Don't Be Fooled By Fake "Microsoft" Calls

"Microsoft" called our home first thing this morning and a nice gentlemen who claimed to be based in the UK informed me that our computers were full of nasty viruses and that they could help. I knew this man was telling porkies and tried to tell him so, but he was most insistent. If "Microsoft" call you, it almost certainly won't be, so don't fall for this scam. They simply want your financial details in return for their "help". Don't be fooled.

For a good lowdown on the scam and how to deal with it, look at this:

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/11/malwarebytes

Unfortunately,I forgot to use my favourite anti cold-calling phrase, of asking the caller if they'd like to find out more about Jesus. It often has such a powerful effect that they put the phone down on me. In this case, I reckon this guy could definitely do with His transforming help.

Comments

[k]

I spent a pleasant 20-30 mins with a similar call getting them to identify which of the 7 or 8 windows computers in the house (of varying vintages and versions of the OS). They got very confused over the which IP address, which machine name and which product key I should be looking for. I don't think they appreciated me wasting their time!

[GadgetVicar]

If I had the time, I'd have done the same, Kennedy. Well done to you! What disturbs me is these people playing on vulnerable people and fear.

[AJ]

Got one of these calls early last year, played along with them for abot 15 minutes - even opened up the laptop so they could here the startup tune. When it got to the point the pleasent asian sounding chap asked me to type in some code (i didn't), and tell him what was on the screen i told him i'd reached the refund page and I was typing in £50, as I informed him that was what had been scammed from my In Laws just a week or so earlier.
Cue silence then profanity (from him) then he hung up. Immediately I dialed 1471 which produced a mobile number that was passed onto the 'relevant people'. I'm afraid I was in 'smite' mode rather than something more forgiving.