Scam Again

[rrich]

In the last few weeks I got two scam calls, both with an Indian accent. (I didn't think that India was hitting you blokes.)

The MicroSoft security call that my computer was supposed to be doing something bad to the network and needed a software fix. This guy was so bad and it was obvious that he was reading a script. I played along and asked, "Which computer?" He had no clue as to how to deal with that question. "The one thats you are sitting next to right now." I said, "I spent half the night installing numbers 2783 and 2784. I don't keep any computers here at home." Still not too bright he said either one can solve the problem. Then I said that if he would hold on I would drive to the server farm and we could install the software. (He had called a land line.) I told him that the server farm was about an hour away in the traffic. Then he figured out that he was an idiot and hung up.

The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) was calling demanding that I pay up immediately. I asked how I should do that. It was the typical Moneygram scam. I told him that we have a problem. He started getting belligerent and I said that in the meth-lab explosion I lost the lower part of my legs and couldn't drive. Then I added that my wife just got out of jail after being arrested the ninth time for drunk driving. This time it was really bad as the judge too the car away but I still have to make payments and keep up the insurance. I expect that the clerk of the court is now driving the Bentley. He started swearing and hung up.

It has been awhile but for the grandparent scam I usually usually tell them that as for bail money, "If you got yourself arrested and put in jail, then just get yourself out of jail and don't involve us." They usually get exceptionally P O'd. We don't have any grandkids.

[Chris Parks]

Some of them are so bad I feel sorry for them and I wonder about the circumstances they must be in. Maybe I am too soft and I have played around with them as well so it is a bit contradictory.

[pintek]

I agree with you there Chris - how bad things must be to get into this line of work, but you have to have some fun when they call. I set up my VOIP system with a blacklist number system that auto redirects to a pre-recorded old guy called Lenny. He has all the time in the world for a mindless chat. Great to listen in to the scammers lose their s*&t to a guy that doesn't exist.

[derekcohen]

You know, I don't get the desire for revenge on telemarketers. I understand - and share - that they are irritating callers ... and a reason why we shall no longer have a landline at home (I have one at work only) as they call at inappropriate times of the day, such as when sitting down for dinner. However, they are just poor sods paid to do a job (I imagine a room of phones with poor guys working for a minimal wage by a bigger sod who has created the scheme in the first place). Just hang up as soon as you are (a) bored with the conversation, or (b) have no desire to continue it as soon as you know it is a telemarketer (gee .. that's difficult to determine! ).

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Fuzzie]

Since switching to voip I just keep growing the phone book of numbers not to answer. I used to redirect to Lenny but I had a few calls that the redirect never disconnected, so a while ago I created a specific answerphone to direct known scam number callers to. The scam answerphone picks up, waits a few seconds then says something like "Calls from your number have been rejected due to abuse of this telephony service and fraud." No callers have ever left a message.

[russ57]

You know, I don't get the desire for revenge on telemarketers. I understand - and share - that they are irritating callers ...

Derek

For actual telemarketers I agree, just 'do not call register' and goodbye.

For scammers though, I figure the longer they are on the line the less opportunity for them to call someone else who may get taken in.





Russ