[ALERT] Fake Tech Support Scammers Are Calling - Comments Page 1

I got you beat. I had a call from a "technician from Microsoft" and simply said, "No, you're not," then hung up. The woman called right back and my wife picked up the other phone. The "MS person" began haranguing her - "Yes, I am from MS, and you need to listen to me!! You risk damaging your computer!! You have offended me!!" and more berating. My wife just hung up.

The woman called three more times in about 5 minutes, but we didn't answer.

2-3 days later, she called back and we just let it ring. She called 3-4 times, and then finally gave up.

When you know you'll never be caught, it makes you arrogant.

I have received such calls but have never fallen for them. First one was a couple years ago and I got another a couple of months ago. I always start asking them questions and tell them it a scam.

I get 3 or 4 of these Fake Tech Support calls a week and sometimes more. I immediately tell them that I do not have any problems with my computer and to put me on their NO-CALL this and DO NOT call me again. But they continued to call. It infuriates me even more that they usually have a foreign accent and I can hardly understand them.

Our solution to that, and all other phone scams, including robocalls is to never answer the phone unless we know who is calling.......all others go to voice mail......no message shows they are a scammer of some sort, and we block the number.

This just happened to a friend of mine. Scare ware alert saying he had to call this number. The crook then had him download a remote-control app (Win 10) and proceeded to tell him his (and his wife's) social security number. He stopped when the crook demanded $299 to fix his machine. He called me and I had him run Malwarebytes, which found 170 quarantine items. I had him treat it as a personal security breach, call all financial institutions, change passwords, etc. He still is working to get his security re-established.
Keep antivirus installed, run system updates, and use secure passwords. Install and buy Malwarebytes. Treat any unsolicited computer calls as you would a radioactive bomb.

I received a ROBOCALL yesterday informing me my Software licence was about to expire. The computer generated voice was tinny and jerky and said I needed to call right way to renew license.

When I get these calls, depending whether I have time to spare or not, I do one of two things: 1) I waste their time and eventually let them know I'm onto their scheme; 2) I tell them (after a while), that I have an Apple 'puter and their instructions don't seem to work on my machine. They usually swear at me and hang up.

I get these calls routinely along with scammers trying to switch my electric service provider and car warranty. My response is always the same and it shuts them down immediately. I say: I don't have a computer or I don't use electricity I have solar power or I just sold my car. I ask them to take me off their list and they meekly comply and hang up.

I'm retired, so I have lots of time on my hands. When I get type of call (or the "You've won a vacation ones)I play old and unsophisticated. First I have to turn on my computer. Then I have trouble following instructions. Then I have questions - as inane as possible, and try to have a conversation with the caller about weather and family. When they get impatient, I play the I'm old card again and keep them occupied for more time.

My record is 28 minutes of time wasting. He was unhappy and accused me of wasting his time. I've got all day, and I love to play the game.

Just say that you can't turn on your computer because it will violate the terms of your parole.
They will hang up.

I agree with Bob. I do not answer any call that I don't recognize. If it is important they will leave a message; then I can decide if I want to talk to them.

I also got a few of those calls. My usual response was I don't have a computer or to tell the caller that they were not from Microsoft and then hang up. Since signing up with NOMOROBO, those calls have virtually disappeared. I'm retired and almost miss those calls. I miss the fun of tormenting them. (I also have a deed for a bridge in NYC if anyone's interested.)

One of these callers woke me up at 7 a.m. this week. I told him he woke me up, and I hung up. A couple years ago my husband was awakened by such a call when I was out of town. He actually went to his computer and did some stuff before he hung up, mainly because I had been talking with real Microsoft people a couple days earlier. Fortunately, no harm was done. He was caught off guard. Gotta be aware!

I just block all unwanted callers simple!

I generally as which computer, then Microsoft or Apple? Then say, wait a minute while I turn it on. Then lay down the phone until they realize I am not coming back and hang up. It slows them down a little bit.

Bob, I am getting phone calls from a known friend that are actually Spam. I don't know if it is accidental or they picked the name from Facebook and referenced his name in a phone directory. But it does get me to answer the phone. Can you look into this? My friend is a serous guy and would never do this.

I got a similar call several years ago, probably from India per the accent. I read back the string of digits correctly except for the last digit, which I incremented by 1. He insisted I misread the last digit. I reread what I insisted was the string I saw on my computer. We went round the barn a couple of times with us both insisting, so he called his supervisor. Super immediately recognized what I was doing and uttered a few impolite words. I never got a followup call.

I have also received these calls, but I also discovered just today that these scammers advertise on the web and come up on Google searches for "Microsoft tech support" and such. I had and issue and called the toll-free number that came up at the top of my search. My guard was down momentarily, but once the person came on the line something in the back of my brain kicked in. I asked if I was reaching Microsoft corporation and he said "yes, level 2 support." That answer seemed suspicious. I described my issue and he immediately wanted remote access to my computer. That's when I said I would rather verify the phone number I had called as being a true Microsoft contact because there are a lot of spam cons going around, and he promptly hung up on me. Be careful out there!

I agree with all the "don't answer and then block them" folks. But if you are in the mood for messing with them, tell them your computer is running Linux.

The last time "Microsoft" called, I was getting ready for a meeting. I nicely asked the man to hold on while I turned on my computer. I put the phone down and picked out my clothes. I nicely told the man that my computer was old and it takes a while to boot up, could he please hold on? Of course, he could! I applied my sunscreen. "OK, we're almost there" I said to the man, and he was happy to hold on. Then, I just left the house and went to my meeting. I wonder how long he hung on the phone? Gotta' find your fun where you can! :)