View Full Version : [Dixonary] OT: Can't We Get Rid of These?
Guerri Stevens
September 13th, 2015, 05:04 AM
I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
"Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
once and for all!
I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their heels
waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating system/computer
(they claim to have detected suspicious activity), telling them I don't
have a computer, etc.
I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to your
computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for them to
keep it up.
Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did it
work?
--
Guerri
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Paul Keating
September 13th, 2015, 05:09 AM
Guerri,
We get them about 5 times a month here in Holland, too. Not much to be done: our calls are from India, as I suspect yours are, and so there is little that can be done to shut them down. It's not a nice thing to recommend, but abuse gets them to ring off quickly.
> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
> "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
> computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
> understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
> once and for all!
> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
> wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their heels
> waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating system/computer
> (they claim to have detected suspicious activity), telling them I don't
> have a computer, etc.
> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to your
> computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for them to
> keep it up.
> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did it
> work?
> --
> Guerri
--
Paul Keating
The Hague
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Johnb - co.uk
September 13th, 2015, 07:20 AM
Guerri
they are a pita and often from Indian subcontinent. You may be able to
remove them if you do not otherwise have international calls. - I can't
do that because we have family in USA, Oz and NewZ
- my annoyance is two fold
a) many of mine are "international" but with a number like 0000000000 or
maybe just 1234 - The phone companies ought to be able to stop those -
but they don't
b)due to some international agreement, anyone anywhere can dial from
country A using code from country B - in other words the call appears o
originate somewhere other than it actually does.... many of ours begin
022 which is a sign that they can be forgotten but unfortunately for us
some London numbers are 022xxx so I can't just eliminate them
We are on what is called Telephone Preference Service" which is meant to
eliminate such calls ... One day recently we were out for 8 hours -
(my first chemo) and the phone showed 27 calls and every single on of
them was "international", "call", "withheld" or an "022! number - all
crap (excuse my frustration) - the problem with TPS is that it can only
deal with calls originating in the UK
It is very noticeable that the volume of such calls has seriously
increased since our dearly beloved government said it was now an
offence to make such calls... on their election platform - political
wish thinking with no way to implement it
*JohnnyB
*
On 13/09/2015 11:04, Guerri Stevens wrote:
> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
> "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
> computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
> understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
> once and for all!
>
> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
> wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their
> heels waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating
> system/computer (they claim to have detected suspicious activity),
> telling them I don't have a computer, etc.
>
> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to
> your computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for
> them to keep it up.
>
> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did
> it work?
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Christopher Carson
September 13th, 2015, 11:56 AM
I usually tell them that I’m running Windows in a virtual space on a Unix box. This often leads them into a hilarious circle of confusion. If it goes on a little, I’ll apologize profusely and comment that I’m having real difficulty understanding their English and ask to speak to a supervisor with better language skills. It all depends on how much time I want to mess with them.
Chris
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Daniel Widdis
September 13th, 2015, 12:10 PM
I tell them I'm a lawyer and my time costs them $5 per minute and ask for their credit card.
They hang up on me.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 13, 2015, at 3:04 AM, Guerri Stevens <guerri (AT) guerristevens (DOT) com> wrote:
>
> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down once and for all!
>
> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their heels waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating system/computer (they claim to have detected suspicious activity), telling them I don't have a computer, etc.
>
> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to your computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for them to keep it up.
>
> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did it work?
> --
> Guerri
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Dodi Schultz
September 13th, 2015, 02:27 PM
I love it! Gotta remember that for the next intrusive call from whoever.
(Those people don't call me, but I'm now getting little once-a-day pop-ups
letting me know that the wonderful Win 10 is available; I use that little
"X" at the upper right corner.)
—Dodi
On 9/13/2015 1:10 PM, Dan Widdis wrote:
> I tell them I'm a lawyer and my time costs them $5 per minute and ask for their credit card.
>
> They hang up on me.
