Phone calls from India

I had one of these scam calls about the'hundreds of viruses on my computer' and asking me to carry out various checks.
As I was sitting down with a cup of coffee I thought I would have some fun. I pretended I was doing what they asked until they asked for my credit card details whereupon I said 'did you really think I was taken in by you?' The chap got very cross and told me that he could shut my computer down just like that. To which my reply was'don't be ridiculous, you silly little man'.
Poor chap was virtually apoplectic with rage. . Serves him right!

greatnan I too am in France - in the SW -and I get more than enough cold-callers on the phone even though I have opted for the service which stops them. I act even more stupid than normal and make out I can only say that I dont speaka the language. They mostly go away and if not I put the phone down anyway. Do we still say down. I distrust anyone not known to me personally who is stupid enough to phone me about money or changing internet provider or solar panels. Actually particularly solar panels. Gosh I feel better after getting that off my ample bosom.

I am fortunate that these people don't bother me in France, but I know that many people are victims of various scams. There was a programme on BBC 1 about cowboys who target the elderly. Apparently, they were given the first four numbers of their credit cards (which are the same for all cards of the same company) which led them to believe that the caller was genuine, so they gave them the rest of the number.
Not many people read The Guardian, so there needs to be more exposure on national radio and T
I must admit that when I read about some scams I think 'How could they be so stupid as to believe that', but many old people just don't understand how the computer works and think callers must be genuine.

I have had umpteen texts in the same vein, glamma. Also texts telling me I have a claim for unnecessary payment protection insurance which, of course, I haven't. It's a scattergun approach and apparently some people actually respond. If you reply by texting 'stop', you may find an unexpected charge on your bill.

I have had a few calls to say I am entitled to compensation for an accident and can I supply my banks details,also that I have had a crash in my car and the other drivers insurance wants to settle the claim,do these people think we are all stupid or something ? I don't know what the answer is as we also have a BT blocking service on our landline.

Does anyone else get blocked calls on their mobile? I've had a few lately which of course I don't answer. I haven't blocked any, don't think I know how to, so think it must be someone trying to sell me something. Which reminds me, I've also had some text messages offering help with the accident I've recently had!
I'm as fit as a fiddle, no accidents, so what do you think is going on?

I have been having far too many of these calls recently, seriously getting on my nerves. I had one today (from India) saying they were from the Electricity Board, since when have we had a Electricity Board, telling me I could save 40% off my electrical board, if I bought a certain 'gadget', which entailed credit card number. They must think we are all stupid.

The next one to phone me will be told in a receptionist-type voice " By law, I am required to inform you that this telephone conversation is being recorded. It will be analysed for voice recognition purposes and the results added to a database which will be available to those inconvenienced by repeated scams. If your vocal patterns are identified on a future call you may find that the call is automatically terminated and your service provider informed." and then the phone will be put down smartly.

Is it true? As true as their scam. Fight fire with fire.

The more people who respond with this statement, the more likely it is that a rumour will circulate around the grapevine, and perhaps at least some of them will call it a day.

They are targeting everyone at the moment, I get about four a week. My sister -in- law has them, telling her to switch on her computer- she doesn't even have one.I don't know what to do about them.

I had SEVEN of these wretched calls yesterday AND we have telephone preference service but I presume as they're from abroad they don't count. I'm concerned about the older people who take a while to get up to answer the phone then are worried by someone telling them they have a problem they don't understand. And then of course there are the recorded messages. It's driving me absolutely nuts. My DD gets my GD to talk to them so he asks them about the weather, what they had for breakfast etc.....I'm afraid though I've lost my sense of humour on this one. It's a violation of our privacy and there should be some loophole we could find to stop it but I don't know where to start. Any legal eagles out there?

I have just had a call from "the technical department regarding your computer" Told him were to go "go forth and multiply" and put the phone down. Hope he understood what I meant.

They are just annoying and while I do try to remain polite as everybody has to earn a living somehow, it truly winds me up especially if I am waiting for an important call and daren't ignore the phone.

My son recently answered the phone in a relatives house in Wales and that lot were on the line and as there were at least eight computers with different users there he asked which one. He was told that which one wasnt something he understood. S cottoned on and told them he wasnt giving access to his computer or anyone elses. What I dont understand is how this particular scam is still going on. The Guardian article is from last July.

Here is an article about this www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres

It is in the "Am I being unreasonable" topic and the thread is called "to be annoyed"

If anyone has a permanent answer to this menace I should be glad to hear it.

Def. another thread on this exact subject, but not sure which one it is. Could tech help you find it?

There's another thread on this somewhere, nanapug. But actually no answers to what we can actually do.