Had a call last week from 'Microsoft' stating that I was having problems with my PC and could they help. After finally putting brain into gear I realised they would not have had my phone number and asked them what my name was. As the lady did not know she put me on hold and then hung up. I didn't think any more of it until talking to colleague today and his father has just been scammed by same type of call stating there was a problem with his PC. After gaining access to his PC they downloaded a 'free' scan which they charged him £80.00. Poor guy was so worried he has cancelled his debit card and informed bank and police.

BTW my phone is exdirectory and I assume they had random dial technology fishing for phone numbers.

Not new I am afraid. Been going on a while, they will often ask you to do a simple yet complicated looking task (such as ping) and then use that as proof that you have viruses and have to pay X for software to remove it. Microsoft have many cases with the FBI attempting to prevent scammers using their name but they cant keep up with the international scammers.

Shocking that anyone could be so naive in this day and age.

But don't worry. If anyone has been caught out by this scam, I'll help you out. I've got several million dollars being wired to me as I helped a Nigerian Prince get his money out of the country by giving him my bank details.

Someone tried this with me, claiming that my Microsoft software had alerted them to a problem. I asked how it had done that and let him give me a bit of spiel, before I mentioned that I only had Apple stuff in the house and no Microsoft. He cut me off, surprisingly

If you want a laugh then put "Phone scammer www.support.me wind-up" into a popular video thingy

If you want a laugh then put "Phone scammer www.support.me wind-up" into a popular video thingy

the last time they rang me they claimed they were from microsoft and i had infected files on my computer from the internet. if i switched on my computer they said they could clean it for me. so i asked would they be cleaning my windows for free, yes they said. great do you do both front and back and have you got your own ladder? i kept asking, they never gave an answer as they never vary from their script.

This.

I've had the same call, and whilst I may not be hugely computer savvy, I do know what a ping test is. I spent five minutes inventing technical sounding terms and getting the bloke to agree with me before he sussed I was tryiing to wind him up and he hung up.

I did get him to admit to 'poking a RAM' at one point, which made it worthwhile.

Not new, happened to my parents a while ago. They don't even own a computer but the guy was adamant they had detected problems with this non existant computer. My mother told him at least 3 times she didn't own a computer but he just waffled on and on insisting she did. She ended up just hanging up.

Had it a few times but always on my work mobile. As with most blue chip companies we have our own IT dept etc.

Still doesnt stop me having fun with the little indians though

I have no sympathy with people falling for scams where they think they themselves can make a quick (illegal) buck - e.g. the numerous money-laundering schemes. On the other hand people have been falling for what seem like ridiculously obvious cons probably since money began. There's a reason people target old people in particular, and blaming somebody for not seeing the con is a bit mean spirited if you ask me. Isn't it after all the con-man's fault?

www.dack.com/web/bull.html ..surely that's all the response you need.

www.dack.com/web/bull.html ..surely that's all the response you need.

Targeting the elderly is a problem, but people whose faculties are going are vulnerable to any scammer, so this one is no different.

What is dispiriting is to read just how many people who are neither elderly nor ill do fall for con tricks. I agree entirely that those (elderly apart) who fall for 'get rich quick' scams deserve it for their greed but my point is that it is the remorseless general dumbing down that has mad people across the board more susceptible to such scammers.

I mean, the scammers manage to get emails through spam filters by the billion, yet they don't manage to write proper English. But so semi-literate and thick are so many that this does not save them. Leaving aside the sheer stupidity of clicking on a link in an email "from your bank" requiring you to enter your security details, they all read as if translated from Serbian by a Jap. Why the hell do people not realise that communications in scrambled English couldn't possibly be from a major financial institution?

One typical phrase I see regularly in these spams is "You are the rightful owner and must verify your account!" How come the mere use of such a clumsy and ludicrous wording - not to mention the jaunty exclamation mark - doesn't just make people laugh out loud at the pathetic effort? Yet unfeasibly, hundreds of thousands of thickos apparently fall for it. For which you have to blame the system, for producing so many people who just can't read.