>
>
>> On Sep 13, 2015, at 3:04 AM, Guerri Stevens <guerri (AT) guerristevens (DOT) com> wrote:
>>
>> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down once and for all!
>>
>> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their heels waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating system/computer (they claim to have detected suspicious activity), telling them I don't have a computer, etc.
>>
>> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to your computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for them to keep it up.
>>
>> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did it work?
>> --
>> Guerri
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Dave Cunningham
September 13th, 2015, 02:48 PM
Latest version of my gentle response:
"I am sorry - but I am having problems with the Q5 graphics interface on
my beta of Windows 12 - do you have a new driver for it?"
Bafflegab works on those poor folks who prey mainly on the elderly.
The meaner system is to ask for their company's tax identification number
....
Dave
On Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 6:04:58 AM UTC-4, Guerri wrote:
> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
> "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
> computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
> understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
> once and for all!
>
> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
> wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their heels
> waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating system/computer
> (they claim to have detected suspicious activity), telling them I don't
> have a computer, etc.
>
> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to your
> computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for them to
> keep it up.
>
> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did it
> work?
> --
> Guerri
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Dodi Schultz
September 13th, 2015, 03:32 PM
That's a nice one, too!
On 9/13/2015 3:48 PM, Dave Cunningham wrote:
> Latest version of my gentle response:
>
> "I am sorry - but I am having problems with the Q5 graphics interface on
> my beta of Windows 12 - do you have a new driver for it?"
>
>
> Bafflegab works on those poor folks who prey mainly on the elderly.
>
>
> The meaner system is to ask for their company's tax identification number ...
>
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 6:04:58 AM UTC-4, Guerri wrote:
>
> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
> "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
> computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
> understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
> once and for all!
>
> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
> wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their heels
> waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating system/computer
> (they claim to have detected suspicious activity), telling them I don't
> have a computer, etc.
>
> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to your
> computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for them to
> keep it up.
>
> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did it
> work?
> --
>
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Guerri Stevens
September 14th, 2015, 05:01 AM
Interesting, because the calls have U.S. phone numbers, or appear to do
so. I saw a note somewhere saying that because we can keep our phone
numbers wherever we go the area code is no longer a reliable indicator
of location! This sounds weird to me to want to do that if moving to a
different area of the country, but evidently people do. So I guess I can
assume that these calls are not originating here in the U.S. as I
previously thought.
Guerri
On 9/13/2015 8:20 AM, Johnb - co.uk wrote:
> Guerri
>
> they are a pita and often from Indian subcontinent. You may be able to
> remove them if you do not otherwise have international calls. - I
> can't do that because we have family in USA, Oz and NewZ
>
> - my annoyance is two fold
> a) many of mine are "international" but with a number like 0000000000
> or maybe just 1234 - The phone companies ought to be able to stop
> those - but they don't
> b)due to some international agreement, anyone anywhere can dial from
> country A using code from country B - in other words the call appears
> o originate somewhere other than it actually does.... many of ours
> begin 022 which is a sign that they can be forgotten but
> unfortunately for us some London numbers are 022xxx so I can't just
> eliminate them
>
> We are on what is called Telephone Preference Service" which is meant
> to eliminate such calls ... One day recently we were out for 8 hours
> - (my first chemo) and the phone showed 27 calls and every single on
> of them was "international", "call", "withheld" or an "022! number -
> all crap (excuse my frustration) - the problem with TPS is that it can
> only deal with calls originating in the UK
>
> It is very noticeable that the volume of such calls has seriously
> increased since our dearly beloved government said it was now an
> offence to make such calls... on their election platform - political
> wish thinking with no way to implement it
> *JohnnyB
>
> *
> On 13/09/2015 11:04, Guerri Stevens wrote:
>> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
>> "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
>> computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
>> understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
>> once and for all!
>>
>> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
>> wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their
>> heels waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating
>> system/computer (they claim to have detected suspicious activity),
>> telling them I don't have a computer, etc.
