Subscriber Comments for
Scam Alert

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 314854P	2012-09-01 06:43 AM
Some folks will chime in that this is stating the obvious; however, if only one person avoids being scammed, it does bear repeating that you NEVER give out sensitive personal info to someone on the computer or phone! There are crooks everywhere, trying to get something for nothing--so be vigilant. Thanks for reporting the scam. Did you report it to the DA?
REXOFSB	2012-09-01 06:51 AM
I've been getting these calls for the past several months. The callers are always East Indian. I like to have fun with them. After they say my computer is sending out "error messages" and tell me to turn on my computer so they can "check" it, I say, "hey, I don't care what my computer is doing," That stops them cold. They tell me my computer is in jeopardy. I tell them I couldn't care less. There is always a pause at this point as they try to assimilate this. They reiterate that extremely bad things will happen to my computer files if I don't turn on my computer immediately so they can "check" it. "So what?" I reply. I'll then usually lob some non sequitur at them, like, "I have insurance" or "my kids used to have a Commodore 64 back in the day." Sometimes I can keep these pests in confusion for up to 10 minutes or so. Usually they just get frustrated and hang up on me. Which of course doesn't stop them from calling me again a couple of days later. And the it's wash, rinse and repeat. What amazes me is the sheer aggression of these creeps.
COMMENT 314861P	2012-09-01 07:11 AM
Have gotten several of these the past few days. They call from 212-456-7890. Ridiculous call. What's their game? The thick accent is almost impossible to understand. Somewhat humorous along with the annoyance. Asked to be removed from their call list. We shall see...
COMMENT 314865	2012-09-01 07:28 AM
You could just tell them you'd like to place an order for some lamb tikka masala and a side of garlic naan.
COMMENT 314866	2012-09-01 07:33 AM
Do people ever receive calls from North, South or West India? How do you know they are from East India?
COMMENT 314869	2012-09-01 07:43 AM
As a small business we get 10 of these a week -I start out saying chin ---- then i say chin chong - ching chow - then i wait - then chin - chin chong - chow chow Stops them dead in their tracks every time -
COMMENT 314870	2012-09-01 07:47 AM
Yeah got the exact same call at my house and work numbers. When I asked the problem they explained something about windows.When I told them I didn't have windows they hung up. When they called at my work number, which is listed just as a personal number, I recognized the voice and was one step ahead of them, got their number and told them I was reporting them to the police, they hung up again on me.
COMMENT 314871	2012-09-01 07:48 AM
My 87 year old mama is great with scammers. She always tells them to call back later to talk to her grandma. Hahahaa I have watched her do this more than once and it's hilarious : Mama, "Hello?" Caller,"Blah, blah, blah" Mama in her pretend high voice, "Uh, huh, etc etc" Caller, "blah, blah some more" Mama, " Oh, I don't know. You'll have to call back later because my grandma isn't here" Caller, "Good bye then"
FLICKA	2012-09-01 08:42 AM
I never answer the phone, goes to answering machine. In the past the salespeople could get insistant so I'd say, in a paniced voice, "Oh no! I have to go, the cow just broke into my vegetable garden, she knocked over the chicken coop. Eeek". Hang-up.
REXOFSB	2012-09-01 09:02 AM
@866: East Indians are called that to distinguish them both from inhabitants of the Caribbean (which is also called the West Indies) and from the indigenous peoples of the Americas--the "American Indians." Also, caller ID discloses a bogus New York phone number. New York is in the east. So they're DOUBLE East Indian. Life is so complicated for those of us who think.
COMMENT 314888	2012-09-01 09:12 AM
EAST Indians as opposed to West Indians? I never heard of such a thing. They are Indians, period. West Indians are referred to by their native island, not as a group. American Indians are called Native Americans.
STREETPAINTER	2012-09-01 09:22 AM
I just put the phone down and walk away. I don't hang up, but, if convenient, I leave the line open usually around 10 minutes. (The phone beeps for a while, then is silent.) I don't really know how long it tangles up the caller's line, but it does seem to work as they never come back for more. (I do this only if I am already familiar with the caller's opening gambit.) Does anyone really know how long this technique could affect the caller's line?
REXOFSB	2012-09-01 09:23 AM
ADDENDUM: @865 and 869 for the win! Here are some other things you can say to the scammers: "Mr. ***** is down in the dungeon with a customer, can you call back?" "I'm sorry, I don't speak gibberish." "What? No, we don't sell Parliament Lites." "You must be mistaken. I bought my computer in Canada." "My computer seems to be okay, but can you help me program my DVR?" "Do you get many cobras where you are? We have lots of raccoons here, but they're not poisonous. Well, I mean unless you get rabies from them."
COMMENT 314893P	2012-09-01 09:27 AM
888: Native Americans are called that now, but until very recently they were called Indians. How many kids did you know who played cowboys and Native Americans?
COMMENT 314894	2012-09-01 09:27 AM
They have called me too. Both recently and in the past. They claimed to work for Microsoft so I called Microsoft and they told me it was a scam. I am not sure what they are ultimately trying to do but they want to access your computer to do it.
