topic Re: more scam calls in Community Spirit

more scam calls

davidc4430 — Wed, 22 May 2019 06:24:07 GMT

4 scamers today

3 from the telstra technical dept and 1 from the nbn technical dept.

all indian accents, as per usual and all claim if i dont let them 'fix' the problem my internet will stop working

Re: more scam calls

Anonymous — Wed, 22 May 2019 06:28:38 GMT

Nah, sorry can't talk right now,I need to pop this head into some Formaldehyde before it attracts the blowflys

*Hate it when that happens

Re: more scam calls

domino-710 — Wed, 22 May 2019 06:49:37 GMT

There is always - a time delay.

Before they begin their spiel.

Patience & wait.

Once they begin :

In your best monotone.

' Hello - you have reached the - AFP Hotline - how may I direct your call '.

OK then.

Re: more scam calls

whiznumber6 — Thu, 23 May 2019 06:17:26 GMT

With these off-shore scam calls, they use auto-diallers: the dialler calls a number, if it detects a human on the other end, it redirects the call to the scammer. There's usually a second or two of silence, then a burst of noise as the call gets picked up at the scammer's end - as soon as I hear that noise, I hang up.

Unless I'm in a playful mood - then I'll answer, and play along for a while. If it's a Trelstra scammer, I let them go through their whole spiel, then politely mention that we're with Optus, and that it wasn't even a good try..

If it's a Microsoft scammer, I'll start by acting dumb (Q: "Do you have any Windows open" A: "Ooh, no, it's far too cold - I even have the heater on...", etc). At some point, I'll stammer "but... but... I'm on a Mac", and make them repeat the entire spiel again.

I'll often do everything they tell me (well, let them believe I am), then it gets to a point where I've (supposedly) opened a website, and they ask what the page says - at which point I hit with them "It says.." followed by a highly-offensive remark about them, and their parentage, then hamng up.

One rang me back, I swear he was close to tears... Got worse when i gave my opinion on the method of his conception...

Also been known to deliver the odd dreadfully racist insult and high-level coarse language - not as though they can complain to anyone.

Re: more scam calls

springyzone — Thu, 23 May 2019 22:09:15 GMT

Your post did make me laugh.

I can't say I would ever go as far as being racist or swearing, but I did once ask a woman operator if her parents brought her up to be a liar.

My fav though is when I get 'Telstra tech dept' who say there is a problem with my connection. I once replied that we weren't with telstra and they came back with-not your home, the lines. So I just said-wonderful that you're on top of the problems with your lines. They're your responsibility, not mine, so you'll need to fix them, won't you.

But it has got me to the point that if I see a private number or number that doesn't look local to Melb, I hesitate to answer. I once answered and got an Indian voice and was almost going to hang up and it was a local chemist to say an order had come in.

Has anyone else struck 'Nicole'? She's an automated message in an aussie accent. They seem to be using her a lot too. That's an immediate hang up from me as well.

Unfortunately, these scammers do catch some people out. I was shocked a few months ago when I sent an email off to a distant cousin and got a reply that she was very stressed and trying to sort things out with her bank after she was scammed of $14,000 by 'Telstra tech dept'.

This is a very intelligent woman, let me add. Very organised, very capable and able to do intricate research when it comes to things like genealogy. Just not so computer savvy.

Re: more scam calls

whiznumber6 — Thu, 23 May 2019 23:29:46 GMT

@springyzone wrote:

I can't say I would ever go as far as being racist or swearing...

I figure that if they're deliberately engaging in a criminal act (ie: fraud), they pretty much deserve everything they get - no boundaries. The normal standards of decency don't apply.

KInd of like the burg-u-lar who slips and breaks his ankle while robbing your house. Too bad, so sad...

The Australian Taxation Office ones used to be good - you'd answer, get a recorded message saying that charges would be laid against you unless you called the following number immediately. Naturally, I'd ring the number. The conversations would normally go something like this:

Scammer: "Hello, Australian Taxation Office"

Me: "Yes, this is Senior Detective Jamieson of the Commonwealth Police Fraud Investigation Division, just hoping to talk to someone regarding scam calls being made involving this number".

Quick hang-up. I hit "re-dial".

Scammer: "Hello, Australian Taxation Office"

Me: "Yes, Senior Detective Jamieson of the Commonwealth Police Fraud Investigation Division again - we appear to have been cut off, just wondering if I speak to someone regarding these fraud calls?".

Another hang-up. Time for the pay-off:

Scammer: "Hello, Australian Taxation Office"

Me: "Senior Detective Jamieson of the Commonwealth Police Fraud Investigation Division again - seems to be a problem with the phone lines, would it be easier if I came around in person? We have your address...".

Great thing is, the business I work in has around twenty outgoing lines, so even if they block Line 1, I just make the next call from Line 2, then Line 3, etc. Hours of fun... And again, it's not as though they can report you...

