Bogus phone call

philbostavros

Beware.

Not new I know but seems to have started again?

Got a call not long ago (international) from a chap with a very strong Indian accent. Job to understand him but he was rabbiting on about calling from the window centre (I don't want double glazing) but he then said he was from microsoft windows. Said my computer was sending out corrupt files and he said he could help.

I said he must be wrong but he said "I am not lying - I can show you". I let him waffle on a while and then repeated that he must be wrong. He kept insisting until I said "but I don't have a computer!".

"Oh very sorry - must have got a wrong number" and then hung up.

If they call again, I will let them gibber away and then thank them for staying on the line long enough for the company IT fraud team to trace their location - "can you here the sirens coming yet?".


Trouble is, some folk may well be taken in?

dispossessed

This fraud, con or call it what you will is becoming a real problem and is one that 'SOCA' (or whatever they are called this week) should seriously address. Unfortunately many people are taken in by it as they are by more conventional scams.

One thing I've noticed, whenever I've tried to offer advice on PC related security issues is that, for some reason, many people believe they are somehow immune. The older and more technophobic are the worst !!! ("I've got anti-virus") This is manna from heaven to those with criminal intent.

All one can do is to highlight the issue and hope that some notice will be taken - so, 'Philbostavros' I for one thank you.

Trevor

G_M

Radio 4 highlighted this recently - 'You and Yours' I think it was. They had customers on who'd received the calls and even recorded them.

As you say, inevitably some people will get taken in.

lightwarrior

if they call again, just ask them to wait a little while you check your PC, put the phone down, dont' hang it up... let him pay huge international call bills...

dispossessed

I think there should be some crusader who plays dirty with the miscreants who do this scam just as there are with the 419 scam.

Here, for your enjoyment, is the one of the UK's own 419 "scambaiters" in action.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Trevor