>>
>> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to
>> your computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for
>> them to keep it up.
>>
>> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did
>> it work?
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2015.0.6086 / Virus Database: 4419/10632 - Release Date: 09/13/15
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Dixonary" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com
> <mailto:dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com>.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Guerri Stevens
September 14th, 2015, 05:03 AM
I like that! One time I suggested my husband should listen in because
the caller undoubtedly had valuable information and I claimed that my
husband was an FBI agent. Didn't seem to bother the caller, but then he
may not have known what the FBI is.
Guerri
On 9/13/2015 1:10 PM, Daniel Widdis wrote:
> I tell them I'm a lawyer and my time costs them $5 per minute and ask for their credit card.
>
> They hang up on me.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Dave Cunningham
September 14th, 2015, 04:45 PM
They know enough to spoof their location -- last few have officially been
from Winnipeg <g>, the bastion of Windows expertise.
Dave
On Monday, September 14, 2015 at 6:01:22 AM UTC-4, Guerri wrote:
> Interesting, because the calls have U.S. phone numbers, or appear to do
> so. I saw a note somewhere saying that because we can keep our phone
> numbers wherever we go the area code is no longer a reliable indicator
> of location! This sounds weird to me to want to do that if moving to a
> different area of the country, but evidently people do. So I guess I can
> assume that these calls are not originating here in the U.S. as I
> previously thought.
>
> Guerri
> On 9/13/2015 8:20 AM, Johnb - co.uk wrote:
> > Guerri
> >
> > they are a pita and often from Indian subcontinent. You may be able to
> > remove them if you do not otherwise have international calls. - I
> > can't do that because we have family in USA, Oz and NewZ
> >
> > - my annoyance is two fold
> > a) many of mine are "international" but with a number like 0000000000
> > or maybe just 1234 - The phone companies ought to be able to stop
> > those - but they don't
> > b)due to some international agreement, anyone anywhere can dial from
> > country A using code from country B - in other words the call appears
> > o originate somewhere other than it actually does.... many of ours
> > begin 022 which is a sign that they can be forgotten but
> > unfortunately for us some London numbers are 022xxx so I can't just
> > eliminate them
> >
> > We are on what is called Telephone Preference Service" which is meant
> > to eliminate such calls ... One day recently we were out for 8 hours
> > - (my first chemo) and the phone showed 27 calls and every single on
> > of them was "international", "call", "withheld" or an "022! number -
> > all crap (excuse my frustration) - the problem with TPS is that it can
> > only deal with calls originating in the UK
> >
> > It is very noticeable that the volume of such calls has seriously
> > increased since our dearly beloved government said it was now an
> > offence to make such calls... on their election platform - political
> > wish thinking with no way to implement it
> > *JohnnyB
> >
> > *
> > On 13/09/2015 11:04, Guerri Stevens wrote:
> >> I'm talking about those phone calls from someone claiming to be from
> >> "Windows Support" and wanting to help you with a problem on your
> >> computer. They stopped for awhile, but now they are back I don't
> >> understand why an appropriate governmental body cannot shut them down
> >> once and for all!
> >>
> >> I try various strategies to waste their time, such as telling them to
> >> wait while I turn my computer on and just letting them cool their
> >> heels waiting for me, asking them to identify my operating
> >> system/computer (they claim to have detected suspicious activity),
> >> telling them I don't have a computer, etc.
> >>
> >> I know it's a scam of some kind to get you to allow them access to
> >> your computer and it must work enough times to make it worthwhile for
> >> them to keep it up.
> >>
> >> Has anyone tried reporting this and if so, to whom, and how well did
> >> it work?
> >
> > No virus found in this message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> > Version: 2015.0.6086 / Virus Database: 4419/10632 - Release Date:
> 09/13/15
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> > Groups "Dixonary" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> > an email to dixonary+u... (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com <javascript:>
> > <mailto:dixonary+u... (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com <javascript:>>.
> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dixonary" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dixonary+unsubscribe (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
vBulletin® v3.7.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.