Odd phone calls

[Coldicote]

I've had peculiar phones calls recently. This morning a gent with a 'difficult to understand accent' spoke of interference and spying whilst browsing web pages. I said I had a good security system to which he replied it was not about security or viruses. He tried to persuade me to go to my PC so that he could 'talk me through' what he was talking about. I didn't oblige and rang off, but can't help wondering what it was about. Is anyone else having calls like this and perhaps able to throw some light on it?


tried to persuade me to switch on my computer so that he could

[Coldicote]

Apologies for the odd couple of line at the end - I obviously didn't do my editing propoerly!

[redcrx]

its a scam, they will try and either gain access to your PC (and god knows what they will do with it) or claim to fix your PC and ask for payment.

I just string them along, i get at least one call daily (anything up to half hour long) and theyve yet to get me to turn the PC on :)

They may be getting wise though as todays call only lasted 2m35s before they hung up on me :(

[Old_Geezer]

It's been asked many times. It's a scam of some sort. Either they will do nothing useful and try to charge you, or worse, try to gain control of your PC so they can use it remotely for their own dodgy requirements.

It is good you refused their generous offer.

[factor-fiction]

This crops up regularly on here. They get access to your PC and either install something to collect information from you or they say they have done something and want some money.
I'm just curious why I never get these calls so i can have fun with them

[redcrx]

factor, give me your number and i shall pass it on. lol

[commoner]

Had two this week...none before that..........a guy and gal...both with the same "funny" accent and both asked for me by name then started to say I had a problem.....didn't find out what with....I "politely" said goodbye and hung up...

The callers number was "we do not have the callers number"....

[tenrec]

I just tell them I haven't a computer!

[gingejbee]

How do all these people get these calls? I've never had one!

[joko]

they set the remote access, then search for info like bank docs, passwords etc, some will install keylogger software and all sorts of stuff.

some will just try to charge you a fee for 'helping'

[albaqwerty]

Nobody wants to talk to you ginge :)
I used to get emails about this too, just ignored 'em and binned.
I reckon if you (generically) have asked something then details will have been passed on. Alternatively, they just type in phone numbers and hope to strike lucky

[craft1948]

I got these a year or two ago.............they must be starting up again like the emails from my bank.

[carrust]

I got one the other day. Put phone next to the radio & let them listen to the Archers for 10mins, they soon got fed-up.

[Coldicote]

Thanks everyone. I had not received phone calls of this kind until the last few days. Four so far today, male and female voices, talking about computer services. I'm normally a polite person but sometimes its rather difficult!

[boxtops]

It's definitely a scam, some are very convincing and say they come from Microsoft. Take no notice caldicote - they can't see your computer, all they want to do is part you from your money (or worse still, if you give them any details, hack into your computer).

We have call blocking service on our phone and we now get very few cold calls - well worth it, IMO.

[Giggsie]

factor 30 ....my sister never gets them as she uses an internet dongle. Somehow they get lists of all phone lines with broadband on them.
tenrec I tried saying I did not have computer he told me I was telling lies as broadband was on my line. Nearly every other day so annoying.

[woofgang]

They can't have lists of everyone with broadband as I have never had a call. I think they fish.

[Hopkirk]

Get caller display on your phone line.

Most (but not all) of these calls show up as 'International', so you can avoid answering.

Caller display is free on TalkTalk, but I don't know about BT etc.

[askyourgran]

We have a blocking service on our phone and a junk mail. Only wish it would solve the e-mail spam on my laptop.