humour?

Alan...

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At the end of the next day they certainly didn't have a sense of humour...I rang the number every hour on the hour and serenaded them until the number got disconnected (I'd filed a report with the Aussie authorities). My plan was to have everyone in that call centre quaking with fear everytime their phones rang.

NBN has forced us over to a VOIP phone system so decided to do a bit of tinkering. Ended up with a little PBX exchange system that has a really good feature for con artists and telemarketers.

You can transfer the call to a fake extension that has an old guy called 'Lenny' that rambles onto the scam caller. Recorded a few of the conversations of the scammers trying to convince the old guy that he needs solar and the government rebates will save him a fortune.

Youtube link below is how it was done using freepbx.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRhRImp6kKQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl8nic2StUM

I had a local call from someone trying to sell a walk in bath tub. I had gotten enough of the calls so that I could recognize her voice. It went like this:
Call and she starts.
Me: Do you speak English?
She: Caught a bit off guard she answers "Yes".
Me: Can you hear me OK?
She: Yes.
Me: Then I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Stop Calling".
She: You didn't have to yell.
Me: Well you haven't paid attention the last several times I told you to stop calling.
Then I hung up.

I haven't heard a word about walk in bath tubs since then.

I used to get a few but I don't seem to get any these days since I told the last one the number he rang was for the Police dept. It is most probably just a coincidence but if it works I am all for it.

Don't think you are safe by dropping your land line and going mobile. I won $1,750,000 thousand dollars today, just because my mobile number was chosen to win a prize. How cool is that? We really are the lucky country...Not.

Had one yesterday from some !@#$% claiming to be from the federal police, saying that the tax department had an order against me. He didn't get any further because I gave him a free character reference, ancestral history and lesson in anatomy, all in words of one syllable, before hanging up.