Anyone else been getting odd phone calls from supposedly a helpdesk?

 

I've had 2 today

 

1st call - was my computer running slow? was I using Windows, they had a report of spyware .... I said I was using a Mac and the call ended abruptly

 

2nd call - more or less same script, so I asked (Eric Jones, with a thick Asian accent) to give me more technical info. He then asked if I was recording the call as he was and he would sue me if I abused him. Anyway I again said I was using a Mac and suddenly Eric became a representative of Apple

 

Anyone else had this?

That sounds as dodgy as posh spice in a dodge ball game. How'd he get your number, if you asked?

Yeh, they'll ask you to install software so they can remotely login to check your system.

 

And then the fun begins...

I've been getting these calls for months, they often start with some sort spiel like "we are Microsoft certified ...blah". They're just trying to flog you a service, usually anti-virus or "system cleanup" type stuff, but it involves installing their software which is most likely spyware as well. They actually have a web site but can't find it now.

 

Sometimes I just put the phone down, other times if I feel like it I'll test them like asking for their address, phone number MS cerification licence number etc

I've been getting these calls for months, they often start with some sort spiel like "we are Microsoft certified ...blah".

 

Sounds about right

 

Funny, that when I suggested I was using a MAC (which I don't) he suddenly became an Apple Certified

but you should know that these Asians are experts in everything!?! lol

 

The last time I had a call similar to this - from some Indian who said he could solve all my debt problems and was working for what he said was the Government lol - he put the phone down on me. What a cheek, was listening but I guess he didn't like my replies after a while. His system told him all sorts of things about me, I told him the truth and he didn't believe me, just his system.

 

The sad bit about all these calls is that they will catch and con some people.

Yeah my neighbor got a call like this, they said they were from 'broadband support' and they had noticed that you weren't getting full download speed or something like that so they got them to start a logmein session then started demanding credit card numbers.

Just wondering where they are getting people's info. from?

probably not difficult at all.

There's now a bit on the BBC website...

 

Warning over anti-virus cold-calls to UK internet users

and I had the same guy call again about resolving all my debt problems and just wouldn't listen. It's always a great feeling when they hang up on you! lol

 

I guess the biggest hope is that it will be the kiss of death for overseas call centres as no-one will be trusting them.

 

If you get them, just keep them on the phone as long as possible and eat into their costs

This has been going on for years, and I’ve had the pleasure of investigating a spate of calls in my area. Interesting thing I found (in the cases I studied) was that they didn’t seem to be doing anything else wrong. They’d call up say a virus has been detected on the customer’s computer (which they don’t have the means to do), they charge for their time and software. In none of the cases after getting the customers financial details did we see and signs odd activity.

 

I work for an ISP and any reports of network attacking viruses get passed to us with the IP address which we use to find the customer and advised them to remove.

this is quite an old scam, sounds fishy as a fishy thing but I bet some people still fall for it . . . and get a whopping virus on their machine . . . the people who make these calls should be flayed!

 

S

I get people calling me every week say they feel stupid now but did indeed fall for it. It's a shame people don't question it till after.

My parents have had few when I was around, they soon hung up after it seemed I knew more than they did.

 

Fun tip is: be polite and then just say can you hold for a second; then just put the phone down and just go away….they get bored and hang up (but you get the satisfaction of “their” time being wasted

) :lol:

woohoo! I got one from some outfit and had them on the phone for almost 40 minutes.

 

They take you into Event Viewer and tell you that warnings and errors are due to corrupt and junk files that have been downloaded from the internet and many people in my area have lost their systems due to these files. You must not click on these.....otherwise you will get the details of the error of course ....but, as I was told after I told her, with a concerned voice that I'd done it by mistake. Oh no!!!

 

So now I'd made things worse and these corrupt and junk files could cause problems. I could "lose my computer", "where would it go?" I asked

 

So next is to load up a browser to go to virtualpcdoctor site. I refused and asked why I needed to. Supposedly so their technician could connect to my PC and sort out the junk/corrupt files for me.

 

At that point I wanted to watch American Hot Rod so had to tell her I'd heard lots about these scams....not them of course as she wanted to tell me. I then ripped her off a strip for trying to scam people and frighten them...much to her denial. At least twice I told her I'd been in IT over 25 years and knew exactly what she was showing me and that it was lies (I actually used that and refrained from any ripe language....impressed myself! lol)

 

Finally she twigged and said "oh you're a computer technician" and hung up! hahahahaha

and now....The Ministry of Justice are calling about loans and credit cards taken out before 2007.

Yeah they rang me yesterday aswell!

they could probably save themselves some money if they asked the right questions.

First some Indian calls and asks if I had taken out a loan or credit card before 2007. I had. He then says someone would call lol

Someone did and asked if I'd taken out either in the last 7 years or something (such was my attention to listening). I hadn't.

 

Idiots.

just to warn people so you can make less PC literate people aware, the PC scammers are doing the calls again. Had some Indian by the name of 'Richard' called me earlier with the same old spin about my PC being slow and how he'd fix it for free. Sadly I was talking to a visitor and couldn't last more than 3 minutes before releasing a few ripe words in his ear. Hopefully he learnt a few new ones.

 

I did feel that 'Richard' was quite an apt name though.