topic Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT...... in Community Chat

KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Cats3000 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:31:55 GMT

telling me that my Microsoft License will be discontinued unless I call back. Got the call x2 so far. I don't use Microsoft anything. Hung up.

For everyones' information.

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

vermint — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:38:56 GMT

I get those (and similar calls) all the time. My favorites are the ones that say Microsoft is going out of business and they want to refund me money, and the ones like you mentioned...some form of my license is about to expire, and my computer will be shut down if I don't do something immediately. Add to that the ones informing me that the warranty on my vehicle is about to expire--when I ask "which vehicle", they reply "the one you have there". All of these calls are made to my home number.

I don't have a computer at home, and our vehicles belong to our company, which is in another state from where we live..

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

mary0129 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:39:58 GMT

I get the same kind of call for my Apple products several times a week, some times several times a day. I have no Apple products. But I do love my Panasonic landline telephone set with a call block feature. It gets quite a work out.

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

luvmybeetle — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:55:46 GMT

These things are starting to get not only annoying but even funny. I got a call from a guy saying my Dell computer has a virus and if he can get into my computer he can fix it. My advise to him is that I don't have a Dell so how can I have a problem. He immediately hung up. I love it. Now I have a CPR Call Blocker from QVC so I don't have to listen to these jokers.

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Krimpette — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:03:08 GMT

I never know what their spiel might be, since I never answer the phone unless I recognize the number. If they don't leave a message, I block the call.

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

kaydee50 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:06:48 GMT

@Krimpette Exactly!

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

2blonde — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:29:23 GMT

Since I don't answer my phone (let the machine get it), I don't get to hear any of these unless they leave a message (the usually don't). I have gotten the Apple one, though, and I own no Apple products.

My Nomorobo used to stop most of these calls, but now I find a lot are getting through. I assume it's because they are not using a robo calling device......just picking on old people they assume are gullible....NOT!

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Othereeeen — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:59:09 GMT

Hey don't feel bad!!!

I'm going to jail because my Social Security number has been used to purchase illegal drugs!!! ANd now it's been CANCELLED!!!! I have to call the "involved officer" or I will be subject to a "no-bail" warrant for my arrest!!!

How do I know all this? I get these crazy pester calls almost daily, and I DON"T answer, but they leave these long detailed messages and a call back number. I am tempted to answer some time and string them along ("I'm an illegal alien and I don't have a SS number...can you get me one?!?!?!") but it's too much like work....

And I guess you never really know....if they have your phone number, maybe they have an address as well.....Just better off not rising to the bait....

Going back into hiding now before I get arrested!!!!

In all seriousness...I feel for those gullible people out there that fall for these schemes and there must be a lot of them or they'd stop pestering people.....

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Spurt — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:49:31 GMT

@Othereeeen wrote:
Hey don't feel bad!!!

I'm going to jail because my Social Security number has been used to purchase illegal drugs!!! ANd now it's been CANCELLED!!!! I have to call the "involved officer" or I will be subject to a "no-bail" warrant for my arrest!!!

How do I know all this? I get these crazy pester calls almost daily, and I DON"T answer, but they leave these long detailed messages and a call back number. I am tempted to answer some time and string them along ("I'm an illegal alien and I don't have a SS number...can you get me one?!?!?!") but it's too much like work....

And I guess you never really know....if they have your phone number, maybe they have an address as well.....Just better off not rising to the bait....

Going back into hiding now before I get arrested!!!!

In all seriousness...I feel for those gullible people out there that fall for these schemes and there must be a lot of them or they'd stop pestering people.....

@Othereeeen

Which jail are you going to Tomgirl? We need to know so we can email you a package and hide a nail file in it....

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Spurt — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:53:36 GMT

I get calls in my voice mail on my cell phone in Chinese with an English translation telling me there's a problem with my documents and I must pay a fine and I need to call the Chinese Consulate immediately!!! .... Ive never been to China and dont have a desire to go either....

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

mspatmac — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:55:16 GMT

I'm in all kinds of trouble.

1- Grandson in jail and I have to wire bail money right away (NOT)

2 - SS# compromised

3 - Microsoft computer has terrible virus and they need access to my computer (have apple)

4 - Back brace I called about is ready and they need cc number (never called)

5 - Want to sell medicare program

6 - IRS is after me

and on and on. All this on my cell phone as I no longer have a land line. Unless you're in my contact list or I recognize your name I don't answer. If the caller really wants to reach me they can leave a message. No message = call blocked. I am so sick and tired of these calls.

