234256
Thanx for the heads up!!! Scamming and virus' together? What will they think of next? Thanx again, Hugs, Judy
92391I am so sorry to hear that this happened - but so glad to hear that you didn't fall into the scam. Thanks for the alert - hope it helps another be smart and clever - as well.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
No harm done thank God, and I know now what to do if it ever happens again - just hang up!! Love Chris
211078We've had a nightly spate of calls, 6 p.m to 8.30 p.m., lately. Could it be that the callers are paid by the number of calls that are answered whether or not any conversation takes place? Recently I've had the phone hung up as soon as I've answered it and that's really annoying after a busy day or during meals.
We also get regular calls from Australian charity centres and who in their right mind will buy things or give information for donations over the phone!! If they can't call during business hours I won't even listen. We just won't do any business over the telephone unless we are the ones who do the calling.
I'm not a rude person but these nuisance calls are turning me into one.
AlmaG.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Dear Alma, ring up the DO NOT CALL REGISTER and have your phone number removed from their lists. The only people who can officially call are reputable Charity organisations and the Government. I just did it for Mum. Love Chris
17214I would know it was a scam from the begining. They never call you. You always call them when you have a problem and if you did not call them I would never answer any questions over the phone. Too bad you have to be so suspicious all the time to guard against these scam artist. Thanks for the info! Glad you did not get taken, Suzanne
111114
10179Thanks Chris, I think this is a world wide problem at the moment. It has been on news programmes a lot recently warning people. Infact I caught one of the warnings while travelling to work yesterday
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Glad to hear that you are aware of it. There are so many scams going on at the moment - it's frightening! Love Chris
114511Thanks so much for the alert, Chris! I'm on a "no call" list, but I still get calls. I just don't answer the phone any more, let the answering machine take it, and my friends know they better identify themselves, and I'll pick up. I get so many 'hang ups' when the machine comes on it's unbelievable. I never put my telephone number into forms on the internet, but I wouldn't be surprised if my darned bank isn't selling information. As for anyone calling about your computer, bank account, PayPal account, etc., just hang up!!! Unless you call a company and report some trouble and expect a call back, it's phony!! Crikey, we can't even get service from companies we PAY for service from, let alone having some "nice" person at Microsoft or another company be so concerned for our welfare for free and unsolicited. If you did not initiate the call, never never give any information to anybody! This is a variant on the old bank scam, where the scammers would identify themselves to older people and tell them they were trying to catch an employee who was stealing money, and the old people would withdraw money from their accounts and give it to the scammers posing as "bank officials", the money nor "officials" never to be seen again, of course, and the old folks duped out of their life savings. Do not trust anyone with your personal information! Some of these people can and will take remote control of your computer. It's easily done, because I've authorized McAfee service techs to do it to fix a problem. For a computer wizard, it's a no-brainer, and if you have any financial info on your machine, you could be getting a lot of credit card charges or bank transfers you didn't authorize. No to scare you, but just don't TRUST anyone like this!!! Thanks again for the warning, Chris, Hugs, Marji
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Dear Marji, you are on the ball! Good on you.
Actually it is Thursday morning 7.30am and I've just heard that there is another "person" ringing people and telling them that someone has gotten into their bank account and for a small amount of $25.00 they can look into it. Of course if you agree they get out of you your bank details. Very sneaky!
You are rigt don't TRUST anyone who calls with some information about your private details - you have to go in person and do this sort of thing. Love Chris
33451I had a similar call last week. Just two day before that I went to the bank where I signed a form and my telephone number was required. I gave the landline and still told the lady that I know I would receive a call from somewhere as the banks here sell your personal details. And? two days later the call from which sounded to me like an Indian guy. He wanted to speak to the owner of the computor as he was calling from the Microsoft call-centre and he that the computor of that house was"invested" and when I asked him where he got my number he got really upset. I just put the phone down.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Dear Marthie, that sounds just like this same thing with us. I'm glad you hung up the phone, if you don't talk with them they can't go on! Love Chris
18960
57622159021590Thank you for the warning.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
You're welcome, welcome, welcome! I've given you 3 flowers for answering 3 times. The computer must have been slow! Love Chris
21590Thanks a lot hope i never get that call you handled it well!!carolyn
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Well, at least Trevor handled it well, but I would have done the same thing too. Love Chris
360438
46919
1053057801Thanks for tell us. Will keep a look out for this.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
That's o.k. DeVon I hope it helps at least those who are not so savy with cold callers. Love Chris
72397thank you for sharing the info. Whenever I get a call, I just tell them that I am on a no call list and if they do not comply I will turn them in. Works every time for me. Hugs, Mary
by sewfrenzie
06 Jul 2011
We are on a no call list too, and its amazing how many companies still call, then try to convince us that we signed up for someting on line and thats why they are calling. Thing is neither of us look at the type of sites they tell us about. EX.. On-line classes, credit reports, etc
I tell them I have there number and if they call again I will turn it in, usually don't hear from them again
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
That's the best way to get back at them - if you turn the tables and tell them we have their number! Sometimes we only get an OVERSEAS showing on our display faace on the phone. It's still a good way of retaliating though. Love Chris
33871Those people seem to come out of the woodwork, don't they?
