Reply to: I'm from Microsoft, there's something wrong with your computer

[xoggoth]

some are re-routed to display a different number to the original one

Not sure how they do this. I keep a log of cold calls so I can add any that call too many times to the blocker and some are weird numbers like 000 or 0000 000000. Had some that appear but be local but pretty sure they weren't.

They need to develop these call blockers a bit more. List you can set up is far too small and it would be handy to block any number that starts with a certain sequence.

[vetran]

Not sure how they are complicit - not all numbers are blocked, some are re-routed to display a different number to the original one, and if the phone is an IP phone, the routing information is dummy anyway.





A rather simplistic solution, if you ask me. Because what happens next is a bunch of scammers log your number as a scam number, which gets your number blocked and the only way to release it is for you to pay the administration fee - either to the scammers, or to the phone company.


O2 have a process in place for spam texts, where you forward the text to 7726 (i.e. SPAM). Because it is a text, they can analyse the information in it (something that can't be done as easily with a voice call) and if it meets certain criteria then the number is blocked from their network.

if its IP the last identifiable then it gets blocked. Agree with other Telco's to eradicate spam.

100 unique scammers need to block it after they have been called by the number they are complaining about - see the problem in your analysis?

the routing information in most modern exchanges is fairly comprehensive they just need to dump it to a database if the next call within 30 mins is a scam report.

[WTFH]

You can stop calls from the UK by registering for the Telephone Preference Service. Of course calls from abroad are not subject to British rules. ISTM that most of these calls come from India, and I wonder if our dear government has ever considered raising with our friends in government India the idea of a mutual application of these "no spam calls"?

TPS only applies to businesses that agree to abide by its rules.
Also, the physical location of the caller (or their accent) does not necessarily mean that is the "number" which is sent through with the call. People with Indian accents live all over the world, and re-routing of numbers is common practice. That's why, when you phone a UK helpdesk, your call could be answered anywhere in the world, not necessarily in the country or area code you called.

[expat]

While I feel like a rant: I would just block "unknown" calls but I can't because some agencies come up as unknown or withheld. Can you guys stop that, please?

[WTFH]

well as they should get the private routing information (only we see number witheld, BT see the number so they can charge termination fees) they could block numbers used for these scams.They are complicit in this. Similar could be said for premium rate scams.

Not sure how they are complicit - not all numbers are blocked, some are re-routed to display a different number to the original one, and if the phone is an IP phone, the routing information is dummy anyway.

I would like to see dial "scam" e.g. 5643 after a call and the number is automatically tagged as scam. Once the number has > 100 complaints it automatically goes to a automated message which gives the originator a chance to pay an administration fee with a credit card and prove they are not a scam.

A rather simplistic solution, if you ask me. Because what happens next is a bunch of scammers log your number as a scam number, which gets your number blocked and the only way to release it is for you to pay the administration fee - either to the scammers, or to the phone company.


O2 have a process in place for spam texts, where you forward the text to 7726 (i.e. SPAM). Because it is a text, they can analyse the information in it (something that can't be done as easily with a voice call) and if it meets certain criteria then the number is blocked from their network.

[expat]

You can stop calls from the UK by registering for the Telephone Preference Service. Of course calls from abroad are not subject to British rules. ISTM that most of these calls come from India, and I wonder if our dear government has ever considered raising with our friends in government India the idea of a mutual application of these "no spam calls"?

[WTFH]

Normally I ask them where they got my number from.
Their first response is that it is linked to my computer. If I'm not bouncing off servers in Belgium and the US, then maybe I play along a bit more.


If I feel like wasting a bit of time, I will ask them if they are religious.
Normally they answer yes (after a few seconds, cause they are now off-script)


So, I follow up with "and what does your religion teach about lying and cheating?"

[vetran]

Not sure what BT could do, most of the calls will originate from outside the UK

well as they should get the private routing information (only we see number witheld, BT see the number so they can charge termination fees) they could block numbers used for these scams.They are complicit in this. Similar could be said for premium rate scams.

I would like to see dial "scam" e.g. 5643 after a call and the number is automatically tagged as scam. Once the number has > 100 complaints it automatically goes to a automated message which gives the originator a chance to pay an administration fee with a credit card and prove they are not a scam.

[sartois]

Funnily enough I just had "Alan" from the Microsoft Windows department on the phone wanting to talk to me about my computer.

I just kept quite while he said "Can you hear me? Are you there?" for about 3 minutes before hanging up.

What really makes me angry is that BT should be doing far, far more in blocking these scam calls. When I spoke to BT last time they really weren't very interested.

Landline-telephony is broken. I don't want anyone to be able to call me ( or my family ) at home from anywhere in the world.

I really wonder why I have a landline. I never use it. The kids never use it. The missus never uses it. The only calls we get on it are cold-calls.

It's almost as pointless as daily postal deliveries ... there's nothing in them except junk mail that goes straight to the bin. One delivery a week would be better.

Am I the only one who loves getting these sort of calls... gives me great pleasure in asking them what I should be doing to fix the problem, telling them that no that didn't work, asking what a browser is, asking how to start this and that, where to type stuff in as I can't find that key etc, generally being a complete twit, then asking why exactly my zx spectrum would develop a microsoft problem when its not made by them...

Maybe I need to get out more!

[DimPrawn]

Please report the hack/fraud attempt here:

Action Fraud
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/new...computer-jan15

[mudskipper]

Funnily enough I just had "Alan" from the Microsoft Windows department on the phone wanting to talk to me about my computer.

According to the logmein session on mother's computer, her chap was called David Happy. Which is a nice name.

Edit: He crops up a lot! http://uk.whocalledme.com/PhoneNumbe...2441001/page:2

[SimonMac]

Funnily enough I just had "Alan" from the Microsoft Windows department on the phone wanting to talk to me about my computer.

I just kept quite while he said "Can you hear me? Are you there?" for about 3 minutes before hanging up.

What really makes me angry is that BT should be doing far, far more in blocking these scam calls. When I spoke to BT last time they really weren't very interested.

Landline-telephony is broken. I don't want anyone to be able to call me ( or my family ) at home from anywhere in the world.

I really wonder why I have a landline. I never use it. The kids never use it. The missus never uses it. The only calls we get on it are cold-calls.

It's almost as pointless as daily postal deliveries ... there's nothing in them except junk mail that goes straight to the bin. One delivery a week would be better.

Not sure what BT could do, most of the calls will originate from outside the UK

[SimonMac]

After a very bad day, I get one of these. I did not think and gave them credit card number.

I realized one hour later. Credit card cancelled. Payment refunded. Computer rebuilt.

It taught me a lesson.

There is a reason for everything. And sometimes that reason is total stupidity.

Hands up. My fault.

Oh Suity!

[mudskipper]

Fair comment.

I post on CUK. What more evidence do you need?

It was a very bad day.

[BrilloPad]

Jeez, I can understand some old dear falling for it, but............have you lost your mind?

Fair comment.

I post on CUK. What more evidence do you need?

It was a very bad day.