[jeallen01]

Over the last 25 or so years, we must have had hundreds of calls from "BT" (British Telecom) with callers like "Shane", "Andrew", "Michael" speaking in (sometimes hardly even comprehensible) Asian accents and telling us that "you have a problem with your computer &/or BT account - can't understand why they even "bother" as I ditched our BT service (including the actual phone cable) in the mid-1990's and we've been using dedicated (now - it changed over the years!) Virginmedia accounts and separate cables!

[35mmfilmfan]

Over the last 25 or so years, we must have had hundreds of calls from "BT" (British Telecom) with callers like "Shane", "Andrew", "Michael" speaking in (sometimes hardly even comprehensible) Asian accents and telling us that "you have a problem with your computer &/or BT account - can't understand why they even "bother" as I ditched our BT service (including the actual phone cable) in the mid-1990's and we've been using dedicated (now - it changed over the years!) Virginmedia accounts and separate cables!

They must be using an out-of-datebase !

[jeallen01]

They must be using an out-of-datebase !

I thinks that's the "simple answer"! - as, yes, before I became far more careful about what I disclose on-line, I guess that our phone number "got out there" many years ago.

[Lord Lucan]

with your computer &/or BT account - can't understand why they even "bother" as I ditched our BT service (including the actual phone cable) in the mid-1990's

They don't necessarily use a database and are unlikely to check whether you use BT or not. Many (likely most) scammers just call numbers at random or in numerical sequence. They say they are from "BT" (in the UK) or "Windows" because they are what most people use, and TBH the demographics are such that those not using them are on average likely to be more circumspect and less likely to fall for a scam anyway. Many older people use BT because of inertia from when BT was the only telco, or because they still believe in brand loyalty, and that they would be demeaning themselves to compare prices. My mother was like that.

On another forum discussing scammers there weare reports of companies that have several phones with numbers in direct numerical sequence. Each phone has rung in that sequence as soon as the previous one has been answered and put down again. Similarly I have fewer scam calls now that I live in a rural area than when I lived in a city, which I believe is because the rural area phone number prefix is much less populated by numbers in use than the city prefix is. A scammer will therefore find a higher percentage of hits from random dialling if they use a city code.

[PDL]

I have worked with Microsoft OS's since the early 80's. As a Windows server support professional I have had to deal with real MS personnel and I interviewed with them to be a support technician. (Side story, the recruiter told me I was of the generation that "did not understand the internet", according to the MS dude. I told the recruiter that my generation CREATED THE INTERNET. That is when I decided to finally retire from working.)

For the most part they are very helpful. My better half worked for Microsoft for just over 15 years, she just hangs up on them after laughing, saying "sure you are" and then using a few "choice" words about them being criminals. I try and string them on, saying that it sure was nice that the contacted a unlisted number of the FBI computer security division. Or I ask them to give me my computers name and IP address - that usually shuts them up.

The most annoying scam is the one where I get a phone call, or email, stating that my Social Security number has been "deactivated". i.e. I am dead. There are a lot of people trying to get things from you. A few months ago I started getting emails (ransomware threats) based on the hacked LinkedIn passwords from a few years ago. It started as a paraphrased "Hello <hacked password>, we have been enjoying watching you on your web cam viewing porn bla bla bla. Interesting since my desktop does not have a web cam and I do not use that old password for anything especially as a logon to any of my computer's. Showed up as Spam and was deleted after giving me a chuckle. Nothing ever came of it - all of my computers are running just find thank you.

[RobA_Oz]

The only time I’ve had one of these callers (some time ago, now) I asked them how I could have a Windows virus on a Mac. They didn’t seem to understand, and persisted in telling me that I still had a virus on my Windows PC. In the finish, I thanked them for their concern and hung up, although they were still talking as I put the receiver down. I haven’t received any similar calls since.

[StiffLegged]

I knew lockdown was over when these lowlife started calling again about the accident in which I was not to blame (sigh). I make a point of changing voice, accent and backstory for each call, since the caller display shows it’s no-one I know, but have never managed to keep the poor stiff on the line for 20 minutes. Respect, Mark!

[jeallen01]

I knew lockdown was over when these lowlife started calling again about the accident in which I was not to blame (sigh). I make a point of changing voice, accent and backstory for each call, since the caller display shows it’s no-one I know, but have never managed to keep the poor stiff on the line for 20 minutes. Respect, Mark!

You could be right - had the first of those for a long time this morning - just told him to "expletive-deleted" off as I can't be bothered to waste time with the likes of him

[ehrwien]

Or I ask them to give me my computers name and IP address - that usually shuts them up.

Why not just hand them your IP address, why shouldn't they know? It's 127.0.0.1
Home, sweet home

[PDL]

Why not just hand them your IP address, why shouldn't they know? It's 127.0.0.1
Home, sweet home

No name though. And home sweet home is every computer on the planet from a certain perspective.

[Serkevan]

Why not just hand them your IP address, why shouldn't they know? It's 127.0.0.1
Home, sweet home

I'd generally try for 192.168.0.1 to see if they manage to fry themselves

On a funny note, when I was in India I got a prepaid SIM card for the phone (12€, of which the dataplan itself is like 3.5€, gets you the SIM itself plus a month of 1 GB/day data) and I kid you not, I was receiving at least 4-5 scam SMS per day. No mind paid to any of those, obviously, but still a slight inconvenience...

[PDL]

I'd generally try for 192.168.0.1 to see if they manage to fry themselves

On a funny note, when I was in India I got a prepaid SIM card for the phone (12€, of which the dataplan itself is like 3.5€, gets you the SIM itself plus a month of 1 GB/day data) and I kid you not, I was receiving at least 4-5 scam SMS per day. No mind paid to any of those, obviously, but still a slight inconvenience...

The best they could do is get the IP address of the router. You can not get 192.168.xxx.xxx over the internet. By definition 192.168.xxx.xxx and 10.xxx.xxx.xxx are not routable. Private network - Wikipedia

However, I do not think that the scammers can even get that information. I have had scammers call and tell me with baited breath that my computer was under attack and I needed to give them immediate access. At the time of most of these calls, my computers are powered off.

[MarkJerling]

The best they could do is get the IP address of the router. You can not get 192.168.xxx.xxx over the internet. By definition 192.168.xxx.xxx and 10.xxx.xxx.xxx are not routable. Private network - Wikipedia

However, I do not think that the scammers can even get that information. I have had scammers call and tell me with baited breath that my computer was under attack and I needed to give them immediate access. At the time of most of these calls, my computers are powered off.

They have no idea. Thye just read from a script. They do not ring business numbers where they may encounter an IT department, they deliberately ring home numbers hoping to find the unsuspecting and often older technophobes amongst us. They usually start their call with "Sir, you have a problem with your home computer". Of course, I love playing the game all while pretending to be concerned and thick as two planks.

[dbs]

I guess they will cross the Tasman soon then................ can't wait

[alfa75ts]

"Does your mother know you are engaged in criminal activity?"

Jeeze, you're polite. I use "does your mother know you're a thief? Is she proud of you?".

Calling them a thief seems to upset them.