How to Combat Microsoft Tech Support Scam Calls
By Richard Hay for Windows Observer
About 10 days ago I shared with you a story about a friend’s encounter with a popular phone scam that includes a caller claiming to be from Microsoft. The intent of the phone scam call is to either gain access to your computer or to personal information such as a credit card, etc.
Well your response to that post has been tremendous over the last 10 days. As of this posting that story has 61 comments, 204 Facebook Likes and has been viewed by over 17,700 people.
Now I know those are not Earth shattering numbers from the big sites but for WindowsObserver.com they are the highest ever for any single post in the same period of time.
Based on reading from the comments that have been left on the story this scam is an issue that has impacted many of you and/or your family members. Many of you have also gotten very creative in how you have dealt with the scam calls.
Here are a few of the ideas shared in the comments:
•I do my best to keep them on the phone for as long as possible. mis-understand anything they ask me to do If asked to type “www.” I type “wwwdot”.
•Just leave them high & dry by telling them your computer is an Apple Mac.
•I do pick up and answer by saying “International Telephone Fraud Department – please hold the line while we trace your call.”
•Took a page from the movie ‘Hackers’ and told the caller that I was *so* glad he called because the BLT drive on my computer was giving me an HoR error. When they said it was a virus, I replied, ‘My *bacon, lettuce and tomato* drive has a *ham on rye* error because of a virus?
•I have recently taken steps to significantly reduce the incidence of these calls. OptOut UK has been helpful.
•Another thing I used to do for a laugh at their expense was to pretend I was doing what they asked, then give them bogus information back! I had them laughing at one point!
•I just simply said that I couldn’t understand English and they hung up.
•I try and see how long I can keep them on the line by playing extra dumb and saying that the computer is downstairs. Each time Bob gave an instruction I said I’d have to go down to the computer. 5 minutes later I’d come back and ask another question.
This excerpt appears with permission from Windows Observer.
