You've Got to Get a Better Scam...

[A short report of a minor event several days ago]

Brrriiinnnggg! Brrriiinnnggg!

Brrriiinnnggg! Brrriiinnnggg!

Not a number I recognize. I don't answer these.

Brrriiinnnggg! Brrriiinnnggg!

I'll let the answering machine get it.

Brrriiinnnggg! Brrriiinnnggg!

"Hello?"

"Hello. I need to inform you that your computer is not responding to Microsoft security protocols." (I'm paraphrasing.)

"Oh. That doesn't surprise me because I'm running a Linux operating system, not Microsoft."

"Sorry; I must have a wrong number." *Click*

It's nice when the scam is blatantly transparent.

Having been sucked in recently by a scammer I find myself angry at their arrogance.

But before that.... I pay for a phone for me to use not to be harrassed by others for things I don't want to know about.

And lastly.

I do love the fact that you have taught your dog the command fetch Rohag. It made me laugh. Does he use it often?

I run Linux also. I have Windows 7 but hardly ever use it. What version of Linux are you running? I'm on elementaryOS..

Anyways, I too have had annoying phone calls regarding computer stuff, the most recent one was regarding my "Apple Experience" and if I'd talk to them about recieving my prize. I don't own anything Apple.

Just a quick follow up: Since first posting this experience back in January 2014, these same people have contacted me several additional times including today. Each time I try to get more information, and it's apparent they represent one of several "phone tech support scams."

Here's an example of how they work: Phone scammers call the wrong guy, get mad and trash PC, April 11, 2013

Important: Do not download remote access software (TeamViewer - a legitimate Windows/Mac program - is what they tried to get me to use) and grant computer access to anyone you cannot absolutely verify.

Nice one.

Contact the police.

{ Kein Teufel }
Translation: Not a devil
[ `id -u` -eq 0 ] || exit 1

They call a lot here and since we're not native English speakers here they start with asking if you speak English. I then continue to tell them, in English, that I don't know any English, never spoken it my entire life...

I am still getting scammers at least once a week saying they will disconnect my computer. (Or they are from the tax office or the goverment who want to give me money - not likely). When i told them that I had heard this three times before they hung up on me.

Maybe I should start talking to them in an accent jimi?

I got a call yesterday...calls, actually...once every half hour for a couple hours, from a 'unknown' number (blocked) I don't answer if I don't know who it is so I let it go to voice mail which was never used. Finally, I answered the phone and some guy, obviously foreign started his shpeel...I told him, to never call my number again. He said 'Watch your language young lady!!' in a nasty tone. (I didn't swear, although I sure wanted to)

Seriously? I said, again 'do NOT call this number again, or I will report you.'

He said, 'you cannot report me. And I will call you every five minutes until you answer'

I was furious, to say the least. I said, "Fine, please DO call me every five minutes. You've told me the name of the company you represent so I will get you fired. Call me in 2 minutes. I have a police officer standing right here and he'd LOVE to talk to you. Go on. Hang up....call in two minutes."

He hung up, sputtering and never called back...funny thing is, I was at work and I actually DID have a cop standing next to me. Too kewl, brewster!!

Btw...I get the 'computer calls' on the work phone all the time. They're automated so I just hang up, but ffs...really???? Does ANYONE buy anything from automated robo calls???

Favorite responses to toner pirates, who usually open with "I need to doublecheck the make and model of your copier":

"You always wanna be a toner pirate when you grew up?"

"We'll need to find a currency exchange vendor who can trade dollars for pieces of eight, pirate!"

The one lately I have been getting is that I have a relative that has passed that has left me a considerable amount of money, they won't say who the relative is, and won't send me anything in writing without me giving me a social, my date of birth, and processing fee. Given that I only have handful of relatives, know they are still alive, I never give out that info, and know they never ask for a fee for this kind of stuff if in fact there are things willed.... I guess my long lost relative will have to leave that supposed money to someone else; too bad though, it might have been nice to have known about them given how small the family actually is. What will they come up with next?!

Thanks for these posts. This is info we need to be aware of.