Random Phone Call! UK Mobile Number

BikingBud

Got a call this morning asking if I had a computer

Then asked who the main user was 

I asked why this might be important and this lead to some extended drivel about computers being susceptible to "locking", given this very real and credible risk I thought he might be really interested in protecting my security

So I asked what they wanted to sell me and they suggested I was at severe risk.

But wouldn't tell me which of the computers, that I might have, was at risk.

When I asked if they need the details of the machine they seemed perturbed that I provided them details of my Garmin Edge 800 cycle computer, I explained it was a bit old now and may have vulnerabilities but they hung up.I was hoping to drag it out for at least 20 mins or so

So not very helpful after all

Grey_Critic

Unknown numbers I do not answer

GDB2222

They will now send you adverts for more up to date bike computers?

outtatune

Once my mum got one of these calls while I was visiting her. Managed to pad it out for half an hour before they gave up. Star performer was my Chromebook keyboard, which doesn't have a Windows key, slowing their attempts to talk me through opening the (non existent) Windows event viewer down to a snail's pace.

I'd not recommend trolling them if you aren't really familiar with the insides of Windows, because they can sometimes be persuasive, but if you're sure of what you're doing you can maybe take them out of the equation long enough to save one actual victim, and that's a good enough use of my time as far as I'm concerned.

hareng

Used to get on average 9 scams a day by phone alone and same number was used for business.
That 'Microsoft' ones now been doing the round 20 odd years.

The only thing that cured these scams was junking the established landline in Feb.

TELLIT01

Grey_Critic said:

Unknown numbers I do not answer

We generally do the same, or pick up the phone but not say anything.  Most will then drop after a few seconds.  Where a problem with not answering arises is telephone consultations from the GP surgery.  Many of the GPs will use their own phones but with the number withheld.  That's when I started to adopt the 'pick up and don't speak' option.  With a genuine call they will generally say "Hello".

Many years ago, long before telephone cold callers were a problem, cold door knocking by double glazing, insurance etc were common.  A work colleague was home when a life insurance guy called, and he had nothing much planned.  He invited the guy in and strung him along for nearly an hour, giving all the 'right' answers to questions so the sales guy was convinced he had him hooked.  When my colleague finally said he wasn't interested he reckoned the guy was going to burst into tears.

baser999

I answered one of these calls at my parents some years ago, tagged the caller along for a while before the penny finally dropped that they genuinely had no computer. I then told him that I had a computer and you could sense he was interested. He asked if I could get it as there may be security issues he could resolve. Said I’d get it but may be a while, “no problem, will be happy to wait” . Said it might be an hour or so as I wasn’t at home . . . he rang off

victor2

I dragged one call out by taking a long time to "start" my computer. When he asked if it was running yet, I said "it's very slow, must be that virus you said I've got." It did eventually start and I kept him on the line for a good 20 minutes before telling him I was wasting his time.
Don't seem to get those calls these days.

matelodave

I do the same with the "it's about your car accident" calls.

Thank them politely for phoning and then ask them which of the three accidents you've had in the past fortnight. Usually gets them really interested to the point when they've had to go and get a supervisor to help.

They tend to be less than polite when they eventually twig that I'm leading them on.

victor2

matelodave said:

I do the same with the "it's about your car accident" calls.

Thank them politely for phoning and then ask them which of the three accidents you've had in the past fortnight. Usually gets them really interested to the point when they've had to go and get a supervisor to help.

They tend to be less than polite when they eventually twig that I'm leading them on.

I say "Oh the one I was killed in?" Many just carry on with their script after that. I had one continue with asking when it was, to which I answered "well, my funeral was in July, so a few weeks before that." He still went on, so I casted doubt upon his intelligence and hung up. 

facade

One of the better things I have ever bought is a BT landline 'phone with call blocking.

Authorised numbers from my phonebook get straight through, "new" numbers have to press hash and record a message.

My 'phone doesn't even ring until there is a message recorded, so I don't get disturbed, but the number of calls increments on the display, so I know some autodiallers have failed the test.

Now I get them on the mobile.

I don't answer and expect a text if it was important, usually after a couple of hours google has flagged it as "spam" in my call log anyway. 

(One of the benefits of having google spy on my every move, 'phone call, mesage and interweb activity)