Update: Received a call from Symantec asking for the bogus person I gave to the above scammers. I declined the call and called the number back, which was indeed a Symantec employee. I was transferred to a manager and I asked where they obtained their information. I also explain that I never agreed to be solicited for services and declined the "free" whitepaper.
The manager at Symantec indicated they obtain their listed from a marketing firm. I explained I use the bogus name/address as a honeypot to figure out how these our names/contacts get sold. So they are going to backtrack the "honeypot" name and determine what company gathered the data. I also informed them that the agency collecting the data would falsely claim they worked for HP, Microsoft, or other such known brand names.
So what these guys are doing is gathering up information and sending you a whitepaper that puts you on spam list and then selling the contact data to marketing firms. Which in turn sell them to larger firms like Symantec.
Should be noted that the original call from Symantec they indicated that I was sent a whitepaper on Symantec Backup. Considering I never received such a email, I'm guessing this is what the scammers are doing to get around things. They make a claim indicating the these people were interested in such products.
Another Scam company claimed they were from HP, asked twice if that was true. Another India/Pakistan call center trying to gather data about our company, he was pleasant but persistent. After telling him he wasn't HP he just continue this script to try and validate whom he was talking to. I've long ago given this scam company fake name and title, so I know its a scam the moment they start asking for "me".
Just told him I know your not HP, I dialed the number he called in from which immediately went to a recorded message saying the number is not in use while I was on the phone with him
Remember these guys are out collecting information about your organization. Be friendly and provide misinformation, if you wondering how they got your name, probably Linkedin or similar social networks.
Update: Received a call from Symantec asking for the bogus person I gave to the above scammers. I declined the call and called the number back, which was indeed a Symantec employee. I was transferred to a manager and I asked where they obtained their information. I also explain that I never agreed to be solicited for services and declined the "free" whitepaper.
The manager at Symantec indicated they obtain their listed from a marketing firm. I explained I use the bogus name/address as a honeypot to figure out how these our names/contacts get sold. So they are going to backtrack the "honeypot" name and determine what company gathered the data. I also informed them that the agency collecting the data would falsely claim they worked for HP, Microsoft, or other such known brand names.
So what these guys are doing is gathering up information and sending you a whitepaper that puts you on spam list and then selling the contact data to marketing firms. Which in turn sell them to larger firms like Symantec.
Should be noted that the original call from Symantec they indicated that I was sent a whitepaper on Symantec Backup. Considering I never received such a email, I'm guessing this is what the scammers are doing to get around things. They make a claim indicating the these people were interested in such products.