Same as others, sometimes I mess with them and keep them busy as long as possible and others I just tell them I do not even have a computer, they are simply scam fools.
I've been receiving several calls from this number (206) 555-0100.
I don't know anybody from that area code so I don't pick up the phone and let the answering machine do its job.
They never left any messages.
This is just one of many phone numbers used by these people I think are based in India and route their calls through a U.S. phone system. That's why they're able to use phone numbers that look like they came from within the U.S. This also must be why the FTC has difficulty shutting them down or stopping the calls even if you're on the Do No Call Registry which I am.
They will also use Vonage numbers through the internet that begin with a V. They also use 000-000-0000 and other numbers. The call I got today said Dir Assist WA in the caller ID along with the phone number. Often, they will call you by name which I think they must get from purchasing email lists from companies you purchased something from or registered a software with or signed up for a newsletter, etc.
The people on the other end of the phone speak very broken English and sound like they're from India. I could barely understand them. They will tell you they are calling from Microsoft and that they have detected an error or a virus in your computer. I'm sure they use Microsoft because they think you'll believe it and trust them if they say they are from Microsoft.
What they want is to gain remote access to your computer to fix it. If you agree and allow them remote access to your computer, you can bet they will install a virus and/or a Trojan horse program on your hard drive that will read every keystroke and send the information back to them including all your passwords and financial records. They will be able to have access to all of the information stored on your computer. Their viruses and Trojan horse programs are buried so deep they are almost impossible to find and eradicate. They can even crash your entire computer and render the hard drive totally useless.
First of all, neither Microsoft nor any other legitimate reputable company (other than the anti-virus program you have installed and running on your computer) would ever be able to detect a virus or error in your computer without you first giving them authorization to gain remote access to your computer.
Secondly, NO LEGITIMATE reputable company would ever call you telling you they found a virus or errors in your computer because it's impossible without you giving prior permission and authorization to remotely access your computer.
I've tried everything to get these calls to stop including telling them they had the wrong number hoping they would remove my name from their database. I have also reported them to the FTC. I finally gave up and now when I see it's them on the caller ID, I pick up the receiver and put it right back down... immediately. This disconnects the call and prevents them from leaving a recorded voice message. I do this now with ALL vendor calls.
Just got a call from 'David' claiming to be from Windows tech support claiming as other have said a computer at our home was sending error reports that may have been caused by hackers. Not having any computers in our house running Microsoft products I knew it was a scam.
I played along for a few minutes but after a bit I grew bored and let him know I knew this was a scam he quickly hung up.
I just received a call from this guy 206-555-1000, and he said he was from "windows", so I asked if he worked from Microsoft and he said he was an aganet. I asked him what he wanted and stopped and said I switched from a PC to a Mac, and he started yelling at me saying I think I am so smart, and I hung up on him. He called from another number 971-555-0129 and he told me "I'm going to f*ck you". Should I take this as a threat? I will be calling the attorney general in my state as I am also on the do not call list.