Scammer fun

[bunyip]

Phone rings and a very noisy background that didn稚 sound like the usual call centre, a sub continent accent tells me it is Telstra (one of our Telcos but not mine) and I have a problem with my computer.
I said I am sitting at my keyboard what do I do so he gives instructions to type in www, etc etc etc followed by some exec/etc etc etc, can稚 remember all the details.
I ask him to repeat and say I am going to speaker phone so I can use two hands.
He seems happy with this and relays instructions, I say I have entered all of this he then tells me to hit enter, where is enter, it is on the right of the keyboard, I said there is no enter button so he said is there a return, I said yes and he told me to hit this, I said I did and a bell rang.
Somewhat mystified he asked what my OS was, I said I don稚 know what an OS is, he tried to explain and I acted all mystified and confused then asked what brand I was using, I said it was a Remington, now he was confused and asked how old it was, I told him it was at least 50 years old and the best typewriter I had ever owned, he then told me to get f##### and hung up.
This protracted conversation actually went on for about 15 minutes and Gungha Din was getting quite frustrated, I thought my apparent confusion was quite well executed.
Rosemary had some difficulty containing herself during the conversation.
The question is now should I report his rudeness to Telstra?

 

[Alan W.]

Good one. Glad to hear we arent the only ones with this problem.
I came home one day and the IRS had left me a threatening voicemail. Gonna get the local cops to arrest me if I dont call back. So I called back. When they answered I asked if this was the IRS India field office. They hung up. After I made 4 more calls back with my colorful banter they blocked my number.

 

[JohnBuffaloMN]

I like the Craigslist ads for tractors that are really close to feeling legitimate, but the price seems "too good to be true". Then when you respond, it's someone selling the tractor for his sister and you can contact her at her email address. I got reeled in on a car once with this strategy as well. The scammers that get you to call have really well scripted dialogue and it fools a lot of people who are used to trust and good will. I think nothing short of capital punishment for people who swindle and steal and cost others time, effort and downtime. The crypto locker $#@#$ should be waterboarded first, then put down.

 

[mark02tj]

I used to mess with them, but the calls became so frequent that I just hang up now. I usually question their ****** orientation - that seems to really ruffle a lot of feathers in those cultures. :laughing:



Due to my job, I am often in the offices of our local, rural PD. Was in there one day and a local resident came to turn himself in due to one of those IRS calls. Said he knew he wasn't behind on his taxes, but just wanted to make sure that there hadn't been a warrant issued for him by mistake.

There is a special place in **** for these people. It's the elderly that usually fall victim to them. We had another local resident who was taken by the scam where they have someone pretending to be a grandchild that's in jail somewhere and needs bailed out. They only put the "grandchild" on the phone for a second and then the "police officer" takes over. They sent this poor old guy to the local Apple store for an iTunes gift card in the amount of $1500 IIRC. He called them back with the numbers off the card and WHAM! - the money is gone. When they sent him back for another card because "the judge increased the bail amount", the Apple store employee got suspicious and saved him further loss.

 

[oosik]

Many years ago - around 10pm on a Friday night. Over a period of about 15 minutes I get three phone calls - all from the same man - obviously quite concerned and somewhat intoxicated. He is asking if his wife Harriet - is at the party. Finally - on the third, and final call - I say - "No, Harriet is no longer here - she left with the plumber to get her nipples rethreaded". No more calls.

 

[oosik]

Howling - - I can see you enjoy this and take "scamming" to an all new level of entertainment. Of particular humor - "spell your name" & "color of panties". I shall remember...........

 

[thepumpguysc]

They are getting bolder & bolder..
I had my secretary put it on speaker phone while she messed w/ him.. {he had called 3x in a row..}
He got so frustrated he said, and I quote.. " I'll stop calling you, if I can {blank} you in the {blank}"
NO KIDDING !!! he actually said that.. I heard it..
It sounded hilarious w/ a foreign accent..

 

[Howling]

Long time ago a telemarketer called me back a said it was rude to just hang up on her. So I got really rude to her and hung up again. From that point on telemarketers and scammer are fair game.

I also react poorly to scare or pressure marketing. Currently getting quotes to replace my house and shop roofs. Got letter from "Roofing News" (no return address) about lawsuit on specific brand of shingles. Google: window to claim closed in 2011. Strike against quote that came in with same spelling error in my address.

 

[thepumpguysc]

The latest I've been getting is , woman caller>> "hey Mike, hows it going?? WOW, your harder to get ahold of than my husband when he's out playing golf".. I guess they expect a laugh?? Then its> "the reason I'm calling is, bla bla bla.." usually about breast cancer..
THEN I get a the GUY calling who starts the same way>> "Hey Mike. hows it going?? WOW, your harder to get ahold of than my WIFE when she's out shopping"..
I should tellm, I found your wife.. she's making stupid telemarketer calls.!! lol..

 

[oosik]

I have a procedure here, at home, that has ALMOST TOTALLY eliminated unwanted calls. My cell phone (only phone also) is ALWAYS OFF - unless I am making a phone call. I do seriously try to remember to turn my cell phone on every day or so - to see if any messages have been left that are worth a return call.

Telemarketers learn quickly.

 

[JohnBuffaloMN]

You guys crack me up :laughing:

I've gone to leaving my phone in "Do Not Disturb" mode so only contacts will be able to make noise. I'm sure they'll eventually use someone's number and end up getting through

 

[cqaigy2]

I don't mess with the telemarketers, don't do business with them, but try not to be rude, but the scammers are fair game.

Running linux when a person calls, preporting to be from Windows. Apparently, my computer had an 'error' and i needed to run a number of commands to fix it. Asked what the error was and given a non-answer. We went thru the usual, ignorance on my end, exasperation on his end before he figured to ask me what OS i was running. I started a conversation with him while typing MS OS commands on my linux machine, asking about his education, how his parents were, then what did he think his mother would think about stealing from others. He tried to say he was not stealing, but i argued that i didn't have the OS his so called 'error' would indicate and that he wasn't providing a service, but actually trying to exploit someones ignorance. He finally confessed and said his mother would be very angry with him and said he was sorry and bid be well before saying good bye.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I try not to be rude to telemarketers too.. they're just doing a job, for the most part.. & who in their right mind would actually WANT to do that job if it wasn't an absolute necessity?? so "TRY" not to be to rude to them..
The way I handle it is.. I just interrupt them, thank them for calling at this UNGODLY HOUR & PLEASE take me off your list.. & I hang up..
It doesn't work.. but I feel better about myself.. Lol
Now like CQ said.. scammers are open season..

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
That's my thought, also. I simply say that I'm not interested and hang up. With caller ID though, I rarely answer the phone unless I know who's calling; and my landline phone has a feature that allows me to block phone numbers.

 

[PILOON]

Best reply is to answer the phone------ "Sheriff's dep't, how may we be of assistance?"

Another is---------"City morgue"

 

[bunyip]

my landline phone has a feature that allows me to block phone numbers.

So does mine but they often call on a private number or the number will be one of a bank of many they have with the last 2 digits being different.
I have an app on my mobile called 'should I answer', there is a database of bad numbers that it alerts you to when they ring, best of all it is free.
The other giveaway with a telemarketer is the opening line 'how has your day been' or a forced 'howya goin mate' with the worst Indian Aussie accent.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^^
That's why I don't pick up for strange numbers. If it's important they will leave a message.
Ironically, just as I started to type this my phone rang... and went to "blocked number."

 

[Ortimber]

Speaking of scams.......

The 1994 John Deere Tractor 54 eugene - general for sale - by owner