coachmann Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 A voice with the usual Indian accent called today. I normally hang up but gave todays call, supposedly from Windows, a chance. I asked how widespread the problem was and wondered how they were managing to call the milions of people worldwide about this problem. Anyway, I was told to click on 'Start' then type 'VWR' in the box. I then decided not to proceed with this call and hung up. The caller phoned back saying it was genuine but by this time I had to go out. Anyone else had a similar call? I mean this country is swimming in spamsh*t so how are we plebs to spot the difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40F Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 It is a scam make no mistake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Ask him how/where he managed to get your phone number - and then tell him you are on a Mac! Or more effectively , ask him to hold on while you transfer him to your IT department and place the phone down on the desk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 It's always a scam. A friend of mine likes to bait them: http://windowsscambaiter.blogspot.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 This is happening a lot here in Denmark, so much so that the press have got hold of the story. It's a scam. We ourselves have had just such a call telling us that there was a problem with Windows 7 on our computer. That sealed it there and then because, at the time, we were running Linux Xubuntu as the O/S. Hasn't stopped them, we keep getting them. The last time, I just told him to f**k off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dungrange Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 I would just hang up: I believe that it is a hoax to try and get you to install software that gives hackers control of your computer. I've never had such a call, but my mother has had a call on more than one occasion about problems with her computer and she doesn't even have a computer! Regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dungrange Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 It's always a scam. A friend of mine likes to bait them: http://windowsscamba...blogspot.co.uk/ I particularly liked the one about the computer student and the yogurt! It gave me a good laugh. Regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted October 12, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2012 A voice with the usual Indian accent called today. I normally hang up but gave todays call, supposedly from Windows, a chance. I asked how widespread the problem was and wondered how they were managing to call the milions of people worldwide about this problem. Anyway, I was told to click on 'Start' then type 'VWR' in the box. I then decided not to proceed with this call and hung up. The caller phoned back saying it was genuine but by this time I had to go out. Anyone else had a similar call? I mean this country is swimming in spamsh*t so how are we plebs to spot the difference? Easy to pick - Microsoft don't make such calls. End of story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted October 12, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2012 Microsoft have a warning about this on their UK support home page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Set up a premium rate 0906* number and tell them to call it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belsay Lad Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 On a similar but slightly different phone call from a 'well known' double glazing & conservatory company a few years ago... After having assured them I did not want double glazing ( I already had it!) they went onto conservatories. By this time I was a bit 'cheesed' (polite - insert a word starting with p and ending with d) off so decided to play them along. After some 20 minutes, on their phone bill, I feinted interest and agreed for a rep to visit me to give me a quote and they asked for my address; my response 'third floor flat, ...................' I do hope the call was recorded and his manager heard it as the caller gave a very robust response before hanging up! But seriously any call about a 'problem with windows' is a scam. I would just hang up, unless you are happy to string them along and have a laugh that is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 I use them as a way of trying out silly character voices (terry thomas is my favourite) or making up on the spot stories to waste their time in a phonejacker type way waste their time as much as you can, stall them saying you need to go and get a pen, come back say its not working etc, ask them about the weather, talk really slow, anything,,they take the hint and its better than shouting at them as they'll keep calling back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 They don't try to do it here: few Indians speak fluent Polish. When I was back in Norfolk, for the summer, I got several calls a day: all had the phone put down on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 I would have said yes I have a problem with my windows, need cleaning,tell him to bring a ladder and a bucket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danemouth Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 One of the benefits of Caller Information Display is that it shows "International" when these people call. Since we don't have any relatives abroad the approach these days is to answer the call and immediately put the phone down. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 the phone numbers are on a computer database which calls you, if you notice it sometimes takes a few seconds for the operator to speak and this is the reason, the operator hasnt dialled you himself. it selects the person in the call centre who is available, if no one answers the phone the computer recognises this and puts your number back into the system to call you another time, so that it doesnt waste an available operators time by putting them on the same line if no one has answered. basically it waits until you answer before selecting an operator to speak to you and bringing up your details on their computer screen and this is the couple of seconds delay you notice. so if you keep on just hanging up you will stay on that database until someone physically takes you off it so it is best to get talking to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggy1953 Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 My in-laws almost fell for this one and a friends elderly father did and ended up losing quite a bit of money. Evidently if you search on Google their site is on there and if you contact they charge a ridiculous amount to fix. Its a scam alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 12, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2012 I had this one several times and was surprised how they stuck to it iwhen they got a retort such as 'You must be joking' or 'what sort of idiot do you think I am?' before putting down the 'phone on them (and returning to ... ... wait for it ... ... the keyboard of my IMac). If they're that dim you can tell that it is definitely a scam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Ahh ! The Indian phone call - I allways assume it's the local Take-away Reply thus, "Thanks for calling, I'll have two onion bajees, four poppadom with lime pickle, two pipi-piri freshly killed,, a ""meat"" vindaloo (twice hot) with nan and boiled rice, a sagg-ghost with chips, and a bright red smoking hot sizzling ticking chicken !!" They soon get the gist, go away, & moider some other poor sod. Brit15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewC Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 I'll usually play along for a bit just to waste their time. Normally I can keep them going for several minutes. I look at it as cheap entertainment, and for every one I tie up its one less call they can make to a potential sucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 I haven't had a call since I blew a referees whistle down the phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 We used to get the fake Windows maintenance service calls about a year ago. They rang several times a week and I did try to string them along a couple of times, even telling the person on the other end, after several minutes, that I didn't have a Windows computer. He wouldn't have it so I then told him I had a Mac with the Mac OS, but he then declared that we had a Windows computer and that I was a liar ! "pardon me, what was that you said, I replied. He got very angry and said..... (comedy Indian accent) " If you are telling me you do not have a Windows computer, then I am telling you, you are a damned liar ! At which point he hung up ! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 I haven't had a call since I blew a referees whistle down the phone. My fax machine intercepts a lot of calls... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Tell them your time is valuable, and if they want to talk to you then its a pound a minute payable in advance, in 15 minute units (or larger if required). So it's going to cost them a £15 unit to make the arrangements to initiate payments, but thereafter provided the requisite cash is forwarded in advance you will be happy to talk to them as long as they like. Some folks get very bent out of shape over this, cannot imagine why... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium mezzoman253 Posted October 12, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2012 If I don't get at least one of these calls a day I think the 'phone's broken. Always around the same time, and they always use an English first name "Hi, this in Trevor", John, William, or whatever, never an Indian name. There's nothing wrong with your PC OP and they can't see your screen or anything else. It's a shot in the dark, one of millions, and they just hope when they call you are using your PC and maybe something didn't quite go right with it today, and because the majority of us aren't up to speed with PC's, we think there is something wrong and bite. They play on human nature and lack of PC knowledge. I've previously reported it to our local police and it's been passed on to a central team to collate times and areas. Whether anything will happen is another matter. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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