topic Re: Computer scam in Among Friends

Computer scam

Group 5 minus 1 — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:32:36 GMT

Last night we recieved a phone call asking us to turn on our computer and this caller or company would fix it. DH said we had our on guy who helps w/ ou computer and refused to do it. Anyone else receive a call like this?

Re: Computer scam

KingstonsMom — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:43:23 GMT

Not recently, but we have in the past. We just responded with, "We don't have a computer" and they just hang up!

Re: Computer scam

January121 — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:47:25 GMT

It's a scam .... usually the call is made by foreigners who tell you their name is John Smith ( lol) & they can't even clearly speak English ... I " play" with them and let them go on and on and pretend I believe them ... then at the end when they want all my info to take over my laptop I tell them that I don't even have one!!!!! lol lol ha ha to them ... they get very mad and sometimes their " boss" will call me back and tell me that I upset his worker .... I tell them where to go & hang up!!!! ... do you believe this .... they bother us & when we tell them where to go they get mad!!!!!!!!!

....

debic — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:55:32 GMT

Unfortunately the elderly often fall for this. I know one person who did and once they have control of your computer they want a large fee to fix the problem or you don't get back control of it. My friend just laughed and unplugged her computer and called them a few choice words. Fortunately it was on it's last legs anyway.

Re: ....

ladyroxanne — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:30:39 GMT

i got this call several months ago and hung up on him. our computer guy said if they get into your computer they will freeze it up until you pay some outrageous sum of money.

people need to be very careful.

Re: Computer scam

ROMARY — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:33:10 GMT

I had a few of those calls a couple of years ago.........I didn't 'play along', but it would be fun. Pretending to try to follow each of their steps/instructions, etc., but not quite 'understanding', pretending to press/click the wrong buttons, etc., etc. I wouldn't turn on my computer at all, BTW.

Re: Computer scam

fthunt — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:44:47 GMT

Yes, "JOHN" has called me about 3 times - he says my computer is giving off a signal that everybody can pick up. First time you get a little scared - and then thinking it through - of course my computer is giving off a signal - that's how I connect to the internet! LOL

I've also let him go on and on and then tell him I don't have a computer. Another time I gave him choice words and hung up. These people don't give up - expect John to call in the future.

Re: Computer scam

panda1234 — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:53:57 GMT

I have had these calls also. They will ask for Steve, my husband and when I say Steve is not home, they ask when "she" will be back. Since they are not American, they do not know what names are male and which are female.

Re: Computer scam

bonnielu — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 17:39:26 GMT

They pretend they are from Microsoft. They have an accent and I get lots of these. The first few times I PLAY along telling them that I gave my computer away, or it is still in a box, or I need a new one and what should I buy. I time the conversation and am in competition with myself for how long I can keep them on the phone.

Yesterday I got three calls, same number. I finally blocked it. I had lots of fun in the past but didn't want to play along anymore.

They are a scam, coming from another country and will do major damage as well as get infomation from you if you let them do a REMOTE connection. They will try to charge big bucks for something that does not need fixing.

Re: Computer scam

GCR18 — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 20:16:25 GMT

That hasn't hit here yet. If I didn't call you, I don't do what you ask. That is if I answer the phone in the first place.

Re: Computer scam

chrystaltree — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 21:27:48 GMT

I heard about schemes like that; the goal is to take control of your computer and they hold it hostage until you pay the ransom. Sadly, some people fall for this scheme. They'll do anything an authority figure tells them to do.

Re: Computer scam

Fona — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 23:54:35 GMT

The one that amuses me is the John who calls me and tells me he is from WINDOWS and that they have discovered a big problem on my computer, and then he ends with "Do you understand...?" [So far, all I have said is Hello, but I guess I must sound dumb anyway (lol)...!!!] I simply raise my voice and yell that he should be ashamed of himself and to get off my line, and I hang up. So far, he has called me about four times and gets the same response every time. Going by his using "Windows" and "Do I Understand", I do wonder though just how much information these people already have, and whether he already knows he is talking to a senior. I worry about the seniors who believe this stuff .

Re: Computer scam

dex — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 23:40:36 GMT

Just say that your windows are clean...housekeeper was in yesterday.

Re: Computer scam

apple1964 — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:27:19 GMT

Never had any of these calls. But, if I did get one of these calls I would be too clever for them to fool me.. that is for sure.