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Thread: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

  1. #1
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    Thumbs down Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    Well, I've just had a second call in as many weeks from the scammers trying to hijack my computer.

    By the way, the caller ID shows no telephone number. Obviously.

    The first time:

    Hello, is that Mr Landau?
    - Yes.
    I am calling from [somecompany] about your computer.
    - What does your company have to do with my computer?
    Well, we have discovered that your computer is infected with a virus.
    - @$%! off. (I hang up)
    In hindsight, I realised that I could have wasted his time, delaying him for at least a few minutes from messing up someone else's computer.

    So...

    The second time:

    A few minutes ago I got another call. This time, I pretended to be curious. Here is an abbreviated version of the conversation.

    Press the Start button. Do you see My Documents?
    - No.
    Press Start. Do you see the Run command?
    - No.
    What do you see?
    - Accessories; Games; Graphics; Internet; Office; Other; PlayOnLinux (that should have given him a clue); Programming; Sound & Video; System Tools; Wine.
    Do you have the Windows flag button?
    - Yes, I do.
    Please shut down all your windows.
    - OK, hold on, let me save what I'm doing... Right, I've closed all my windows.

    Press the Windows flag button and R at the same time.
    - OK.
    Do you get a small window or a large one?
    - Nothing happened.
    Do you have Windows 7?
    - No.
    Do you have Windows XP?
    - No, I don't believe I do.
    Is it a laptop or desktop?
    - Laptop.
    How old is the computer?
    - Um, I got it in 2008. Three years old.
    (Pause... he hangs up!)
    So...

    My question is, what could a person do in preparation for the next call, to waste as much time as possible of these deceitful scammers? The more time we waste, the less time they have to mess with a more gullible person.

    I did think of using Windows in a Virtual Box, but I don't have Windows. Although, if I did, it would run very slow on my computer, making it excitingly time-wasting!
    Always make regular backups of your data (and test them).
    Visit Full Circle Magazine for beginners and seasoned Linux enthusiasts.

  2. #2
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    by all means, please post the name of this "company". there may be many more victims out there.
    Things are rarely just crazy enough to work, but they're frequently just crazy enough to fail hilariously.

  3. #3
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    This doesn't apply to just telephone virus scammers--I think the best way to waste the time of any telemarketers or phone scammers is this:

    Scammer: Hello, is that Mr. Landau?
    You: No. Hold on a minute. I'll go get him.

    Put the phone on mute and just leave it there.

  4. #4
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    The most fun is when you lead them along.

    'So, where are you?'
    'What's the weather like there?'
    'Ooh, sounds uncomfortable'
    'So in this weather, what underwear do you have on today?'

    100 points if you can get them to the last question without hanging up
    There's no place like ~/

  5. #5
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    Quote Originally Posted by aysiu View Post
    This doesn't apply to just telephone virus scammers--I think the best way to waste the time of any telemarketers or phone scammers is this:

    Scammer: Hello, is that Mr. Landau?
    You: No. Hold on a minute. I'll go get him.

    Put the phone on mute and just leave it there.
    That is funny.
    Start at 2:06 minutes for the phone scene.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhWav...eature=related





  6. #6
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    Or just call the cops saying scammers are calling you to try to get access to your pc.

    Or your phone provider if the cops are "busy".
    F1+2, DB 2, DB 21, FB 21, DB 2~F 1 FTW.

  7. #7
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    Quote Originally Posted by Retlol View Post
    Or just call the cops saying scammers are calling you to try to get access to your pc.

    Or your phone provider if the cops are "busy".
    The problem is that they phone from outside the country, and the police and the phone company have no powers over them. Assuming that they could trace them, which they can't. They are powerless to do anything about it.
    Always make regular backups of your data (and test them).
    Visit Full Circle Magazine for beginners and seasoned Linux enthusiasts.

  8. #8
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    Interesting. the Guardian pins it on Indian Call centers (but no good scam sticks with any nationality)

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...a-call-centres
    Things are rarely just crazy enough to work, but they're frequently just crazy enough to fail hilariously.

  9. #9
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    I've had at least 5 of these calls in the past 2 months. Yes, they are currently out of India, and they are trying to get into people's computers, either by getting you to enable Windows Remote Desktop or visiting a website that has their "anti-virus" software (you know, Anti-Virus 2011 or some such).

    The last one I had, a week or so ago, I kept the idiot on the phone for about 5 minutes, all the while verbally insulting him, telling him Interpol was tracing the call, questioning his parentage, and being generally nasty. The guy would not hang up. I had to end the call.

    My wife, who was sitting next to me at the time, said she wanted to play next time the scammers called. She wants to see how long she can keep them on the phone with things like 'the Start button? Is that the one with the Apple on it?'.
    This is a signature. It is original.

  10. #10
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    Re: Beating back the telephone virus scammers

    People still use a landline? How quaint . . .

    I'm using VOIP and I haven't had any cold calls and I doubt I will.

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