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Post subject: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: May 14, 2011 11:17 am
Gold Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2009 Posts: 717 Location: Melbourne
You running Windows system and your system has been compromised! We call from Windows certified offices just to tell you that your computer has been infected with malicious virus. Do you get those annoying calls? What do you do about it?
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: May 14, 2011 11:36 am
Silver Member
Joined: 05 May 2010 Posts: 327 Location: Mernda
Yeah my brother has had them a few times. A mate played with them at work. Let them remote one of the empty machines they use to create images off. They keep talking on the phone while the one remote controlling tries to grab any files off your pc they can.
Easiest just to hang up. Seems to be mostly happening in QLD currently.
Post subject: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: May 14, 2011 12:08 pm
Junior Member
Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 16
I got one of those phone calls last year when I got my new laptop. I had nt even been connected to the Internet yet so I told them they were stupid as I couldn't have a virus as I'm even on the net. They just hung up on me. I feel sorry for the people who fall for it.
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: May 14, 2011 3:03 pm
Support Team
Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 3666 Location: Melbourne's SE burbs
I had FOUR calls in ONE day last week. I also had one call about 2 weeks prior. I posted about it in the 'rant' thread. I got so frustrated with them that I calmly said something like, 'This is the third call I have had from you guys today would you please just" (then screamed down the phone...) "F*&^% *$$!!" ...I felt so much better after that! Just hope the neighbours didn't hear!!
Hubby took the fourth call later that night (I didn't want to pick up the phone again after that) and played around with them a bit until they hung up on him! I have since registered with the do not call register and (fingers crossed) will not hear from them again.
_________________ Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!!
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: May 15, 2011 9:08 pm
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 137
We used to get those calls frequently until I started replying with "I'm so glad you called, my computer has been acting really strange lately. But I'm about to go out, can you call me back on <Phone number of police station>"
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Jun 11, 2011 12:17 am
Silver Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2010 Posts: 270 Location: Melbourne
Our family friend let them go for nearly 15 minutes, explaining their spiel and everything.. Then said something like "oh wait, I can't find what you're talking about, is it because I have a Mac?"
Apparently the guy swore at him and yelled that he was wasting his time and hung up on our family friend
We've had three in the last three weeks .. husband just hangs up on them, I hand the phone to my 2 year old and let her tell them about her day ... lol
_________________ ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 3:52 pm
Bronze Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2010 Posts: 187 Location: Langwarrin, Victoria
My lovely 82 year old Nana got one and asked for them to call my Dad, "because he looks after my computer". Lucky she, who has been using a computer for about a year, even realised they were iffy.
_________________ Built in Botanic Ridge - The Montague with Rawdon Hill
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 4:15 pm
Gold Member
Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Posts: 611
First time I told them that it wasn't a good time and could they give me their number and I would call them back when it was convenient for me - oddly enough I have never found time to call them back
2nd time - told them I had a mac
3rd time - told them it was my work computer and I will get work to sort any problems out
4th time - I was visiting my parents - Mum took a call and keep leaving the phone (they don't have a cordless) to go into the room with the computer - after doing this a couple of times I asked her what she was doing and then got on the phone myself and told them that it was a mac and they quickly hung up! Thank goodness I was there........
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 4:29 pm
Bronze Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2011 Posts: 185
CA3105 wrote:
Join up to the governments Do Not Call register - takes 5 minutes online, and then you won't get any more telemarketing calls - it's great!!
I wish!!! We are on the do not call register, and still receive these calls... they are sooooo frustrating. Especially at the moment as we have our home phone diverted to my mobile, so far I have received one while I was in the photo store and yesterday while talking to the builders. They thought it was highly amusing when I got really cranky at them. No matter how rude or not I am to them they still don't stop calling. My mum has the same calls and she has threatened to call the ombudsman next time they call, am waiting to see if that stops them, if it does I will be doing the same when they call yet again.
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 4:51 pm
Gold Member
Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 1438 Location: South/West Melbourne
The do not call register does not work for these calls as they are from overseas. My phone has "overseas" on it when they call. I have to answer because of relatives overseas. The last one to call, I told him we didn't have a computer and he said I was telling fibs. I said to him he was telling fibs too so we were even. He said fair enough. Call then ended. Sometimes I get really cranky at them though.
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 5:00 pm
Support Team
Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 7479 Location: SW Western Australia
Mum got one earlier in the week. She told them she didn't have a computer so they tried to tell her it must be on her laptop. Then she told them to get lost. LOL GO Mum. and yes she does have a computer and has been known to reformat and reinstall her comp operating system She wasn't going to waste time on them.
Post subject: Re: Who else gets computer virus hoax calls?
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 5:09 pm
Bronze Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2011 Posts: 163 Location: Melbourne
Stormy wrote:
(then screamed down the phone...) "F*&^% *$$!!" ...
I lost it at one too. Yelled and called him a thief and a liar. Suggested that making a living telling lies and stealing suggests they somewhat failed at life and perhaps they should get an education and look for real work. Asked him how he sleeps at night and slammed down the phone. He called me right back to yell abuse right back at me.
Very amusing.
(But seriously, how do they sleep at night?)
P.S. the board auto-filter has a field day with that post!