Bizarre calls from 'my computer maintenance department' 6 April 2009 at 2:22PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Phones & TV 67 replies 36.5K views

cajef

The one that usually stops them in their tracks is telling them you work for an organisation that investigates internet fraud and scams, it is amazing how soon they ring off.:D

JimmyTheWig

miniemma wrote: »

Maybe someone will play along and let us know what they are trying to do/sell.

I played along - not for the feint hearted!

I kept telling them that I didn't have my glasses on so they'd have to tell me what was on my screen. I just agreed with them each time (though was nowhere near the computer!).
Basically they want you to go to their website and run some program which allows them to connect to your computer.
I would imagine that once they've done that they will use your computer to send out spam, but I don't know. In any event, you don't want them to do it!

Eventually they got fed up and passed me to someone else. They knew I was faking.
This second guy said I should see on my screen a picture of my c*ck or my a*se! Once again I agreed.
He told me to click my a*se!
I thought this was hilarious.
He then proceeded to call me a c**t, which I particularly objected to. I told him that wasn't appropriate and I don't want him to use that word again.
He hung up.

markscottuk

I just had one of these calls today, Indian bloke saying he was from the Computer Maintenance Department. Asked which one of the 3 computers had a problem and he said Your Windows Computer, I said all 3 were Windows.

I then started to comply but when he said click on the site I then told him I was the UK legal counsel of Microsoft, that the call was recorded and that I had enough information for a prosecution, he swore and hung up :A

pookidoos

Just had one of these annoying phone calls. As soon as they start speaking you know its a scam. I wasnt even told a name of a company just that they are phoning from computer maintenance????????? He was quite insistant that he needed 2 tell me about my virus (that i dont have) and that my computer is downloading malasian junk and going slow (which its not) was i sat at my computer (no) did i tell him 2 phone back (yes) will i be answering (no) lol. serves me right for answering the house phone b4 it went to answer machine as i never do normally. Please do not be drawn into conversation as not worth your time and definatly do not do anything they say

macman

Best response is 'which computer?-I have several'. That slows 'em down.

Majijook

I have had so many of these calls I can't remember! Initially, I was polite, but firm, asking them to write to me as they knew so much about my computer etc. Now I am quite angry, sometimes NOT so polite, sometimes quite rude :mad: when they won't leave me alone, but my latest response is .... "computer? I don't have a computer, wouldn't know how to switch it on..." etc and as I sound (and am) elderly they seem to believe me! :j

Chrisbettin

I had a call this morning form Computer Maintenance Department from Microsoft. He was defiantly foreign as i had to get him to repeat everything at least twice.

I actually spoke to three different people, so this must be a call centre environment of some sort. I asked them for their phone number and they gave me a district nurses number somewhere in Bolton.

When i said I was a computer tech myself, he was very rude and said that he had given me a fake number and hung up.

This is about the 20th call I have had from them over the last months or so.

I am sick of it, does anyone know who or where they are or if there is anyone I can contact to stop this....

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Chris

I have since done some investigation and you can go to the following website which is linked to Ofcom. The company name is TPS, there is a link on the Ofcom website. It is tpsonline.com
This blocks incoming cold calls.

Also if you are with talk talk dial 1477 every time they ring you. This will mean after 5 calls they will trace the call. They have to do this by law.

Good luck peoples.

Heinz

Chrisbettin wrote: »

I have since done some investigation and you can go to the following website which is linked to Ofcom. The company name is TPS, there is a link on the Ofcom website. It is tpsonline.com
This blocks incoming cold calls.

TPS can be quite useful in stopping UK-based companies from making cold sales calls.

It does not stop calls originating overseas (although it should if they are calling on behalf of a UK-based company) and neither does it stop 'surveys' and the like.

cajef

Chrisbettin wrote: »

This blocks incoming cold calls.

It does not block calls, it puts your number on a register that companies are supposed to check and if you are registered with TPS they should not call you and it only prevents marketing calls.

Some try it on and still call even if you are registered with TPS then they try to claim they did not know you were.

Charlieboots

I have recently had several calls from these people, the number they ring from is 02538020308. I checked this out and I believe the number originates from Djoubouti in Somalia, always a foreign voice but a name such as Michael or Roger.
I turned my computer on this morning and within 15 minutes I had a call from this number from a man who said he knew I had my machine on. I put the phone down but now I am worried as I do internet banking and I was wondering if they can access my account while I am looking at it. Any ideas anybody? I am registered with the TPS but it does not vet overseas calls.