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Posted by: HJD Jan 7 2010, 05:24 PM

I have had 3 phone calls in the last 2 days from a man with a very strong Indian Accent who claims he is calling on behalf of Windows / Microsoft & they need to clean up my computer of all it's Virus's.
If you receive such a call BEWARE this is a SCAM, they will try to get you to type in several sites & obviously you will eventually be asked for your Credit Card number. They are Very persistent but don't be fooled, i asked each their name one was Mike one was Steven & the other was (wait for it ) John Smith,
If you have any doubt about this Google 'Indian Computer Virus Scam' where you can read more about it.

Posted by: gel Jan 8 2010, 05:50 PM

Goodness gracious me!!
Was that Peter Sellers or Spike Milligan.?

With such calls I like to annoy them by pressing the "R"* recall button on your phone, and leave them on hold hearing some BT message, and make a cuppa!
*This brings up the dial tone and is officially so you can set up a 3 way call, by pressing various buttons subsequently to have a threesome

Posted by: Berkshirelad Jan 8 2010, 06:24 PM

Unfortunately you will be paying for the second call.

Posted by: lordtup Jan 8 2010, 07:05 PM

I have found the best way to any unsolicited call is to just hang up.
If it is important they will phone back...........then you hang up again .
Beats watching telly

Posted by: Berkshirelad Jan 8 2010, 07:16 PM

Most call centres are not billed the same way as us. They buy so many minutes on top of the line rental. Most of these contracts for 1 million + minutes include having the first 30 seconds of a call connection free.

If all you do is hang up, then the dialler system automatically presents another call to the agent. If you have stared speaking to an agent, then all you are doing is being impolite to a 'drone' who is just trying to earn a living. The people that you need to hold responsible are those that compile the dialler lists.

The best way to upset the calling company is just ask them to hang on a minute and just leave the handset on the table/chair until you get the replace handset signal from the exchange. This means that you are eating into their purchased minutes since the call lasts more than 30 seconds.

Posted by: Jayjay Jan 8 2010, 08:23 PM

I ask for their home telephone number so I can ring them at home or when they ask 'how are you' tell them. The weather is lousy, what the Council are not doing, how the trains are not running. It passes a very amusing 5 minutes.

Posted by: Strafin Jan 8 2010, 08:37 PM

"Listen, I have to transfer you to another phone, it will sound like I'm hanging up, but I'm not" *Click*

Posted by: gel Jan 8 2010, 09:17 PM

You won't if you just leave at dial tone, and do something of interest.