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Author Topic: Repeated nuisance calls, which may be a scam?  (Read 3727 times)
joteddyred

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« on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 19:12:57 »

I've received 7 calls in the space of 2 hours this afternoon from 3 different indian blokes claiming to be from some sort of Online Computer Maintenance Company and claiming that there is something wrong with my computer.  I've had a couple of these recently and just ended up putting the phone down on them mainly because I couldn't understand what they were going on about and also because I had a feeling it might be some sort of scam.

The number of calls today has been ridiculous and I'm feeling quite angry about it and don't really know what to do.  I started off being polite and saying I wasn't interested and by the fifth call I was extremely rude and agressive and told them to where to go.  My husband took the sixth call and asked for their address and contact no to which the phone was hung up.  He also took the seventh call and spent 5 minutes saying 'sorry I can't hear you, what, what? until shouting eff off and putting the phone down.  The phone has just rung and I answered 'Good evening Swindon Police Station' and the caller hung up, so I'm guessing it was them again.

When I dialled 1471 there is no number stored, so I can't get the number barred and we don't have a caller display anymore because our calls are with Sky.

Anyone else experienced anything similar or has any advice on what to do?
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Lumps

« Reply #1 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 19:19:54 »

Try following this:

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2009/07/malicious-or-nuisance-calls/
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oxford_fan

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« Reply #2 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 19:23:26 »

Our phone's been ringing loads this afternoon too, which isn't normal because its used for my Dad's business. We've got an answerphone though, that stops the scammers and marketers.
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Sippo
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« Reply #3 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 19:38:07 »

Its the 'Microsoft' scam thats been around for a few months now.

Just ignore.
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joteddyred

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« Reply #4 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 20:06:39 »


Cheers, some good info on here.  I thought we had the telephone preference thing, but need to check.

Our phone's been ringing loads this afternoon too, which isn't normal because its used for my Dad's business. We've got an answerphone though, that stops the scammers and marketers.


I was only in because of the school holidays, so normally anyone gets our answerphone as well.


Its the 'Microsoft' scam thats been around for a few months now.

Just ignore.
What is the scam?
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The Grim Reaper

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« Reply #5 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 20:07:50 »

Keep a whistle by the phone...
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Morgan Freeman

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« Reply #6 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 20:09:18 »

Cheers, some good info on here.  I thought we had the telephone preference thing, but need to check.


I was only in because of the school holidays, so normally anyone gets our answerphone as well.

What is the scam?

I've had the call and this is what happens, must ignore it.

http://www.techeye.net/security/microsoft-scam-comes-to-a-phone-near-you
« Last Edit: Friday, August 20, 2010, 20:10:58 by Morgan Freeman » Logged
PocketScience

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« Reply #7 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 20:17:50 »

I have had these 5 or 6 times now although not all in one day.

I don't use my home phone at all and no-one has the number, I just need the line for t'internet, so it makes sense that they are getting numbers from the phone book.

I either ask them to hold on a minute and just put the phone down on the side to waste their bill for a bit or say I haven't got a computer and they hang up.
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Batch
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« Reply #8 on: Friday, August 20, 2010, 21:22:40 »

Here is another example of what they do:

http://forums.thedigitalfix.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=598015&highlight=virus+indian

Quote
That's what the phone call I just received said.

Don't know which forum to put this in but I thought it was quite funny.

So I was contacted by a company claiming to be Computer security experts.

Apparently my computer had contacted them and they knew that I was suffering terribly due to a system just swarming with viruses and spyware.

If I just let them have a look they would show me.
Fine I thought, this could be fun.
Now this was very difficult because there was a terrible delay on the call (strange, considering they were UK based – yeah right), also, My ‘helper’, Simon (year right! X2), had a very heavy Indian accent.

Anyway, this worked in my favour, my machine is quick, but it still takes time to quickly clone a vmware virtual machine and fire it up....yes, I know you can see where this is going

So, my poor performing Windows XP ‘computer was finally ready.

First I was directed to their website – 2gro . com
All very professional, I was told to scroll down and look at the very nice looking logos from Microsoft and anti-virus vendors .

Next I was directed to the Teamviewer website, a well know remote desktop software company, and asked to create a session.

OK, let’s see how far this can go.....
So I took a snapshot of my VM, started the inbuilt recorder and then started the session.

Surely my technical support guru would notice the VMware symbol in the task bar, or wonder why the machine was incredibly slow.

Er...not quite.

