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Microsoft takes on tech support scammers[^] [BBC]
"In the UK Trading Standards has recently taken legal action against a man from Luton  who hired people at an Indian call centre to falsely tell people their computers had a serious problem."
/ravi
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I know someone who got one of those phone calls. They do not even own a computer!
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I know someone who got one and they didn't even own a telephone!  
"State acheived after eating too many chocolate-covered coconut bars - bountiful"
Chris C-B
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I've had a few although none recently.. If I have time, I play dumb and ask them to explain what problem they've detected, how they intend to resolve it, how much it'll cost, what their favourite lunch is, that kind of thing..
Once I get bored I then tell them I actually use a Mac, but I had one even insist I had "a virus on Windows 10 on my Mac" (about two years ago).
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Every time I read about one of these stories, I get so depressed... I feel like I'm missing out on all the fun!
I mean, if one of those fools actually tried that on me, I could have so much fun mentally destroying them over the phone. Remember, a telemarketing call isn't truly successful unless you make THEM hang up on YOU!
Some tips:
1) When they try to talk you through fixing your Windows computer, boot up a Linux box... Hey, X-Windows is still Windows!
2) Think of one of those older relatives who's never used a computer before, and should never be allowed near one... Ok, now pretend you're them. "Wait, which mouse button should I click it with?"
3) Have a fake name and some fake credit card info ready... To make it plausible, make sure to match the common starting digits with the card type (Look them up online)... But don't worry about actually having a VALID card number... When the checksum fails and the number is rejected, pretend you just read it wrong, and change one digit... See how many times you can repeat this before they give up.
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Ian Shlasko wrote: When the checksum fails and the number is rejected, pretend you just read it wrong, and change one digit... See how many times you can repeat this before they give up
I like this idea 
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Please phone, oh please, I have done the most of Ian suggested never gone that far though! 
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You are evil in a way that I respect and admire. Salute! ![Beer | [beer]](https://codeproject.freetls.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/beer.gif)
Geek code v 3.12
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- r++>+++ y+++*
Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
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This is actually very good advice! As long as they are wasting time with someone who knows it is scam, they are not exploiting a real victim!
--
"My software never has bugs. It just develops random features."
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when they ask to you to download some software to help them "correct" the issues keep telling them its failed to download after about 10 tries they finally ask what message you are getting then tell that it reporting that's its unable to run on OS/2
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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I guess I really shouldn't be surprised to see CP still has problems like this:
My Vote of 2[^]
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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That particular indifidual does seem to be rather negative[^] 
Clearly, he is difficult to please...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I don't think it's her. Trust me! 
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wow, just wow, This guy needs a life. Looks like he is continually reposting the two somehow as well. It is the holiday season and that does get some peoples panties in a wad. So who know.
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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I didn't seen anything wrong with his voting? We have the ability to vote and sure, he doesn't comment, but he has voted between 1 and 5 on a number of articles.
If the idea is one should never vote other than 5 than change the system
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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There is nothing wrong with his voting - we are all entitled to our opinions on articles and such like - it was the overwhelming number of "my vote of 1" and "my vote of 2" messages and the lack of any constructive criticism in them. Yes he upvoted a couple of things, but mostly it was 2's and no useful reason.
It's not abuse - if it was I'd have posted it in S&A - but it is rude and rather negative. (Particularly when most of the articles he down voted were otherwise pretty solidly up voted). Takes all sorts...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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surely equally as bad are all the "Great Article" +5s many obviously posted by the author's sycophantic hangers-on (or friends), on articles which have evident crap-ness.
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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I think of those as "sock puppet votes" and mentally discard them. 
If there are more than a couple, it's a good indicator of the article quality!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Quite - but it unfortunately screws it up more, I think, than the odd downvote.
A bad article with a high vote does two things: Makes people less likely to trust the ratings, and (I believe) intimidates potential low-voters from voting low.
A good article with one or two down votes makes no difference - except to the mighty egos of the author.
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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The moral of the story is, if you want to down vote John, do it properly!
veni bibi saltavi
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I can take criticism, but this kinda crap is pointless and doesn't serve a purpose.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Now I just wish I had seen it!
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I quoted it in my first response to him.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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really? his account is still valid?
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