Scam calls

[KARL]

This is a duplicate of a posting under Law/Criminal. There is an outfit that calls our number from time to time and over a very poor VOIP line tell me that they have detected a very large number of unauthorised/error/wrong/etc. (depending on which call we refer to) signals/messages coming from my computer, would I please go to my computer and they will instruct me on how to look for the huge number of viruses that are on the computer. When I ask who they are they have previously said that they were from Windows Corporation although today they said they were Windows Support Group. This is of course a scam and I don't entertain it but I don't know what would be the best way to put a spanner in their works, ideally to the extent that they will stop altogether (not just bothering me). I have discussed the matter with the relevant local police department (who were interested) but they did not suggest any way to usefully expose them or even to track their whereabouts. The UK/BT telephone system is one of the most backward in the developed world in that it cannot display/provide numbers for calls made from abroad. The phishers say they are in he UK and give an address and at one stage I got an 0845 number for them, phoned it and got a similarly obviously South Asian voice, but different gender, saying they were a computer servicing company, I passed on the number to the police. Does anyone have any suggestions or interesting experience to relate ?

[Graham-W]

My Dad got the same call about a week ago. He just laughed at them and hung up.
He's 86 by the way, and has never owned a computer.

[Aquariel]

Graham's suggestion is a good one.

You could always do what I do - tell the caller to hold on a second, and then just put the receiver on the side and go off and do something else! See how long it takes them to get bored and hang up ...

Someone I know once tried the technique of using one of those soundboard things you find on various websites - voice samples from films of actors speaking various phrases. For example, you might get Arnold Schwarzenegger saying something like, "I will come down there and kill you!" - confuses the hell out of them.

These scam callers are scumbags who deserve to be wound up as much as possible!

[VHG]

I have had 3 of these calls I dont think you can ever stop them.

Seems to me somebody is selling names / address / phone number lists to these scammers so they can just ring up as often as they like.

As more and call centres are placed abroad (India etc) it is fairly easy for the people who work in the IT department to copy a list of the people in their customer database on to DVD and then sell it to scammers / criminals.

I would think careflluy before getting too involved. These people are criminals and if you start to upset them too much you never know what may happen.

I am not saying nothing should be done but it is up to the telephone companies, the people who "run" the interent, the police and government departments to stop this sort of thing, not individuals.

One suggestion if you get these calls is to get a loud whistle, or maybe one those klaxon horns, and blast it down the line hoping to damage their ear drums..

[boxtops]

I answered this under your other thread - you can't stop them calling but you can just hang up, or decline to answer the phone if you have caller ID. They are after your money, nothing at all to do with Microsoft or Windows.

[joshuareil]

To prevent VoIP phone call scams then take advantage of your serivce call management feature like: call blocking, call screening, caller ID, real-time call controller, voicemail, answering rules, etc.

Source(s):
http://www.legaltollf...ools/phone-calls.html

[Mosaic]

If you feel like prolonging the call, confusing the caller and wasting their time, try 'I'd like to share with you my joy at finding the Lord Jesus. Do you mind if I talk to you for a few minutes?'

[starone]

Love your answer mosaic. As soon as they start I yell b****r off down the phone and hang up. Don't even bother to listen to their rubbish.

[Jemisa]

I've had these phone calls too. In fact i discussed it on here a few months ago.
The calls I recieved were insistant, I'd put the phone down on them and they'd ring ring right back. I took the advice of one poster who said interupt them and leave the phone off the hook while they wait for you to come back. They soon get the message.
No calls since Thank goodness.

jem