Purported call from Microsoft

[The Flying Tench]

I've just had a phone call supposedly from Microsoft saying that in the last few days my computer has been hacked. I asked him to give the email address so I knew we were talking about the same computer and he didn't seem able to. I asked how I could be sure he was from Microsoft and (I think) he said he could do so if I logged on. It was hard to be sure what he said as he had a strong Indian accent. But I was suspicious, and didn't want to log on, so I hung up.

 

Was this the right response? I haven't noticed anything odd in the last few days.

[Steve Walker]

Yes, it's a well known scam.

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx

[Andy_1984]

One of the oldest in the book that one mate. They will ask you to download something or say 'we can fix it for a fee whats your card details, followed by, download something'

 

Just think, did you ever give your number to microsoft, probably not im guessing. That alone should ring alarm bells.

 

Be careful of any other such phone calls from isp and bank as you may be on some hit list. If in doubt hang up and call your isp/bank but make sure the scammers still aint on the line when you go to dial. They sometimes hang on the line.

[The Flying Tench]

Thanks, both of you

[ayjay]

In general terms (not just Microsoft and telephone calls) if you're not sure, it's almost certainly a scam.

 

Just this week, my Barclays account has been blocked: twice - I don't actually have one.

 

There has been suspicious activity on my Nat-West account - I don't have one of those either!

 

I have a tax rebate (if I'll just go to the link in the email) - I've not actually done my return yet, and when I do any rebate is paid straight to my bank.

[chesters1]

Gbest answer is allways tell them to contact you by mail and to stop double glazing or conservatory salesment tell them your in a council house

Harder were PPI salesmen ,one used to phone everynight and ignore everything i said until i started getting personal ,eventually he gave up with the remark "i was the rudest person he has spoken to " i ofcouse said good now **** off and to date he has never rung back

 

My head bailiff son (according to him) loves them and deliberately keeps then interested and on one occasion under the pretense he was counting his windows kept them on for nearly half an hour ,the head bailiff asked why didnt he hang up and his son says they pay his wages ,he works for BT

 

People should contact you by mail to get an appointtment to phone so you can ignore it !after all if they need to talk to you they would knock at your door after making an appointment by phone

 

The 95 year old two doors away i assist on occasion is getting annoying ,usually on seeing me in the garden he immediatly phones up and under some pretext gets me round there to see what i know? (Doesnt get the hint i dont care what others are up to so take no notice) yesterday he phoned to see why he hadnt seen me about (because you havnt had a pretex to get me round there!) And today asked if i heard a noise!?!? I asked if it was his dog snoring and said i was off metal detecting ,usually if i go out the back field and onwatd i spot him watching through his binos but luckily there is a blindspot down another path he cant see which i pretend to use LOL nice old guy but fricking annoying

 

Ps microsoft will phone you but usually after you contact them usually after you complain windows wont except your reg number

Edited December 7, 2016 by chesters1

[Norm B]

Gbest answer is allways tell them to contact you by mail and to stop double glazing or conservatory salesment tell them your in a council house

Harder were PPI salesmen ,one used to phone everynight and ignore everything i said until i started getting personal ,eventually he gave up with the remark "i was the rudest person he has spoken to " i ofcouse said good now **** off and to date he has never rung back

 

My head bailiff son (according to him) loves them and deliberately keeps then interested and on one occasion under the pretense he was counting his windows kept them on for nearly half an hour ,the head bailiff asked why didnt he hang up and his son says they pay his wages ,he works for BT

 

People should contact you by mail to get an appointtment to phone so you can ignore it !after all if they need to talk to you they would knock at your door after making an appointment by phone

 

The 95 year old two doors away i assist on occasion is getting annoying ,usually on seeing me in the garden he immediatly phones up and under some pretext gets me round there to see what i know? (Doesnt get the hint i dont care what others are up to so take no notice) yesterday he phoned to see why he hadnt seen me about (because you havnt had a pretex to get me round there!) And today asked if i heard a noise!?!? I asked if it was his dog snoring and said i was off metal detecting ,usually if i go out the back field and onwatd i spot him watching through his binos but luckily there is a blindspot down another path he cant see which i pretend to use LOL nice old guy but fricking annoying

 

Ps microsoft will phone you but usually after you contact them usually after you complain windows wont except your reg number

A colleague of mine was being harassed by a certain well known firm of double glazing so he eventually cracked and said, yes, he would like double glazing as his house was cold in the winter. An appointment was made for an evening visit and the salesman duly arrived and my mate asked about all the various options and prices. The salesman measured all the windows and doors and gave various quotes. My mate then said he was interested in one type, the dearest but he thought it was a bit "too expensive" so could he do a deal? 10% was readily offered but that wasn't enough so the salesman "phoned his manager" who "authorised another 10% or 15%" if he took out their (very expensive) HP loan. "Great" said my mate, "I'll pass this deal on to my landlord". "Your landlord, I thought you owned the house" said the salesman, "you've just wasted my time". "Well, you've wasted enough of my time with all your phone calls so we're about even", said my mate. They never phoned again.

[Andrew]

I always tell them i am blind, tht soon gets rid of them.

Same as the energy sellers who pester you in shopping centre,s, sorry mate i live in a caravan, hohohohoho

Edited December 8, 2016 by Andrew

[wotnobivvy]

I tell them that I am not the owner but a burgler robbing the house. Never had the police arrive so far !!

[John S]

As soon as I realise it's one of these nuisance calls, and depending on what mood I'm in, I either keep them talking as long as possible before telling them I'm not interested (or that my computer does not have a virus) or just shout F*** OFF and put the phone down.