I received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft. I was leary, 'cause I seem to get junk calls everyday. Right now I'm on Newt Gingrich's call list and for some reason someone out there thinks I just got my hip replaced and I need a new bath seating shower/tub. I used to try to be nice to these people, cause I know it's a job, but now they've turned me into a person I don't like to be, as of slamming down receivers and saying in a stern voice. "take me off of your list"!!
Anyway, this person claiming to be John Smith who has a decided Indian accent proceeds to tell me that my computer is full of viruses and that he is there to help me get them off. We went round and round for a few minutes (because even though my scam antennae was up, I felt like I needed to be sure that there wasn't something wrong with my computer for reals.) So he says all I have to do is hit a few keys and then he'll be able to show me how to rid my computer of the dastardly viruses. At that point I balked and said NO. When I said my hubby takes care of all this stuff they'd have to talk to him, "John Smith", said they could only talk to me since they only had my name. And by the way...how did they get my phone number (which is unlisted).
I told my husband and he said "scammers...Microsoft doesn't call anyone". So beware if you get one of these unsolicited phone calls. Hubbs says they give you a link and you click on it, then they can hack into your computer, all your passwords, and bank account etc. It sounds fairly legitimate, and they have you super scared your computer is about to blow up. But just hang up, they are the virus!
OK, heading to pick out some new carpet for the upstairs, since the old had too many untreatable stains and then, we're making a drastic change in the kitchen. I'm sure you all can guess what that might be! I'll check back with some progress photos. Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
Yeah, lots of scammers these days. Real virus companies don't call you, you call them. By the way, to get off "the list" such as the tub people you have to call a national number (which I don't have for you but you should be able to find it online somewhere) and they will remove you from all lists for 7 years. It takes a few weeks to get in everyones computer system. If they violate it it's their business license. When you call give them all of the phone numbers you want off. Our news network gives out the number occasionally and I called a few years back and now no more calls. Oh and I am also on the "do not knock list" of some very annoying companies (ATT) by calling their home office. Hope this helps with some of the frustration.
ReplyDeleteI've called the "Missouri No-Call" list, but it just seems that new ones call after that. I've tried to not answer the phone if I don't have a name or caller ID, but then I've missed some important ones. It's a mess for sure!
DeleteDo you have an answering machine Debra?... if it's anyone you care about, they will leave you a message... xoxoxo
DeleteOr do what Seinfeld did... just lay down the phone and play some music in the background... they will get tired of that and hang up... xoxoxo
DeleteOften they use a phone number generator. It dials numbers in consecutive order. That is how they get the unlisted ones. One of the doctors I worked for in the 80s was at work late and answered the phone to a telemarketer and then hung up. The office has the next several numbers as alternate lines and they were all called in ordered.
ReplyDeleteLucky you for not getting scammed..
Unfortunately, my mom fell for this and now her computer doesn't work. Glad you stayed away from "John Smith"!!
ReplyDeleteDebra, thank you for the warning. The Do Not Call phone number is 888-382-1222. After a short time my phone quiets down. Then, after about two or three months, they start calling again and I call the 888 number again. It works, but not for as long as they tell you. As soon as those unwanted calls start again, I call again. I do this with my cell phone, too. Hope you get some peace!
ReplyDeleteSigh... Inhale been getting them for weeks now. No amount of 'please take me off your call list' works. I am so upset by all this.. as a woman of Indian descent, ingot so annoyed with them. I finally had it and was really nasty with the last Indian accented 'Sam' that called me and so far... nothing. Like you we have unlisted numbers and are on the ' no solicitation calls' list, but have been inundated by lots of bothersome calls of late.
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't fall for it Debra.
Ugh. It's seriously so crazy that we have to be so hyper vigilant these days. I practically don't even answer my home phone, just the cell. I am glad that you are a smart woman, and are sharing it with all of us. Thank you Debra!
