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IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 07:28 PM Dec 2013

Hilarious Scam

This afternoon my nap was interrupted by a phone call from a guy whose first language clearly wasn't English. The connection was so bad I had to wonder if he was calling from outside the states.

Anyway, he started telling me that my computer was sending him many, many error messages and it was certain to break down very soon or even explode. Of course if I'd give him my credit card info, he'd be glad to send me something to fix the errors and prevent impending disaster.

I said sure, you want my credit card company? Excited, he said yes, yes! I said have you got something to write with? Of course he did. What credit card company do you use?

I said, "It's called GO TO HELL, YOU DAMNED CROOK!" and hung up the phone. For some reason he never called back.

That's absolutely the worst presentation I ever got from a scammer. Obvious language barrier, and was I really supposed to think he was from Microsoft? He never said the name of the company but he kept talking about Windows errors.

You know somebody's going to bite, though.

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newcriminal

(2,190 posts)
3. I didn't let him go on long, but
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 07:57 PM
Dec 2013

he said we were having computer problems. I told him not to call back, and hung up.

graywarrior

(59,440 posts)
5. Mr g got a call from them last week
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 08:00 PM
Dec 2013

He talked to them in some made up language until he got bored and hung up on them.

Tom_Foolery

(4,691 posts)
6. They called me today, too...
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 08:02 PM
Dec 2013

I went off on a rant and spewed every expletive that I could think of. The guy just hung up.

pipi_k

(21,020 posts)
7. I had a similar call
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 08:04 PM
Dec 2013

about six weeks ago.

Might even have been the same guy, who knows...anyway, he says he's calling about my Windows operating system.

I said, OK...what operating system am I using?

him: errrr...uh...

me: WELL??? You called me about my operating system. What operating system am I using?

him: errr....oh my...<click>

oh well

MissB

(15,812 posts)
8. The last time I got one like that, I pretended to be kinda deaf.
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 08:13 PM
Dec 2013

As in saying "what?" repeatedly until they hung up.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
9. There are all sorts of ways to turn things back on scammers.
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 08:25 PM
Dec 2013

Before DoNotCall, I got a call from a telemarketer who just wouldn't turn loose. I felt a little perverse at the moment, so I strung him along all I could, knowing it would cut into his proftit, maybe keep him away from an easier mark. I use a landline so I don't worry about a caller hacking a cell.

Can you believe the people who'll still send $ to Nigeria????

pipi_k

(21,020 posts)
13. One thing I always want to do
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 11:29 PM
Dec 2013

Is to remember, if I see a name along with the number on caller ID, to answer the phone using that same name

For example, "Senior Alert" calls...so I answer the phone "Good afternoon, Senior Alert, Jane speaking, how can I help you?"

Things could get amusing

Archae

(46,354 posts)
10. I got two Nigerian e-mails today...
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 09:05 PM
Dec 2013

Claimed to be from the UN, and Federal express.

Both had viruses in the attachments, AVG caught them both.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
14. Yeah, AVG's great. So's Threatfire. But I don't use any Microsoft mail apps. They're roachy.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 01:28 AM
Dec 2013

What email app do you use?

Soreya

(1 post)
19. Omg.... Me to !
Mon Dec 29, 2014, 03:08 PM
Dec 2014

I got an e-mail from USPS Nigeria a couple of days ago. It said that they had a package waiting to be delivered to me and all they needed was my full name , address , and phone number. I didn't respond because I don't know why I would be getting a package from Nigeria and also why would they need me to tell them my name ? If I have a package , they should already know my name.

rurallib

(62,451 posts)
11. We got that call a couple months ago
Fri Dec 13, 2013, 10:58 PM
Dec 2013

I told him to hang on, the police chief is my neighbor and has been having problems also. Line went dead rather quickly

David_ness

(8 posts)
18. National Parcel Services offers $50 free jewelry - scam
Sat Mar 15, 2014, 08:57 AM
Mar 2014

I received a post card from National Parcel Services (Does such a legitimate business exist?) offering $50 free jewelry. It will be delivered to your home. I called the # on the post card. 800-276-6472. The catch is you need to let them bill your card $8.95 over the phone! Suspect it's a scam to grab your card info

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