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Not Another Scam Call Thread!
08-18-2016, 12:43 PM
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#1
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 799
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Not Another Scam Call Thread!
I couldn't find an old thread, hence this one.
I got a call from Microsoft and found out my computer was sending warning messages. The nice junior support guy had me turn on my computer (which was already on), and wanted me to push the Windows+R keys. Unfortunately for them, it "locked up" my computer. He had me restart several times where I said it did the same thing. I was then bumped up to a senior support technician and he wanted me to restart and push the F8 key. Well this totally locked up my computer. After several retries, I was bumped to another person who wanted me to hold the Alt key while pressing F8. He caused my computer to totally shut down and not restart. Had me unplug and plug in all cords to no avail. Finally, I ended it and said they wrecked my computer.
This went on for 15 minutes, so you're all welcome for not getting calls during that time. I don't understand why they went along with my scam back for so long as what I was telling them shouldn't be possible.
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08-18-2016, 02:55 PM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,862
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Thank you for keeping them at bay for at least 15 minutes. The IRS already called me today ordering me to send them copious amounts of cash, followed by a robo call from some unnamed credit card company telling me my payment was in arrears. I pay the balance in full, every weekend.
If these people could just spend all this energy on something productive...
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08-18-2016, 03:55 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akck
I couldn't find an old thread, hence this one.
I got a call from Microsoft and found out my computer was sending warning messages. The nice junior support guy had me turn on my computer (which was already on), and wanted me to push the Windows+R keys. Unfortunately for them, it "locked up" my computer. He had me restart several times where I said it did the same thing. I was then bumped up to a senior support technician and he wanted me to restart and push the F8 key. Well this totally locked up my computer. After several retries, I was bumped to another person who wanted me to hold the Alt key while pressing F8. He caused my computer to totally shut down and not restart. Had me unplug and plug in all cords to no avail. Finally, I ended it and said they wrecked my computer.
This went on for 15 minutes, so you're all welcome for not getting calls during that time. I don't understand why they went along with my scam back for so long as what I was telling them shouldn't be possible.
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Are you kidding?
Microsoft will NEVER call you out of the blue. You gave them (the nice young scammer) access to your computer and they may have any user names and passwords you have stored on it. If I was you, I would be checking my bank and investment accounts to see if they got access (if you have that info stored). I would guess the scammers have all your personal information also. Good luck!
__________________
*********Go Astros!*********
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08-18-2016, 04:12 PM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 416
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Thanks for keeping them busy! Wondered why my phone was so quiet!
aja888 I think your sarcasm detector is malfunctioning 😁
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app
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08-18-2016, 04:19 PM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,171
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As I write this I am waiting for the County Sheriff to come and arrest me for non payment of Federal Income Tax from 2014.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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08-18-2016, 04:20 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveNU
aja888 I think your sarcasm detector is malfunctioning 😁
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app
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I'm having a bad day.
__________________
*********Go Astros!*********
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08-18-2016, 04:20 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
Federal Income Tax form 2014.
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Uh oh - I've never filed a form 2014. Am I in trouble, too?
__________________
Numbers is hard
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08-18-2016, 04:25 PM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo
Uh oh - I've never filed a form 2014. Am I in trouble, too?
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That's even worse!
They will probably send the SWAT team.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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08-18-2016, 04:48 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
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I got my first call from the Microsoft support team a couple of days ago.
A real person too. Goodbye!
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08-18-2016, 05:50 PM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,971
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I wonder what they would say if I told them "that's odd my iPad seems to be working fine"
Sent from my iPad.
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08-18-2016, 05:59 PM
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#11
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Jose
Posts: 80
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Scammer (typically with a strong Indian accent): I am calling from Microsoft Technical Support, and we have determined that your computer is sending out bad messages on the Internet. Are you at your computer?
Me: No. Wait while I go to my computer... OK, I am at my computer.
Scammer: What do you see?
Me: I see a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor.
Scammer: What do you see on the monitor?
Me: Nothing.
Scammer: Is your computer turned on?
Me: No. Hang on. Let me turn it on. OK, it's booting up. (Wait about 3 or 4 minutes) OK, it's waiting for me to log in. Can you see my computer on your Internet?
Scammer: You have to log in.
Me: OK. Hey, wait, how do I know you are not a scammer? My son told me to be careful about scammers calling on the phone.
Scammer: Sir, I am calling from Microsoft Technical Support to help you fix your computer. Have you logged in to your computer.
Me: Yes, I am logged in.