Yes I couldn't agree more.
You are right, there are mad people on this board.

The women who fall for the American Soldier in Afganistan who needs money for treatment because he's been shot out there and then needs money to be able to fly home, then needs money for his son who's so sick on on his deathbed, then needs money to come to England, make me laugh. I mean, I know its lonely being single but being naive is no excuse. Alarm bells should be ringing the second they speak on the phone and ask for money. Even the Western Union employers try and tell these women but they just don't listen.

Life was much simpler when drunken Scotsmen approached you at mainline railway stations with the "I've lost my ticket, can you lend me some money to get home" story. You knew it was bull$h!t but all you had do was decide how threatening the particular Scotsman was. 1. Puny little drunk unable to stand up straight = "F**k off p!$$head", 2. Tatooed thug with knuckles like a gorilla and a forehead that could punch a hole in a battleship = "Of course my man, here's five pounds".

I've had this call SOOOO many times now... I end up laughing at them...

For one thing: I actualy DO have an Amiga A1200 in working order (it's ancient now, poor little thing)
I also have a C=64, (even more ancient)
I also use Linux instead of Windows on my main computer at times...

(Yes, I'm a geek, and I'm not afraid to admit it :lol)

One time they rang up, my Amiga monitor had gone bust, so I couldn't get a picture on the screen whatsoever. I told this to the guy, and he said to call them back when I had a new monitor. I never said what computer the monitor was connected to, just that it was broke and I couldn't see what I was doing.

Another time, there was a girl/woman calling. I booted the Amiga and asked why I couldn't see any folders anywhere when I typed "dir c:\windows" and I acted really confused like. After about ten minutes the girl gave and finally asked what operating system I used. I said, "Why, I'm using the AmigaOS of course, it's the only computer I have, and I thought I had to get a better accelerator in order to speed it up but then you called and I hoped you could fix it" The girl hung up.

Another time, I booted the ancient Commodore 64. I did everything the person on the phone said, and replied "But I only get a syntax error, are you SURE this works when I only use my old Commodore 64 with the tapedeck? Why can't I change the folder or even get to see the contents by typing DIR? And you're absolutely sure that there's a folder called "windows backslash system32 on the C=64?"

Funniest time was when I was using Linux... "But just type into the command window "cd c:" he said... i said "I've done that so many times now, and it's not working, I'm sure you're having a laugh at my expense, not MY fualt I can't get c: to work. Maybe it would help if I said "cd slash u s r slash b i n and see if the hosts.txt is there?"
"No, it's definately c:\windows\system32"
me: What is this "windows" you're talking about anyways? is anything alike to XORG's XWindows server?
him: no it's an operating sytem
me: Does it work under linux?
him: no you ahve to reboot the computer and press F8 and select normal mode
me: (fiddling around with rebooting the linux box) F8 doesn't help, Slackware are still booting as it should, and there's no kernel panic either.... should I use startx?
him: Are you using the windows operating system?
me: Well, you called me and claimed there was an issue, you should know what system I'm using
him: according to my papers, you are using windows
me: which version
him Windows
me: Yes, I heard that. But which version? 3.11 for Workgroups?
him: No Windosws XP
me: Strange. Never heard of that one. I'm using Slackware Linux
Him: Did you know that all linux is illegally isntalled?
me: Strange. If Linux is illegally installed, how come they encourage people to download and install in magazines like PCPro and PCWorld?
him: They are trying to scam you
me: You mean, unlike you, who's just an honest worker who doesn't even know my name, the operating system I'm using or when I suposebly made the "support" request
him: <click>

Oh yeah. I've had plenty of laughs on their behalf. Of course, it DOES help being fairly savvy and knowing all the technogeek talk. It also helps being a little of an actor. And it sure helps if you have a NON-windows computer in workable condition to really play havoc with their "support" :lol