When I get suspicious calls, I ask the caller to show me some proper identification, preferable a government issued picture ID.

[Rose76]

Shez,
If this guy does decide to give up on you with the "Windows" thing, he may be part of a ring of scammers who may decide to come at you again from a different angle, maybe using a different caller, perhaps a female next time. What I'm saying is that you might want to be extra wary of who's calling you for a while into the future, even if it doesn't sound like the thing you've just been going through. Somebody shady has got your number, and he may not be working alone. I wouldn't say "Get scared." just don't "get co-operative" with callers you don't know.

[Flooded]

And if the "windows" guy rings again tell him you have an iMac

[nonightowl]

Shez, I started a thread on a related topic:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=130078

I get a LOT of these "Unknown Callers" calling me. As annoying as it is/was, I never picked up. At one point, I turned the ringer off. I could see the Caller ID still (if you can call "Unknown Name" an ID), but at least I didn't get the ringing! Sometimes I'd get a recording with no company identification or what they want, but they want me to call THEM. NO WAY. If you have legitimate business, you leave a legitimate message. And the company name should show up on the ID, or at least a valid phone #. Out of curiousity, I've called these 800#'s from pay phones, and sometimes I got a message saying the number is disconnected! So beware of "Caller ID spoofing" on phone calls! Just like an e-mail, they want you to think that's where the call originated from!

I didn't want to make any "connection", so answering it tells them they made a connection, even if I put them on hold to waste their time. I think it "validates" my number, like "validating" an e-mail when you click on the "unsubscribe" link. In theory, you might be "subscribing" or "activating" your e-mail by doing that. It can "backfire" on you..

[nonightowl]

I forgot to say that, the only way you can be sure you're talking to someone who claims to be a legitimate business is if YOU initiate the call.

Otherwise, it can be anyone from anywhere, posing as a legitimate caller. Because of this, I think banks and other companies should know better than to call people. Too many scams out there. I've been getting calls from apparently AT&T, as it says so on the screen. But it may not really be THEM. I don't want to talk to them anyway, and if I ever do, I will initate the call! And call the # on my bill, not the one on the Caller ID!

I once got a calls several times a day for 3 weeks. It said "Unknown Caller" with no number displayed. There was never any message, until after 3 weeks or so. Then, I got a message from what sounded like a live person saying I "won a prize" and it's in my best interests to call them back. Got "scam written all over it!" I didn't enter any contest, so I didn't win anything.

I don't open unfamiliar e-mails, answer the door to someone I don't recognize, answer the intercom unless I'm expecting UPS or a guest, and I don't answer "Unknown Caller".

Shez,ya know,in reading this,I noticed that you don't attribute wisdom to yourself....you called yourself a "moron", used the term slowness,and said you weren't a quick thinker....but,I wanted to point out,you saw it as a concern and acted to avert any possible damage.That is smart imo,I find you to be wise.Try to be mindful of your treatment of yourself.People here care for you.I know you likely didn't mean any of it in some big way,but I just wanted to point it out.Hope it's ok with you.((((Shez)))))

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by wolfsong

Shez,ya know,in reading this,I noticed that you don't attribute wisdom to yourself....you called yourself a "moron", used the term slowness,and said you weren't a quick thinker....but,I wanted to point out,you saw it as a concern and acted to avert any possible damage.That is smart imo,I find you to be wise.Try to be mindful of your treatment of yourself.People here care for you.I know you likely didn't mean any of it in some big way,but I just wanted to point it out.Hope it's ok with you.((((Shez)))))

Shez, you are one of the nicest & wisest people I talk to on here!

[coldwutlulz]

I know how feel. I keep getting some calls from a man calling me Stephanie. He also said something about bills.