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

jackthebear — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:01:20 GMT

@Othereeeen wrote:
Hey don't feel bad!!!

I'm going to jail because my Social Security number has been used to purchase illegal drugs!!! ANd now it's been CANCELLED!!!! I have to call the "involved officer" or I will be subject to a "no-bail" warrant for my arrest!!!

How do I know all this? I get these crazy pester calls almost daily, and I DON"T answer, but they leave these long detailed messages and a call back number. I am tempted to answer some time and string them along ("I'm an illegal alien and I don't have a SS number...can you get me one?!?!?!") but it's too much like work....

And I guess you never really know....if they have your phone number, maybe they have an address as well.....Just better off not rising to the bait....

Going back into hiding now before I get arrested!!!!

In all seriousness...I feel for those gullible people out there that fall for these schemes and there must be a lot of them or they'd stop pestering people.....

usually they don't leave a message once a machine picks up I guess you are important

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Spurt — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:11:11 GMT

Here's a good current article regarding robo calls.....

We've had it with robocalls, but most don't use available tools to stop them

by Connie Thompson | KOMO News

Thursday, November 21st 2019

As you read this, thousands of robocalls will be made each second -- and most of those robocalls will be scams.

That's according to one robocall tracking company that says computers have been programmed to make 2,000 robocalls each second, and they're targeting consumer phones.

But aren't federal regulators and phone companies supposed to be doing something about this? The answer is, yes. But the solution is neither quick nor easy.

While many of the robocalls you get are launched from overseas, investigators say a lot of them are placed from phones in California and Florida.

Among the top robo-scams: bogus health insurance; bogus interest rate reduction; fake Social Security and IRS alerts; Chinese embassy impostors; and bogus student loan assistance.

Estimated losses to robocall and other phone scams hit $10.5 billion in 2018, according to spam call blocking company Truecaller.

Major carriers are under government pressure to adopt a digital system that verifies the number on your caller ID so you at least know that the caller isn't masking their real number with someone else's -- this is a common scammer trick known as "spoofing." The developing system, dubbed "STIR/SHAKEN" by the industry, will allow all the major carriers to identify spoofed calls that are being sent between carrier networks and override the spoof.

Phone companies say they're making good progress.

But based on the latest numbers, the overall robocall problem has gotten worse.

According to robocall blocking company YouMail's latest robocall index, robocalls dropped nationwide between March and June, then climbed steadily, spiking to 5.7 billion robocalls in October. That's more than 2,000 robocalls per second.

A lot of folks are doing stuff," explained YouMail CEO Alex Quilici. "Phone companies are trying to work on the problem, the FCC and the government's trying to work on the problem. Law enforcement's trying to work on the problem. The thing is -- it's a big problem."

Which puts the ball back in your court, because doing nothing is not your friend. Call your carrier, or go online and find out the latest free or low-cost robocall blocking services. The FCC says many phone customers are not aware of the available services that can reduce the annoyance.

You can also download a third- party robocall blocking app. Each carrier has different robocall-fighting tools and services so check with your carrier to see what they can offer to help stop these calls.........

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

Spurt — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:16:46 GMT

@mspatmac wrote:
I'm in all kinds of trouble.

1- Grandson in jail and I have to wire bail money right away (NOT)
2 - SS# compromised
3 - Microsoft computer has terrible virus and they need access to my computer (have apple)
4 - Back brace I called about is ready and they need cc number (never called)
5 - Want to sell medicare program
6 - IRS is after me
and on and on. All this on my cell phone as I no longer have a land line. Unless you're in my contact list or I recognize your name I don't answer. If the caller really wants to reach me they can leave a message. No message = call blocked. I am so sick and tired of these calls.

@mspatmac

You poor thing such a string of bad luck

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

kaydee50 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:34:15 GMT

I must be leading a charmed life because except for a couple of "Chinese" calls on my cellphone, I don't get anything like what is written about here. And I have both a cellphone and VOIP phone line. I have gotten popups on my computer from "Microsoft" saying my computer may have been compromised but on the advice of DH and my own common sense, I do not open these and just permanently delete them.

Re: KATHLEEN FROM MICROSOFT......

handygal2 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:51:14 GMT

I keep a “coach’s” type whistle near the phone. When l’m in a particularly feisty mood, if the Caller-ID identifies the call as “SPAM?” I’ll take the call. I let the scammer go through his song-and-dance, then blow the whistle into the phone as loudly as l can, and hang up. Lol. Maybe if enough people do this, these lowlifes will get a legitimate job!