Win 7 support stop: do you also receive a tsunami of idiot Indian calls? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 08:06:34 pm
content: It started on Tuesday last week. Calls from "Microsoft Special Support" in Indian accent. Calls from "Windows Center" in Indian English. And it went on and on.Apparently the Indian swindlers are having a field day with the Win 7 support stop.Did you experience the same?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 08:21:32 pm
content: Oddly enough I haven't, although I do get waves of scam calls from time to time, most using that silly synthesized voice either saying that legal action is being taken against my social security number (whatever that even means) or that my windows is expiring and will be shut off. I've never actually answered one of the calls, they just go to my voicemail.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 08:27:55 pm
content: When my Microsoft Office did expire and shut off (moved installation to a new computer) it did so without warning of any kind, even a synthesised voice message

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 08:46:52 pm
content: Used to get Indian AOL support centre phone calls at one time.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 10:34:42 pm
content: Call comes… rrrring!Me: Hello?She: Hello sir, I am calling from Windows computer department.Me: Oh! Hi, what is this about?She: Your windows computer has a virus and that is why we are calling to help you fix it.Me: OMG! How did you know this?She: Our windows server has reported that your computer….Me: Honey, what should I do then?She: We can connect to your computer and …Me: Honey, I like your voice. You sound like a nice lady. Where are you located?She: We are in Washington DC. Now can we check your computer?Me: Of course, but before that, can I fix you?She: What?Me: I mean, can we meet somewhere and have a good time?She: Fxxx you. Dang, the phone goes dead never to hear from this beauty again. Ever since I have missed her!You should see this one:

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 12:00:54 am
content: Quote from: andy3055 on January 20, 2020, 10:34:42 pmYou do understand thats sexual harassment?.......................per 2019 soyboy, genderbending , transhumanistic , me too movement etc, etc standards.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 12:12:04 am
content: If it's actual callers, keep a spare smoke alarm handy so you can put the phone up to it and press the button.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 01:03:23 am
content: I'm skeptical of the phone having enough dynamic range for that to have the intended goal. It's not going to sound pleasant but it's not going to be like sticking a smoke alarm up to their ear either.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 01:08:55 am
content: Quote from: MT on January 21, 2020, 12:00:54 amNot the least bothered.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 01:14:51 am
content: Quote from: andy3055 on January 21, 2020, 01:08:55 amIf somebody calls me unsolicited then the way I see it, they haven't got a leg to stand on concerning anything I might say to them. I'm not going to call someone up and harass them but if they call me then that's on them.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 01:54:06 am
content: Don’t become upset.Do as master prankster James Veitch would do:https://youtu.be/_QdPW8JrYzQ

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 02:53:44 am
content: Quote from: schmitt trigger on January 21, 2020, 01:54:06 amAh, haha yes, James is fantastic! I've watched his videos many times.Never EVER allow a scam call to make you angry; I always see them as an unexpected opportunity for merriment and comedy. On the very, very rare occasion that I get a scam call, I grab my second phone and record everything, whilst teasing them gently as they clumsily amble through their predictable scripts. The video/audio product of these calls, I then share around for great comedic effect, to others. I'm NEVER rude to the scammer (that's plain selfish and immature), I just pull their chain in a very gentle manner for a few minutes, then thank them and hang up.Being angry is a modern epidemic... these guys are just misguided or desperate. No amount of hate helps that.

author: vwestlife
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 03:06:19 am
content: "This is what happens when a Scammer calls a Software Engineer":

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 04:05:01 am
content: Australian Telstra has the facility to place blocks on incoming international calls from specific world regions. I got them to block all calls from India. Haven't had any scam calls on that land line since.Optus otoh, can't do that. They can block all international calls, or none. Our Optus cable phone line sometimes has wanted calls from overseas, so I can't enable Indian scammer blocking. I've had two scam calls on that line today. Synthesized speech: "This is Telstra, calling to inform that your Internet connection will be disconnected..." (Calling on an Optus phone number, and there is no Telstra internet service here. Also my Telstra line is down due to rain getting into the wires atm. AGAIN.)I find it interesting that this bullshit continues to be so prevalent, year after year. It would seem the official position (government and carriers) is either total indifference, or they encourage of it for some reason. Perhaps using scam calls to make people sick of existing carriers, so they switch to NBN faster?

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 04:21:27 am
content: Quote from: james_s on January 21, 2020, 01:14:51 amThis. 100 times over.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 04:25:57 am
content: Quote from: Benta on January 20, 2020, 08:06:34 pmThe Indian scammer that calls here most be smarter than that. They never say what version of Windows they're calling about. If they did then 70% of the time they'd be wrong and could tip off the intended victim.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 06:14:01 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on January 21, 2020, 04:05:01 amThe FBI already caught them once. But they keep doing it again and again. Also, these people use Skype calls and spoof the numbers as well. So, there is no telling where it is coming from. For all purposes, the numbers are like US 10 digit numbers. I have had calls appearing to come from my own land line number! A few choice words and/or keep talking to them leading them in circles is the only way to deal with them. I have got these calls many a time in the past. I stopped my wife answering the phone and the last time this woman called (not a recording), I had the above conversation. Since then, no such calls.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 08:55:39 am
content: What's the difference between a call from microsoft and a scammer?They both try to infect your computer anyway...

