I finally got one of those scam phone calls about supposed viruses on my computer.

[ShazzieB]

I don't usually answer calls from unknown callers, but I made an exception this afternoon. The caller was a woman with some kind of thick accent who sounded like she was reading from a script.

After saying she was calling from ? (I couldn't understand her accent and didn't bother to ask her to repeat), she asked me how my computer was working. I was immediately suspicious but decided to play along for a little bit.

After I replied that my computer was doing just fine, she moved to the next step, saying that a report had been received that some virus software had been downloaded on my computer. My suspicions now fully confirmed, I let her finish, and then said in the cheeriest of voices, "Oh yeah! I've heard about that scam! *chuckle* Have fun!" and clicked off.

She sounded like she was quite new at this, and I'm sure that's not the reaction she was expecting!

I was quite amused by the whole conversation, but I hate to think how many people fall for that kind of thing and give out information that allows the scammer to hack into their computer and get into their bank and credit card accounts. Be careful, everyone, and be safe. Never take the word of an anonymous caller for anything, especially where access to your computer is concerned!

[usedtobedemgurl]

1. I told one of them...

I do not have a computer. He kept asking things like does your boyfriend have one? No, we don’t believe in computers. Too expensive. Finally they gave up!

[Disaffected]

7. I'm wondering though

how you user name is parsed? Used-to-be-dem-gurl or, used-to-bed'em-gurl?

[usedtobedemgurl]

8. Before my divorce, I was demgurl.

After my divorce (my email account was through my exe’s business) I could not remember my password and my ex would not let me recover my account - my email for his company was linked to my demgurl account. I just started this new one, letting folks know who I was/am. I did not want to lose my connection to my old account because I was proud of the post I made in my public letter to George Will. Will Pitt approached me about that letter and asked if they could publish it on the front page of the place he worked for.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10025110976

[JI7]

2. They are mostly from India. The govt mashes little effort to shut

these scan centers down.

It's only even random people expose the scam and make it public that they shut those places down.

In India it often takes shaming people for them to do the right thing.

If you have time you can keep them on the line and waste their time by doing like asking "which computer" ?

[Probatim]

3. I love those calls.

What I do is tell them I'm booting up my laptop while I walk my phone out to the car.

I place the speaker end of the phone in the grill of the car and press the alarm button. I let the alarm cycle for a few seconds then get on the phone and ask if that sounds normal.

Sometimes they're still on the phone but most times they aren't. It's loads of fun - for me anyway.

[louis-t]

4. I've been getting calls from the same area code, same exchange

but different last 4 numbers. Almost sequential. finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I answered. The guy asked if I had received a medicare card in the mail. I could see where this was going. Unsuspecting people answer "no" and the guy gets them to share personal info. I started screaming at him to take my number off of his list "NOW!!!" By tomorrow, the calls will start again.

[LiberalFighter]

5. I tell them they are being recorded.

I tell them they are in violation of federal law.

If still there. I ask them how many dildoes they want up their....

[tanyev]

6. I Rick Roll them.

I do go to my computer and act like I’m following their instructions, but I’m pulling up the song Never Gonna Let You Down and cranking up the volume.