COMMENT 314897P	2012-09-01 09:31 AM
I got one of these calls yesterday. The guy said he was calling from Microsoft about my computer. I just hung up.
COMMENT 314903	2012-09-01 09:57 AM
Whenever I find myself irritated with a telemarketer, I google Tom Mabe Murder Scene Prank Call and watch the video.
COMMENT 314904	2012-09-01 09:57 AM
Our computer repair specialist told us to never let anyone log into your computer remotely because they will INSTALL a virus. Then they will try to sell you a virus clean up software which gives them control. It's a monthly fee for them "to keep out viruses" (that they install). These scams are very dangerous to your computer privacy. Do not engage them because they are trained to sound convincing using arguments like "Microsoft alerted us to your machine" and how legit they are because "we have a website". If you argue then the "supervisor" comes on and tries to convince you they're legit. Their website mimics microsoft logos. So beware, don't mess with them.
COMMENT 314905	2012-09-01 10:01 AM
I too have had this kind of call --and I finally just said -- very firmly -- I am not turning on my computer! so he hangs up -- ha!
COMMENT 314906	2012-09-01 10:01 AM
I LOVE these calls. I always figure with scammers they're going to get away with it. They're in other countries and they spoof their numbers to avoid getting caught, so I never kid myself thinking I can do something to stop this practice. All I can do is play along with them and waste as much of their time as possible. When I'm satisfied, I like to yell at them, tell them not to call me again, and hang up. One time the guy called me back and said some not so nice things.
COMMENT 314907	2012-09-01 10:04 AM
I like to tell them to call back when I'm not home.
COMMENT 314913P	2012-09-01 10:36 AM
I haven't received these calls but when I used to get this kind of call I would say " I am very interested in what you have to say. Can you wait a minute while I go get a cigarette?" then just put down the phone and walk away. Sometimes the caller would wait 10 minutes or more. I used to get calls all the time from carpet cleaners. I make appointments with them and send them to an empty lot. Wouldn't work any more with google earth. Another strategy I used was to tell the callers that I was an employment counselor and ask them what had gone so wrong with their lives that they chose this career. Ask them about their other job skills etc. ask them how embarrassing it was to be a phone solicitor. If they got silent I would say keep talking, how else am I going to help you. Usually they hang up after my torrent of my personal questions.
COMMENT 314915	2012-09-01 10:48 AM
Though this originated from afar, SB has a long history of scam companies: Federal Buyers Guide (selling bogus listings in bogus gvt directories to wannabe 'vendors'), National Sales Group (taken down by FTC), Bargain Network (shut down by FBI, then reopened), Travelers Series (Rincon Project Group) - selling bogus hotel directories. Santa Barbara is scam telemarketing scam headquarters. Of course none of the local media outlets have the guts to write articles about these companies in hopes of capturing advertising dollars (Bargain Network was a big advertiser in the Independent before they were bought out and moved to Texas to continue their scamming).
AUNTIE S.	2012-09-01 12:11 PM
My biggest gripe is with taped robo calls. You can't play with them or tell them off and be rude to them. They'e just there. Can some genius in Edhatland invent a device that, with the push of a phone button, will destroy the tape on the other end of the line - something like the end of the tape in Mission Impossible? Put on your thinking caps. There could be big bucks involved.
COMMENT 314945	2012-09-01 12:44 PM
Yes, I had a client, an elderly women, fall for this. They are basically trying to sell 'protection' software and indeed I believe they are associated or grown out of the former vile Photon Infotech in India. The software is less then useless. There is pretty much no way anyone on the outside can tell if you have a virus infection. Now I have had clients who do International Banking online receive a letter from their bank that they possibly were infected. New to me but they did have infections in fact but that is quite a different case then these cold calls which are absolutely scams. None of these folks work for Microsoft or Google. I pay Google for search ranking already and I still get these calls Alert your older relatives, this is now common. -Human Solutions Computers
COMMENT 314976	2012-09-01 02:18 PM
Or "I work for the FBI and our IT guys take care of any problems. I'll let them know."
COMMENT 315040	2012-09-01 06:47 PM
When I see an unknown, toll-free, or out-of-state incoming phone call, on my caller ID, if I answer the call, I'll pick up the phone and say "Telephone Fraud Unit, Agent Casper speaking" Many times the call ends right there.
COMMENT 315069P	2012-09-01 09:32 PM
040, that is great! If I get the same call over and over, on about the third call, I use my whistle just as soon as I recognize the call. I'll say, "Do NOT call this number again!" Then I blow my whistle into the phone. They don't call back. And if they do, I blow the whistle again. They get the point.
COMMENT 315153P	2012-09-02 09:11 AM
040 - except that some important calls come in as a un-named toll free number so there is some risk that someone you need to speak with will remove your number from their files. I sometimes answer with an accent but usually don't answer at all. Important callers will leave a message. 069 - I had read at one time of someone being sued for loss of hearing after something like that. Of course they would have to admit they were making scam calls.

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