A few people must be doing the call-back as "police", because the last couple of times I've done it, they've requested badge numbers!

Re: more scam calls

domino-710 — Fri, 24 May 2019 01:23:45 GMT

Re: more scam calls

martinw-48 — Fri, 24 May 2019 09:19:27 GMT

I miss the scammers.
I used to let them go through all their rubbish and lead them on.
Loved the old problem with your computer one.
I've never had a computer.
They used to lose it when I'd constantly clean claim that the screen wasn't coming up and then I'd tell them "I know why I can't get that screen I don't even have a computer"
They'd hang up every time and I would get a little chuckle

Re: more scam calls

zanadoo_56 — Fri, 24 May 2019 10:21:29 GMT

At the opposite end, my mother is not yet on the NBN but it will be happening soon.

She only wants a landline, no internet. She phoned Telstra (her landline is with them) and went through the rigmarole of pressing buttons until after being on hold for a while, finally got a human.

Telstra (femaile) employee listened to what my mother wanted. She then asked, "Are you on the internet?" My mother said no. Telstra female promptly hung up!

Mum had better luck a week later, thankfully with a more helpful Telstra employee.

Re: more scam calls

davidc4430 — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:11:05 GMT

new tactic (for me anyway)

today

indian caller reads out my full name and address. including my middle name

usually i just get my surname ie: is this mr ****

then into the speil

still didnt work, i let her start rattling off her lines then put the phone down and went back to doing what was before she called

Re: more scam calls

springyzone — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 23:38:43 GMT

I am still getting the very serious and ominous recordings from Nicole. She of the aussie accent.

Nicole always starts with the foreboding news that my internet is going to be disconnected within 24 hours.

Yet here I am, folks, online as usual.

It is sort of frustrating as because it is a recording, I can't have any fun with replying.

Re: more scam calls

bright.ton42 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 01:09:43 GMT

Nicole usually asks me to press a key to get into their technical dept. I did once and asked for their ph no so i could ring them back so of course they hung up. That was when i had time on my hands. Now i just tell them to get lost, tho not so politely.

Re: more scam calls

lyhargr_0 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 01:15:29 GMT

Most people have calling number/message bank display, thus if you dont recognise the number, just dont answer the ph., if it's important enough the caller will always leave a message and you can call them back, if you wish to, save a lotta time and hassle

Re: more scam calls

lyndal1838 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 02:21:47 GMT

Some of us with time on our hands like to have a bit of fun with these callers.

I have a very effective answer to the spiel about my internet being cut off....I just say "OK" and usually get asked do I want to know why? When I answer "not really" it usually sends the caller into a spin and they hang up without any harsh words being exchanged.

The scammers who want access to my computer to get rid of the nasties that are lurking there get led on to believe I am doing what they ask of me. When they finally say they cannot access the computer I just tell them that I was not born yesterday and they will never get access to my computer.

I have learned all the double talk given by the Electricity comparison sites and these days just cut them short with "I am happy with my current supplier...thank you....goodbye". I don't give them time to even get warmed up.

Re: more scam calls

lyhargr_0 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 03:16:19 GMT

Guess I have far better things to do with my time, like pottering in my garden etc 🙂

Re: more scam calls

bright.ton42 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 03:29:37 GMT

Agree, but sometimes I like to have a bit of fun.

Thing is I don't have a smart phone (yep, still with the dinosaurs) so can't see who's calling which is why I usually have the answer m/c on where they just hang up but occasionally if expecting a call will answer.

Re: more scam calls

lyhargr_0 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 03:48:22 GMT

@bright.ton42 wrote:
Agree, but sometimes I like to have a bit of fun.

Thing is I don't have a smart phone (yep, still with the dinosaurs) so can't see who's calling which is why I usually have the answer m/c on where they just hang up but occasionally if expecting a call will answer.

I dont own any type of mobile ph and prob never will. My home ph has calling number display, so I just let it ring .... I hate talking on the ph at the best of times, so does hubs, so we rarely answer it

Re: more scam calls

the_great_she_elephant — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:14:18 GMT

We have a Telstra Phone Guardian and don't get bothered by these calls. (excpet the occasional ones on our mobiles) Best ivestment we ever made!

Re: more scam calls

lyndal1838 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 07:42:44 GMT

@lyhargr_0 wrote:
Guess I have far better things to do with my time, like pottering in my garden etc 🙂

I wish I could potter in my garden....it would be much more fun than being stuck indoors with mobility problems.

At least taking the mickey out of the scammers keeps my mind active if not my body.

Re: more scam calls

domino-710 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 08:15:20 GMT

I enjoy doing it all.

I potter - I clean - I waste time - not exactly in that order.

There is something to be said about getting our own back on those ' creeps ' from these scam calls.

A certain justice - if you like.

Make my day. lol