48168i all so have had phone call like that so now what i do is hung up on them and tell them i dont have a computer and they soon hang up
1512Chris, There was something about this on ACA. I had 4 phone calls from so called Microsoft and I told them I didn't have a computer. Actually someone came on ACA from Microsoft and said thet they never ring anyone. Maybe The Windows is the Newest from the same people. ---- BEWARE.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Thanks Lyn - I didn't see that programme. I am wary of anyone trying to sell me something or ask questions etc. over the phone. If I have trouble I go to the conpany and see someone face to face. Thanks for the input love Chris
29801Chris, I had this happened to me about 2 months ago I think they are doing the rounds and these are definately bogus calls...saying microsoft is calling and advising you that you have a problem...when you know microsoft would not be calling you directly. WARNING! be careful it is a huge SCAM!
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Thanks Sally - yes, it is definitely a SCAM. Thanks for your input. Love Chris
24342what browser do you use?, could they have hacked into this site thru one or another of the browsers to get your phone #
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
I use Mozilla and I don't know how they got my telephone number other than through Telstra. But, then it is on a couple of websites that I belong to. You just never know who is watching your every move downloading designs, do you?
Love Chris
335I had the same call, I asked him so many questions I had him in knots.I eventually hung up. I also have ESET and love it, I think it may be the best antivirus software going.Customer support in Aust is great.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Hi Granniebea, welcome to Cute, I don't think I've seen you on here before. Good on you getting them all confused.
I agree with you about ESET and to top it off our technician who installed it lives just 200 metres away from us and he told us anytime call him. Now that's what I call service!
Where do you live in Wollongong? We have quite a few friends down there? Love and blessings Chris
(my profile is similar to yours with regards to marriage and children)
4770I had the same experience in Australia. Someone who said they were a certified Microsoft service technician rang to get me to check my computer for viruses. I pretended to then played dumb and said that I didn't understand them. They put me on to their supervisor who started talking me through a step by step process which I began. When we got to the stage where he wanted me to say "ok" to purchase their virus program, I told him that i wouldn't until I had spoken to someone and asked him to ring back in 10 minutes. My son is a computer IT technician and said that it was a scam. The person did try to ring back but I didn't answer the phone and didn't hear from them again. All they wanted was to sell their program which would allow them to access my computer to fix something that didn't need fixing and they could get all my banking details etc. Beware.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Hi Annie,
Now that was what I was curious about. I reckon that's one sneaky way of getting someone to buy something they don't really need. Love Chris
1993I received a call like that months ago and evidently not as quick thinking as some of you are. I didn't stay on the line to ask any questions...I just hung up knowing my computer was 'in good shape' at the time. There was another one where out to the blue wanted to sell me teeth whitener, that I had filled something I knew I hadn't filled out online. Something about how it was free except for the S&H. Again, not interested and suspicious and hung up. I've had to clean up one mess and now I just get annoyed. We all need to be careful. How they are getting our phone numbers is bewildering.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Thanks Teddybear, yes I agree with you it is annoying when these pesty phone calls come. What makes me more upset is that we have a do not call register here in Australia and I am on it. I imagine cold calling offices get our phone numbers from the Electoral office! Or as I said in an earlier post from websites where our telephone numbers are listed. Love Cchris
13287
19452I live in Alberta Canada, and we had a similar phone call last week.
605Thank you Chris for this information
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
You are welcome, I know that if anyone else has a problem on here someone always informs us. It's good to keep each other up to date with what is happening in the IT world. Love Chris
253108
57491You are right about it happening all over. I think they make rounds. I use my old stand by and tell them, "I'm busy may I have your name and number." Like you I get the quick hang up.
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
I reckon that is the best way - ask them for their number and you ring back. They don't want to give it to you!
Love Chris
89895Nothing exciting ever happens here :( BUT, if my DH received that call, he would have told them ANYTHING they wanted to know :) Wouldn't it be cool if Microsoft really did call if we had a virus, or if there was a problem with software?
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Never mind Daisy! You can't trust anyone these days, it's such a pity that we have all become so wary. Love Chris
And yes, it would be cool if Microsoft could help in that way. I think it would be too expensive though.
12707Thanks for sharing and for the warning. It is sad, but now a days we do have to be very careful.
12821Thanks Chris!
I always like to ask them which Microsoft office they are from and what is their Microsoft ID or Sales Partner number. That really throws them off balance.
Plus it gives me a bit of a laugh. :-)))
by pennifold
06 Jul 2011
Yes, Meg, I think if we ask more questions the more frazzled they become. I'm glad Trevor was home and he answered it - usually as soon as I here that delay I know it's from overseas and I don't think he saw the OVERSEAS come up on our phone. If I see it I just don't answer it. Love Chris
122864Thanks Chris, it does happen all over the world and everyday.
Bev
67271