ReplyDeleteSomething similar happened to me, different company name though! Sad that many don't heed the warning and get scammed :( Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThis has happened to me several times Debra. Sometimes I shut them down and other times I will play with them by either crying so hysterically they can't get a word in, or I play dumb in an attempt to completely frustrate them. I figured if they have the guts to try this so many times with me then they deserve whatever I dish out. Haven't had a call in about 6 months so I am wonderfing if my annoying tactics finally resulted in our number coming off their list. Glad you followed your insticts and hung up! Smart lady!
ReplyDeleteXO Barbara
I had them calling here at least once every other week and some of them are very persistent and rude at times. Once I told them that I do not have a computer and they hung up right away. The last time they called my husband answered the phone and told the caller that he was from the fraud department of our local police department and that he was tracing the call and for now the calls have stopped. I wonder how long that is going to last. Be aware!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Karen B.- Todolwen
Glad you didn't fall for it Debra... after Jack being a cop all of his life, and me retired from the PD as well, we have pretty much heard them all... ask yourself... how long do you hold on the line for the REAL microsoft or whoever you call when you really need help?... FOREVER!... they won't ever call you, I promise!... you are much nicer than I am... okay... take that number that showed up on your phone and BLOCK them!... then, if they call again, they get a busy signal then your phone hangs up on them... I see blogger is even asking for a phone number now... NO WAY!... ladies... please be careful who you give your number out to!... if blogger needs my phone number for me to continue with my blog, then it is bye bye blogger!... xoxo... Me
ReplyDeleteThey have called my number also as Richard??? , just last week with an Indian accent. We hung up on them.
ReplyDeletethanks for shared :)
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Haha, I had the same phone call, knew what it was so I decided to have a little fun with the guy. I acted overly dramatic about how terrible it was and oh my gosh how could this happen, and so on. Then I said, good thing my husband is a computer tech manager because we know about these scams and we have been letting our friends know you are calling. You are he says. Good bye. Glad to hear you are enjoying your new home, have fund decorating. Alaina
ReplyDeleteI also got that call! I had been warned SO... I just said NO and slammed down the phone! Happy we didn't get scammed, I know people who weren't so fortunate! Have a blessed weekend dear friend, HUGS!
ReplyDeleteI have gotten the same call, the same format and I have a HP computer! It is down right unnerving and for the life of me I can't figure out how they even got my information. The National do Not Call Registry is for the birds! If I get one more roto call from DONNA who wants to clean my carpets, or from RODNEY who wants to fix my credit card interest, I will scream! And now don't get me started on the junk mail!!!!! Arrguh!
ReplyDeleteBoth my mom and my husbands folks got this same call. Luckily because they are all in their upper 80's they had no clue what the guy was talking about and told him they would have to ask their son if they could go any further. My MIL told the guy to call back, and we were ready for the SOB but he never called back.
ReplyDeletePersonally we have had a lot of "survey calls" with are not covered by the Do Not Call law. Our caller ID picks them up as unknown numbers and sometimes other numbers we do not recognize...
I found out this tip and it works---since they are automated calls, even if your answering machine answers, it considers it a legit call and will keep calling you back, sometimes every half hour! But if you have a fax machine, go over and hit the receive button. This stopped all those calls one or two times using this method.
I got that call myself, twice. The first time my wireless, cordless phone died (the battery is getting old in one of the hand sets), and the second time I asked "Kevin," how he could tell which of our 7 computers (including the 4 dead ones) had a problem. He hung up on me. No one has called back.
ReplyDeleteBlogless Peggy
Thanks for the heads up! I've been reading posts on this particular scam, too, and found a lot at Callercenter.com along with the scammer phone number. What I do is add the numbers to my block list so just in case my own phone number makes it to their call list, they'd never have the chance to call me. I'm on the DNC list myself but obviously, these scammers do not follow the rules. They call to steal other people's money. Whenever I get updates, I share it to family and friends, too. While we may be aware of the scheme, there could be others who are not so it's best to be proactive in educating the people around us about these scams.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have received the same call several times from this people. I goggled the number and right away all the scam information came up on my screen. You just have to be so careful these days.
ReplyDeleteDebra - anxious to see all you are doing to your house.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I got this same scam call! I told them I have a Mac and hung up.
ReplyDeleteYour post opened my eyes.
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