Apparently the machine being so slow just proved how full of viruses it was.
He took control, and looked at my computer properties...so you are running windows XP 2002 edition, with 400 mg of ram (I could tell he was impressed) that’s very good he said.

How did he not notice the cpu (a quad core which vmware was not hiding) surely that should have started alarm bells, I mean with 400meg of ram...really?

Next, he went to the run command and browsed my temp folder.

Would you believe that all those temp files are left by viruses? Never in my 15 year in IT have I ever known that...wow

But wait, it was worse than that...

Next he browsed to my prefetch folder. Did I know that all those file were the result of spyware!

OMG! All my years studying computer are wasted, they did not even teach me the fundamentals.

Colour me impressed...but how, I asked my guru, could I fix it.

Well this was more than poor ‘Simon’ could cope with. He had to get his supervisor to help.
Supervisor Man (what do you call a guru’s guru?) launched notepad (yes, that well known sales tool)
And started typing...
I will paraphrase, he typed a lot – poor guru.
My current antivirus solution is no good it only does viruses – yes he was typing this, even though he was on the phone to me at the same time!

My software was not optimised. He then asked me if I understood. Of course I said, he then asked me to tell him, so I did. Wow, my guru told me I was the best customer he had dealt with in 5 years. No one before me had know what that meant. Maybe my education was not a total waste then.


Guru offering was much better, it offered 7 levels of protection, antivirus, and spyware, anti spam, anti phishing (hahahahaha), etc
And this level of security would only cost me £99 for 5, yes 5! Years support. I also get 24/7 help if I need it.

I must have this, I said, what do I have to do?

Well, simple, he will type in a web address where I can enter my personal / payment details. Apparently this was a magic site, as soon as the page loaded, he would not be able to see the screen – it would blank on his side. Once I submitted, control would return to him and his technical team would take over and begin the process of fixing my sorry excuse for a machine.

That’s ok then, so I entered my details...

Firstname...hmmm...IT professional, that sounds catchy.

Surname...I know...Specialises in IT security.

Title..how about, you’ve been had
Address line one...I know....nothing you have done is real.
Line 2... this is a virtual environment, I have recorded the whole session and the phone call.
Credit card number...you are lying scum...has a nice ring to it.

At this point the magic website prove to me it really was magic. My browser tab suddenly closed.
Then notepad, where the wonderful sales pitch was, also closed.
Next my temp folder opened again and was emptied.

Now, that is a magic website.
Then phone then went dead to...shame, I was starting to enjoy the company of Simon and his boss.
Anyway I opened a new notepad session and typed goodbye.

Guru replied, we had a short discussion about what a big fat liar he was, and how I was going to report him to the virus companies, Microsoft and teamviewer, I wished him a good day, and then trashed the VM.
I think they are upset though because in the last half hour I have had several long distance calls asking to speak to several people that don’t live here, and insinuating that they were returning a call from me.

Oh well, It’s their phone bill.

So at the very best case its a rip off for virus protection, or 99% more likely they are after your credit card details.
« Last Edit: Friday, August 20, 2010, 21:25:21 by Batch » Logged
justboiledover

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« Reply #9 on: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 00:17:10 »

Had a call earlier today, the girl on the other end of the line talking about how i could have been mis-sold a lone, or as my credit card limit had been increased without me signing anything they could "write off the balance", she was quite good at small talk so i engaged for a bit (as she sounded quite fit).

The more serious point is she wanted upfront payment to start the ball rolling, i hung up at this point, i suspect it would have been for a very small amount but she would have had my bank details. 

I'm sure that there are not many on here as gulible as i nearly was but take care please
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Bedford Red

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« Reply #10 on: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 08:12:43 »

And this is why having caller display is so useful. Anything international, withheld etc just doesn't get answered.

If they want to leave a message they will do (especially if they are legit), if they are not then they won't, and i never have to speak to these annoying people.
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tans
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« Reply #11 on: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 09:08:42 »

I just tell them to fuck off. It's the best way.
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joteddyred

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« Reply #12 on: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 09:39:06 »

I just tell them to fuck off. It's the best way.


They don't understand those two words, because they've phoned again twice this morning!
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Benzel

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« Reply #13 on: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 09:40:16 »

I just get people to call my mobile. Never pick up the house phone.
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Samdy Gray
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« Reply #14 on: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 09:41:42 »

They don't understand those two words, because they've phoned again twice this morning!

If they are being a real nuisance, call your provider and they'll be able to block the number (even if it's withheld).
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