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 10:42:46 am
content: Quote from: andy3055 on January 20, 2020, 10:34:42 pmOver Christmas, when I was bored I went through a phase of watching scambating videos. Some of them a quite funny, but it does get a bit repetitive, after awhile. My favourite scambaiter is Jim Browning, because he seriously harms the scammers and helps their victims.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBNG0osIBAprVcZZ3ic84vwI've done a bit of scambating before, but don't seek them out, just waste their time, if I have nothing better to do.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 03:13:02 pm
content: Didn't get any call. But I don't think MS ever got my phone number anyway? (And yes, I have a valid license!)But I did get the first full-screen pop-up window, the other day, stating that support was ending (Jan 14th), that it was going to be very unsafe to keep using it, and that I should consider upgrading. Funnily enough, as I already mentioned in another thread, MS in its communication keeps telling people to buy a new computer to upgrage to Win 10.I'm laughing, but it's pretty sad actually.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 05:46:54 pm
content: Quote from: andy3055 on January 21, 2020, 06:14:01 amThe crappy thing is they spoof what are often actual numbers and the people receiving the calls don't realize this. I've received angry voicemails and text messages from people who thought I called them with a scam because some robocall came from a spoofed number that happened to be mine.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 05:56:46 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on January 21, 2020, 03:13:02 pmAfter their heavy handed and deceptive tactics during the Windows 10 push in 2015 I lost all trust for Windows Update and disabled it completely. Since then I've relied on using an up to date browser, running Adblock and NoScript religiously, utilizing common sense browsing and not downloading sketchy stuff and it has been fine. Ironically I seem to have many fewer problems than the people I know who install all the updates, I know 3 or 4 who have had their PC bricked by Win10 updates, at least 3 of those ended up reinstalling Windows from scratch. At this point I'm convinced that the cure is worse than the disease.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 06:16:24 pm
content: Quote from: Stray Electron on January 21, 2020, 04:21:27 amSurely someone trying to scam you is a form of harassment...

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 10:22:31 pm
content: Quote from: SilverSolder on January 21, 2020, 06:16:24 pmIt's more than harassment, it'sattempted theftjust like armed robbery and it needs to be dealt with as such, and by any means necessary.ALL governments will quickly deal with robbers and thieves but most of them just give a wink and a nod to telemarketers and other scammers.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 10:35:15 pm
content: When I get a subcontinental call claiming to be calling from “Windows” or Microsoft, I answer “No, you’re not. Does your mother know you’re doing this?”Unfortunately, most of my spam calls now are recorded, and have no shame.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 12:18:19 am
content: I take the call, but won't speak first... their prompters are programmed to respond to a voice. If you don't speak, the line remains silent, and you know you're dealing with a scam/spam call.After a few seconds silence, you just hang up.Works every time.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 04:15:12 am
content: In the days of phone answering machines I used to have the machine “answer” with only the tone sequence that the phone companies in the US all used for not in service lines and no voice greeting. I told all my friends that they could still leave a message and most of them understood. It got rid of all the unwanted calls and a few people that just couldn’t understand.It may still work today if the calling algorithm understands these tones and you have some means of playing the tones before speaking. A true “smart phone” should have some means of answering with such tones; maybe someone has developed an app.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 08:16:51 pm
content: Quote from: SilverSolder on January 22, 2020, 12:18:19 amThis is brilliant. It's now in my arsenal

author: jesuscf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2020, 06:28:49 am
content: RiiiiingMe picking up the phone: Yellow!Some guy with a heavy Indian accent: Hello sir, my name is John Davis, I am calling you from the windows department...Me: David Jones from the EEVblog!?Indian guy: No sir, John Davis, from the windows department, there is a problem with your computer...Me: I can not express with words how disappointed I am! Have a good day and goodbye!!!Click.

author: jesuscf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2020, 06:49:09 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on January 21, 2020, 10:35:15 pmEven if you stall for just a couple of minutes your may help prevent them from calling a less savvy person more prone to these scams. So, I just play along for a few minutes until they give up.

author: SerieZ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2020, 07:49:58 am
content: I wonder how these Scam Agencies Operate... Is it like a "regular Callcenter" employing the desperate? Or is it just themselves and their buddies doing it?Do they only scam westerners or do they try and scam other "markets of gullible" as well?Apparently it is profitable enough to have been running this type of scam for so many years now.

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 25, 2020, 09:48:10 am
content: Quote from: SerieZ on January 23, 2020, 07:49:58 amIt's basically a middle class job, commission only and casual. There is a small second floor office, with PCs and VOIP phones.There are more honest jobs if you just want to pay the bills, the scammers are just lazy and enjoy stealing from others.Oh and the scammer's relatives don't know what they do at work, and disown them when they find out.One week a scammer could be working for one company, the next week a different one.Most of the long term people know each other.Each company has a owner/boss, and usually runs several different scams each day.One Youtube channel got into the bosses' computer, made a huge mess of everything.Deleted all his files, messed with his hotmail, refunded $100,000 in the company bank account back to the victims.Changed the bosses's personal voicemail to something rude and abusive, did the same to his facebook.Changed all the passwords, so nothing could be fixed.