armageddon

[aspiring]

ive just had some demented lowlife on the phone trying to talk me through doing some bizarre caper with my computer and when i refused he said my computer would be dead within two hours,when i asked him where he was based he said london,when asked where in london he said east london,when asked where in east london he became defensive and hung up....should i take my computer down to the shelter and hope that the end of the world passes me by?

 

[JKW]

Telephone phishing

ive just had some demented lowlife on the phone trying to talk me through doing some bizarre caper with my computer and when i refused he said my computer would be dead within two hours,when i asked him where he was based he said london,when asked where in london he said east london,when asked where in east london he became defensive and hung up....should i take my computer down to the shelter and hope that the end of the world passes me by?

Annoying this one. There are some people now trying telephone phishing. One lot call using Microsoft's name and say that they have information that your computer is being used without your knowledge at night - two of my mates in the Bradford area have had this call in the last week or so. They ask for the IP address of your PC and then, if you're daft enough to give it and not slam the phone down on them, will start digging for more info.

My guess is that they are looking for specific targets (i.e. those who follow instructions from anyone who calls them up ) to plant some spyware on to get bank/credit card etc. log-in details.

 

[aspiring]

he wanted me to hold the windows button and the "r" key at the same time but wouldnt telll me the next bit until i had done it

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Tell em you have a Mac clickrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[john1215]

Windows key+R starts the "Run" command. Definitely sounds iffy but if you have adequate AV and firewall protection they have to get through that first.

 

[roddy]

but if you have adequate AV and firewall protection they have to get through that first.

Will be of no use if your the one opening the door to them

 

[skyenet]

Take a chill pill and wind them up, pretty easy to do as them seem to be in the far east somewhere, and not the far east of London.

My record for winding them up before THEY put the phone down was 15 minutes. Though having Skye in the background, killing herself laughing at my comments egged me on. On New Years eve the guy realised I was taking the piss and then started talking to me about how I was celebrating New Year and what we were eating. Phoned me back just after the bells to wish me a happy new year.

I have Macs anyway but when they ask if I have Windows I say yes. Quite a bit later in the conversation I say I am mixed up and thought they were selling Double Glazing to stop virus blowing in.

Of course if you don't have the time or inclination to wind them up just put the phone down. Unluckily being on BT Preference Database doesn't seem to stoop their calls. They are about the only sales calls I ever get.

 

[aspiring]

all good and fair points,but just so you all know he was definetly african.i already know no one is surprised by this

 

[Shep]

My dad is getting the same sort of hassel, he's mid 80's and very trusting, its a big worry for him ( and me).

I told him to ignore the call and if they were persistant just give them my number and i'll deal with it, can't think of much more that i can do, he is not very computer literate and is easily confused