I had exactly the same issues as Dana. Guy with an Indian accent called and said he worked for Microsoft and that I had a problem in my computer which could cause me to lose privacy settings for our on-line banking. I told him I'd call Microsoft which he said was fine so I almost believed him, but I hung up. Next day I came home and found my husband on the phone with the same guy going into or computer to do what this guy said we needed to do. I told him to hang up. Glad I got there in time. I called Microsoft Windows, and they said it was a big scam. They told me where to report it on line. Microsoft said these people have you download software that gives THEM access to passwords and to our on-line banking. They also said they don't do phone calls.
The Indian (or Pakistani) guy has called me too, claiming to be from Microsoft's Technical Department, and my computer was about to "come crashing down." I told him I don't have a computer (of course I do), which stopped him in his tracks.
If we're going to mention phone lures, make sure your parents are safe from this one:
Tax phone scams have very recently made a big comeback, whereby the caller claims to be from the IRS and states that the victim is in serious legal trouble due to owing back taxes. The victim is then told that they can rectify the problem by conveniently making a quick payment over the phone.
People continue to fall for it. It is still hard for me to accept that so many can be so damn gullible.
Yeah, I've gotten the tax scam call too. What tipped me off was that they claimed to be from "Internal Revenue Services" which is actually not the correct name of the Federal agency (it's the Internal Revenue Service" in the singular) so their own stupidity sunk them. I did know however that had I actually owed for back taxes I would have gotten a minimum of 3 letters in the mail before anybody started calling, and that they can't sue you or freeze your accounts without a whole lot of due process first.
I do enjoy toying with these people, pretending like I'm really alarmed by their information and sounding like I'm all ready to go along with the scam and then asking them questions like "Do your wife and children know that you're a crook who works for a criminal enterprise?" or "Have you ever considered honest work as a way to make a living?"
Hey joanie, im surprised the married surname hubby gave you was Huey - imagine being known as Mrs Gullible!! Ha ha.
Tell your hubby that my company based in nigeria is reimbursing everyone married to a Joan - he just needs to let me have his address, bank details and his mothers maiden name and i will make things happen!! Ha ha.
Edwzoomom - when you reply to me if your weirdo detector dont go in the red and start smoking, it needs new batteries!!
Bill,
Mine is powered by satellite, like my GPS. Of course, when I hear "recalculating", it may be referring to you.
