PackRat
Senior Member
I got a new HP laptop in December and it has Windows 10 on it. The old one was Vista. The old one did not generate scam calls because scammers did not support that system either. So now I have been getting calls from "Jerry" or "Bob Smith" or "Steve"...with a distinctive Indian accent and the initial scratchy connection when I pick up the landline.
The usual scam, HP has noticed some virus activity on my op system (they don't do this and neither does Microsoft, they contact you via email not phone) and they obviously want me to give them control of my computer to search for any bank info or passwords and then charge me some money to "clean" the problem I never had.
Usually about 10am and 8pn PDT. Probably two to three times a week.
Persistent buggers at that...here is my menu of responses. (Never say "Yes" during the conversation, that's another scam the chick who says, "Can you hear me, I dropped my headset! giggle-giggle).
1) when they ask for me I say who is calling and then when they start their spiel I say I sold the computer weeks ago because they had called me to tell me it had so many bugs in it. That stops some right there.
2) the more persistent guy asks what computer I am now using I tell 'em the one at the Library. That stops the rest of them.
3) sometimes I tell them to hold on I need to get a pen and my credit card and then I set the phone down and go watch TV or something.
4) another favorite when they ask for me is to tell them "he's dead"...
5) telling them you'll have to call right back on the HP customer service or the Microsoft CS line freaks them out and they insist on you calling THEM on THEIR line. I promise I will and then forget them.
When I get bored, I turn on the radio at HIGH volume when they call and set the handset down next to them and yell that they need to turn down the music and that confuses them also. I found heavy metal music works better than the Symphony for this response.
I'm looking for a recording of some really scratchy interference (white noise) I can play at high volume in the background while I mess with them...
Now I understand why my cat still likes to play with the catnip infused mouse on the end of the string attached to the stick.....because he can.
The usual scam, HP has noticed some virus activity on my op system (they don't do this and neither does Microsoft, they contact you via email not phone) and they obviously want me to give them control of my computer to search for any bank info or passwords and then charge me some money to "clean" the problem I never had.
Usually about 10am and 8pn PDT. Probably two to three times a week.
Persistent buggers at that...here is my menu of responses. (Never say "Yes" during the conversation, that's another scam the chick who says, "Can you hear me, I dropped my headset! giggle-giggle).
1) when they ask for me I say who is calling and then when they start their spiel I say I sold the computer weeks ago because they had called me to tell me it had so many bugs in it. That stops some right there.
2) the more persistent guy asks what computer I am now using I tell 'em the one at the Library. That stops the rest of them.
3) sometimes I tell them to hold on I need to get a pen and my credit card and then I set the phone down and go watch TV or something.
4) another favorite when they ask for me is to tell them "he's dead"...
5) telling them you'll have to call right back on the HP customer service or the Microsoft CS line freaks them out and they insist on you calling THEM on THEIR line. I promise I will and then forget them.
When I get bored, I turn on the radio at HIGH volume when they call and set the handset down next to them and yell that they need to turn down the music and that confuses them also. I found heavy metal music works better than the Symphony for this response.
I'm looking for a recording of some really scratchy interference (white noise) I can play at high volume in the background while I mess with them...
Now I understand why my cat still likes to play with the catnip infused mouse on the end of the string attached to the stick.....because he can.
