Anyone ever been cold called by Microsoft because of an error report?

[k0pp0]

super scammage - my Mum has been rung twice by 'Microsoft'. After telling them that her son 'works in computers' they would hang up. I mentioned it to our Microsoft account manager and there's not alot they can do about it apparently..

[ucci]

I had one of those a while back. I told him that I was using the 3rd deployment of Frantal-X, a holistic-based operating system. He didn't seem to understand what I was talking about and got a bit shirty.

That is the best answer and one I have written in pen on the noticeboard by the phone. Cheers Wil.

[beecee]

I had one of those a while back. I told him that I was using the 3rd deployment of Frantal-X, a holistic-based operating system. He didn't seem to understand what I was talking about and got a bit shirty.

That is the best answer and one I have written in pen on the noticeboard by the phone. Cheers Wil.

love it.. quality reply, do think if we get enough people to give the same reply, they would actually believe it's real? and start to ponder thier pittifull existance...

had loads of these type calls for other things, but gonna try and keep a note and use that reply!

[EJG1980]

Bah, I wanna get one of these calls now! I'm not gonna get any work done this afternoon now, I'm just gonna spend my time working out comedy replies in case I'm fortunate enough to receive one of these calls.

[C']

Yeah this is quite a common scam. We get a call here every couple of months or so.

I think it's the same thing detailed here:

http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/supportonclick-systemrecure-scam

[beecee]

thought i was in last night.. but it was "cant i speak to the satellite tv owner please" - i'm with cable-click!

[Solar]

I'm very surprised no one here, when asked what PC they have, have replied with "A neronet processor, a learning computer".
Guaranteed to hang up every time.

[Ginger Tosser]

I might create a Windows 95 Virtual Machine for them to connect to should they call up again. It'll be interesting.

Wonder what they'd think if the VM had a large cock as the wallpaper?

[Lyris]

I got the call today!

It was some foreign-sounding (specific, I know) lady telling me to type "INF UNWANTED" into my Windows Run dialog box. I strung her along for a while and played the game - "Oh no! I have unwanted files on my computer? That's awful" before I laid into her.

I told her that by impersonating Microsoft she was probably committing a crime, and she was certainly in the wrong by calling me since I've registered for the telephone preference service. Then she changed her story and said she wasn't from Microsoft and that she was from one of their "Service providers". I asked her if she thought I was stupid. Eventually, when I asked her, "how would you know if I had an issue with computer just by phoning me?", she hung up.

If anyone gets the call, please waste as much of their time as possible. It's hugely entertaining.

I almost felt embarassed for her. I made better prank calls than that when I was 13.

[charlesr]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/28/cold_call_scareware_scam_targets_mac_fanbois/

Now with added Mac Attack.

[eastyy]

i want to get one of these calls...so i can string it out as long as possible and then at the end will say "by the way during this period i have actually tracked where you are calling from "

[egparadigm]

Maybe another approach would be to play along, but occasionally throw in the odd comment to make them nervous.

Me: "What's that, PC Rogers? Yes, I'm keeping them on the line..."
Scammer: "What did you say?"
Me: "Oh, nothing..."
Me: "Have we got a lock on their location yet?"

[Skull Commander]

Maybe another approach would be to play along, but occasionally throw in the odd comment to make them nervous.

Me: "What's that, PC Rogers? Yes, I'm keeping them on the line..."
Scammer: "What did you say?"
Me: "Oh, nothing..."
Me: "Have we got a lock on their location yet?"

I'm using this one next time. That's ace!

[randombs]

That Sophos guy's a twat. Mac lovers? People who use Windows aren't called Windows lovers, they'll just be called PC users or Windows users. Does every Mac user have to love it?