Just got a call from "Microsoft"

[tigercat]

I just got an e-mail from out phone and internet carrier. It seems that my credit card payment was refused. Funny thing is that we pay cash for the bill at the bank so no credit card was refused. But I just need to open the e-mail and give them my credit card information so that they can "fix" the problem. I'll get right on that.
tigercat

 

[DVC-Don]

I have a brother in law who fell for this scam. Totally messed up his computer. Before this he'd send me every internet rumor he would come across.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I've gotten these calls. I tell them my IT guy keeps my computer running perfectly.

Back in the day when phone companies were calling everyone trying to get new subscribers, my uncle got a call and totally led the salesperson on for a long time. Then, revealed he had retired from Bell and had free long-distance for life! The salesperson actually got mad at him for letting him/her go through the whole sales pitch when he knew he wasn't going to switch. He said, "well, all the time you spent with me, you weren't harassing someone else!"

 

[goofinoff]

They're at it again!!! Just got another call. I let her go through her whole thing giving her a lot of yeses and sures. She said the reason you are getting this call....I cut her off and said the reason I am getting this call is because you're a scammer. And she said no ma'am the reason you are getting this call is because there is a problem with your computer. I lied and told her it was impossible because I have a Mac and you're a scammer and I'm calling the police. She hung up! So just be aware that they are still at it!

 

[wiigirl]

That $10 per month price includes cable, with everything channel wise to 4 TVs, 4 DVRs, high speed business internet, unlimited nationwide phone service.

DH works for the cable company, which also provides internet and phone service, so we get a bit of a discount.

Nice!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Oh, yes-I just got the call yesterday. I have a Mac, but decided to "play along". What was funny was when I asked her to explain technically what was going wrong on my computer, she just kept reading from the script. I wonder if she understood English or if she could just read some English words. Oh, and her name was "Nancy", always nice American-sounding names!

 

[marcyinPA]

they called a local guy, who just happened to be a news producer at a television station here in San Diego. he kept the guy going, getting information from him. then confronted him that Microsoft is based out of Redmond, and not Indiana (where the guy claimed to be calling from)

the caller hung up.

My DH, who knows a TON about computers, did the same thing. He played along with the guy, until finally my DH finally called the guy out. I don't think anyone ever hung up on my DH that fast!

I got the same call a couple of months ago but my caller was a woman. I very clearly and calmly said "You are NOT who you say you are." And hung up.
Scary though, for people who have no clue and think these calls are legit.

 

[marcyinPA]

Don't most people screen calls? I don't answer any call where I don't know the caller. If it's legit they'll leave a message. We get lots of hang up calls.

We don't have caller ID. Yeah, I know. We live in the dark ages here. We got rid of all of our extras on our landline when we were trying to save some $.

 

[KaLyn]

We don't have caller ID. Yeah, I know. We live in the dark ages here. We got rid of all of our extras on our landline when we were trying to save some $.

Caller ID cost extra??

 

[marcyinPA]

Caller ID cost extra??

It does if you have the very basic call plan on Verizon. (we are talking landline here- not cell phone)

 

[KaLyn]

It does if you have the very basic call plan on Verizon. (we are talking landline here- not cell phone)

Ahhhh, I see! Verizon landline service isn't too popular with those that I know so I was confused. Sorry.

 

[JillyBean1899]

I also used to have a really difficult last name (VERY ethnic) and when telemarketers would call the house they would completely butcher the last name so we would just say that there was no one there by that name and hang up. One day, after I had gotten married, change my name, and moved out of my parent's house, DH answers the phone and it's a telemarketer who asked to speak to Mr. "Syrreal's old last name" with getting as close to pronouncing it correctly as you could without actually saying it right. But, DH's last name has never been that and I didn't hyphenate (WAY too long) and now have a very generic sounding last name so really when he told them there was no one there by that name, it was true.

My last name is Byrd, they manage to mangle that. I get "Bryd" or "Bee-yurd" or "Buy-urd". Byrd. Like a bird. But with a "y".

On a side note, there is no "u" *ANYWHERE in my name, but they insist on calling me Julia or Julian. Jillian. Can you say that, boys and girls? I knew you could.

 

[crazee4mickey]

I'm guessing that they're banking on the fact that lots of folks received laptops and/or devices for Christmas, so the hackers are making their calls now. Be careful, folks.

My caller (who had an Indian accent) addressed himself as "a representative from the Microsoft Corporation", who detected a problem with my computer that required immediate attention. He said he could fix it, but needed me to log on and give him access.....

I always say "oh I own an apple" or vice versa and they hang up pretty quick

 

[2Kds2K9]

Ugh. Got this call twice in one day. Told the first guy that I knew this was a scam and that dunce I was on the do not call list, that I was reporting him. Told the second guy the same and that this call just cost him a 10k fine.

Ugh!

 

[cybrkitn]

Boy am I glad I had read this thread a few months ago! DH just got a call on his cell phone. I whispered over to him that it's a scam and pulled this thread up to show him. DH is an IT manager and was giving them the 3rd degree about it and asked to speak with a manager. Of course they put the call on hold and then hang up. I almost yelled out, "We know it's a scam! It's all over the internet!" But I didn't as DH was having fun grilling them

Thanks DISboards!

 

[yeahdisney]

Hmm. We got this call last week. Our power point needs to be reset, Bestbuy told me the week before, but told me, we must find the password and recovery program. I talked myself into, there is no way this guy can know this. So I just said, I will not follow your request because I did not initiate the phone call and I think you are fraudulent. He was mad.
What can they get from you? Passwords?

 

[Patch'sD]

I usally get the call from the "Windows Corporation". I gotten several of these calls, generally from an 800 Number. Caller ID generally shows the 800 number as the name of the Caller. If I have the time, I will follow the guys instructions asking him questions along the way. I usally tell them I noticed the computer slowing down. Just before I give them access or an critical information, I say " Just give me one second I have to load a virus program to download to their computer. The line at that time goes dead.

 

[cybrkitn]

I was surprised at the call yesterday b/c it came in with an area code from the next county over. Not an 800 number. DH called our county police department's non-emergency number and gave them the number that called him. I doubt there is anything that can be done on their end since this scam is not limited to one small area.

 

[Patch'sD]

There are many ways to "Spoof" Caller IDs It can be done with Hardware, Software, Voice over IP, ect. Remember on Long Island recently, A kid sent a Swat team to a House becuase he was losing in a Call to Duty game. Never trust a phone number on your caller ID anymore. I guess the only ones you can trust calling for money are "in laws"

 

[daughtersrus]

We got another one yesterday. I don't answer calls if I don't know the person but when I googled the number it's a new number for this scam It was a 912 area code with the name John Rosewell.


We were off their list for quite awhile after I told the guy that I knew it was a scam. I set the phone on the counter for quite awhile hoping that it would prevent them from dialing anyone else.

What can they get from you? Passwords?

If it's the same as the last time I spoke with someone a few years ago, they tell you that you need to do specific things to your computer. Doing the things they tell you to do will then cause a "problem". They will then sell you something to fix it.