Scammer: Good. Now press the Windows key and the R key at the same time.
Me: OK.
Scammer: Do you see a window that says Run?
Me: No.
Scammer: Did you press the Windows key and the R key at the same time?
Me: Yes, I think so.
Scammer: Try it again.
Me: Nope. Nothing.
Scammer: OK, can you open a browser?
Me: Yes. Hang on. OK, I see a browser window that is displaying Google in large letters.
Scammer: Click in the address bar near the top of the window and enter blahblahblah.com/scamprogram.exe.
Me: OK, my computer is asking if I want to download scamprogram.exe.
Scammer: Yes, go ahead and download it.
Me: Where should I download it to?
Scammer: Anywhere. It doesn't matter.
Me: OK, I downloaded it to my Downloads folder.
Scammer: OK, now go into your Downloads folder and double-click on scamprogram.exe.
Me: OK. I double-clicked it and nothing happened.
Scammer: Make sure you hold your mouse still when you double-click.
Me: OK. I double-clicked it again and my computer is asking if I want to install something called Wine. I don't think I want to do that.
Scammer: Are you sure you are double-clicking on scamprogram.exe?
Me: Yes.
Scammer: Do you know what version of Windows you are running?
Me: Windows? My son set me up with Raspbian on a Raspberry Pi. It's got windows, but I don't know how to tell what version it is.
Scammer: So do you have any PCs running Microsoft Windows?
Me: No. But I suppose I must if you are calling me...
Scammer: (Finally cluing in) Why would you waste my time like this?
Me: To prevent you from harming people during the time we have been talking. And I will happily waste your time whenever you or your cronies purporting to be from Microsoft Technical Support call.
Scammer: (Swear words)...hangs up.
You're welcome.
__________________
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." --Mark Twain
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08-18-2016, 11:22 PM
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#12
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COcheesehead
I wonder what they would say if I told them "that's odd my iPad seems to be working fine"
Sent from my iPad.
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A couple of years ago, I told them all I had was an iPad and iPhone and no computer. He just didn't believe me, saying we must have a laptop or something else. That call went for about 5 minutes.
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08-19-2016, 04:42 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveNU
Thanks for keeping them busy! Wondered why my phone was so quiet!
aja888 I think your sarcasm detector is malfunctioning
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app
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LOL!
Microsoft is calling me every other week. I don't have the patience to talk to them.
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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08-19-2016, 05:26 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,361
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I dragged one along for about 10 minutes then put the phone down. She was still on the line saying "can you hear me?" then she hung up.
THEN!!! She called me back! I said I had a bad phone connection and hung up on her. She called back again! We did this for 4 separate call backs...she must've thought she had a real fish on the line.
Finally I confessed that I didn't have MSoft and had a Chromebook.
Click.
Oh, and my mom is going to jail due to an IRS audit. I asked if I could get my inheritance now since she was going to jail for life.
Mom hung up on me!!
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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08-19-2016, 09:40 AM
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,656
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As much fun as that is, I'll just say this works:
https://www.amazon.com/Tel-Sentry-Au.../dp/B00U1PPWDO
People that want to talk to you, the very first time they call, do need to call once, then call back. But I've had no problem with family, doctors' offices, mechanics, etc. They listen to the automated message (I have it configured so my phone doesn't ring), hang-up, call back, and my phone rings. The next time they call, my phone rings right-off...no muss, no fuss.
PS: Don't pinch pennies on the 1.0 version. Get the 2 or (I suppose) the 2.2. Mine is a 2 and it's great.
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08-19-2016, 12:35 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Western US
Posts: 1,205
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08-19-2016, 12:45 PM
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#17
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,299
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When I get a call from a scammer I start out by asking what color their underwear is, and the conversation goes downhill from there.
It's been pretty successful at getting me off their lists.
__________________
When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
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08-19-2016, 01:34 PM
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#18
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,198
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjorn2bwild
Help is on the way, this just in from Reuters -
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Anyone want to start a pool on how many hours it will take the scammers to find a new way around whatever rules get put in place?
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08-19-2016, 01:47 PM
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#19
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Western US
Posts: 1,205
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Quote:
Originally Posted by braumeister
Anyone want to start a pool on how many hours it will take the scammers to find a new way around whatever rules get put in place?
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I had a pretty good run using the National Do Not Call Registry, something changed (technology?) in the last 2-3 years.
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08-19-2016, 02:05 PM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
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Since what the scammers are doing is illegal in the first place I don't really think they care about the laws.
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