[Midnight Funeral]

I was cold called by a guy who asked me about error reprots, av logfiles, walked me thru some tests and was claiming my laptop was infected with stuxnet.

However he then was trying to get me to navigate to www.support.me and I got mighty suspicious and cut him off. A bit rude perhaps, after having a nice conversation so far with a man who seemed to be trying to help me, but I just got instinctively distrustful.

Did i just get attempted to be scammed or did I slam the door in a legit guy's face?

The wee computer in question IS infected with something...

[RickDeckard]

Of course you were scammed. How do you think he'd know you were infected, or have a phone-number for you even if he could?

[Midnight Funeral]

I'm wondering how they got a hold of that info. I've never replied to any unsolicited crap, the only stuff with phone numbers etc. on it has been to legit companies (amazon, vodafone etc) via purchases I've initiated myself.

[Zombie]

Your first mistake was giving the guy more then 30 seconds.

[14thDoctor]

Originally Posted by Midnight Funeral

The wee computer in question IS infected with something...

Yeah, now it is.

[Zombie]

Yeah its user.........

[Ron Paul]

Student targets industrial systems, not personal computers. So you might have it on your pc, but it would want to propagate from you, not damage you.

Your big problem was answering a cold call that wasn't business related. Don't do that!

[Muad Dib]

Originally Posted by Zombie

Your first mistake was giving the guy more then 30 seconds.

I take great glee in hanging up on telemarketers, scammers, etc. Of course, a lot of times when I don't recognize the number on the caller ID or if the caller ID is blocked, I don't even bother to answer. Let them leave a voicemail and if it's someone that I do need to talk to, I'll call them back.

[Zombie]

Same here. No phone number on the ID? No answer then.

[Tamar Garish]

Fraud.

[Diacanu]

Next time, just ask "is this a scam?".

They have to tell you.

It's the spell that was put on them by the Druids.

[Jenee]

Originally Posted by Muad Dib

I take great glee in hanging up on telemarketers, scammers, etc. Of course, a lot of times when I don't recognize the number on the caller ID or if the caller ID is blocked, I don't even bother to answer. Let them leave a voicemail and if it's someone that I do need to talk to, I'll call them back.

Before I put my number on the do not call list, I used to love to talk to telemarketers. Of course, the only time I ever answered the phone was when I was bored anyway, so ...

[Lanzman]

My wife gets mad at me because I'm so rude to telemarketing scumbags.

[Asyncritus]

I'm not rude to telemarketers, but they do get very upset with me. I don't know how it is in the States (fortunately, during my visits there, I never get "settled in" enough to make their lists), but here, they always want information about you:

"Hello, I have been charged by the Institute for Blithering Blatherdom to contact all the people in your neighborhood regarding your home security system. Do you own your home or are you renting?"

"Sorry, I never give that kind of information out over the phone to unknown persons."

"We are just trying to..."

"Sorry, I never give that kind of information out over the phone to unknown persons."

I know very well they want as precise a profile as possible for my number (and every other number) to know what to target me with. And I don't want them to be able to do that. So I always refuse to answer.

BTW, the "inquiring about home security systems" really did happen. As if I'm dumb enough to tell some unknown caller just what kind of home security system I have. Maybe he should have asked me when I'm away from home while he was at it...

[Uncle Albert]

Land lines.

Guess how many telemarketeers track me down on my mobile?

[John]

Originally Posted by Midnight Funeral

I was cold called by a guy who asked me about ...

Yes. It was a scam.
Personally, I love getting the car warranty calls.

Caller: "Hello, Mr. Allen, we are aware that your blah blah blah car's warranty has expired. We would like to offer you the opportunity to renew your warranty to save you money."
Me: "I don't have a car."
Caller: <click>

[Lanzman]

I get spam text messages advising me of HAPPENING PARTIES OMG GURLZ LOL WTF? STFU!

[Man Afraid of his Shoes]

It's called "Social Engineering" by security types.

[John]

Originally Posted by Lanzman

I get spam text messages advising me of HAPPENING PARTIES OMG GURLZ LOL WTF? STFU!

I HATE getting spam texts. My text rate is 25 cents per text. I don't use it, but when they're incoming, I still have to get rid of them. I wish there was a way to block all texts, but my provider doesn't have that option.

[Uncle Albert]

I have never gotten a spam text. You people must be giving out your digits to shady characters. You know you don't HAVE to give every retail clerk your phone number just because they ask for it, right?

[John Castle]

Originally Posted by Muad Dib

I take great glee in hanging up on telemarketers, scammers, etc. Of course, a lot of times when I don't recognize the number on the caller ID or if the caller ID is blocked, I don't even bother to answer. Let them leave a voicemail and if it's someone that I do need to talk to, I'll call them back.

I like fuckin' with 'em. I used to get calls from those bullshitters who wanted to lower my credit card interest rates all the time. I tried for months to get rid of them, but eventually I just decided I'd have fun with 'em. If it's a chick, when she asks me "Would you like more information?" I answer. "Yes, please. What are you wearing?" If it's a guy, I tell him he sounds really sexeh and what is he wearing? Or sometimes I'll tell them that I've tried paying the credit card companies with live chickens. Or alternately, if it's a dude, I'll ask him why his girlfriend gave him my number.

[John]

Originally Posted by Uncle Albert

I have never gotten a spam text. You people must be giving out your digits to shady characters. You know you don't HAVE to give every retail clerk your phone number just because they ask for it, right?

If the previous phone number is recycled, and most of them are, it doesn't matter whether you give out your number or not, and cell phones don't have Do Not Call lists.

[Uncle Albert]

So pay your fucking bills and quit getting your shit disconnected. Then you won't have to change numbers every six months.

[John]

Originally Posted by Uncle Albert

So pay your fucking bills and quit getting your shit disconnected. Then you won't have to change numbers every six months.

Um...what? Who said anything about not paying bills or getting your phone disconnected? When you buy a new cell phone and service with a company, you're going to get a recycled number with it.

[Jenee]

You can put your cell on the do not call list. I haven't had a spam call or text in 6 years.

[Uncle Albert]

Originally Posted by John

Um...what? Who said anything about not paying bills or getting your phone disconnected? When you buy a new cell phone and service with a company, you're going to get a recycled number with it.

Yes....and the more often you change numbers, the greater the chances you'll get one that's in a million scammer's databases. Hang onto a number for a long time, and there is less of a risk of this.

[John Castle]

Or mess with them. I had about a week's worth of fun that way, and haven't had a telemarketing call in 3 months now.

[Bulldog]

When they call, just respond by saying "Do you know you've called a murder scene?"

[Bulldog]

Here is how you do it!

[actormike]

Originally Posted by Uncle Albert

Land lines.

Yeah, really. How very...2003.