Scam calls

[Yastreb]

Just the other day I got a call from an unfamiliar number. I don't usually have to deal with many scammers because mostly they call from abroad I just don't answer. This time, however, it was a domestic number and I thought it could be something important. Instead the caller was a woman who spoke English and claimed to be from Windows tech support. Yeah, right.

I decided to play along. She talked about how my computer had been hacked and I just said yes to everything. Soon I was transferred to a male scammer who started giving me instructions. I played for time by pretending to turn on my computer and then talking about some fictional problems I had had with it. I asked if the problems were because of the hacking and surpise surprise, he said yes. Then he gave intructions to open the Command Prompt window and spelled letter by letter what I should write in it. Finally he asked what I had written, but because I had not actually written anything and couldn't remember the letters I had to stop playing.

I told the scammers I had been just wasting their time on purpose and my computer was not even open. They didn't say anything. I told I had the speaker on and my family had heard the whole exchange and were laughing their heads off, which was true. They still kept silent. I continued that I knew they were scammers, thanked them multiple times for the laughs and said "I hope you had fun, too". At this point they hung up. It was just simple fun, nothing sophisticated like those people who install malware on the scammer's computer, but it made my day.

How do you like to deal with scammers? Tell your stories.

 

[The_biscuits_532]

I haven't had any spam calls in years but a few months back I got some messages from a guy in my old physics class that pretty much amounted to an unsolicited "hey let's rp"

He was always a strange guy

I diffused the situation by spamming him with terrible garfield memes

 

[Ramjet]

Just the other day I got a call from an unfamiliar number. I don't usually have to deal with many scammers because mostly they call from abroad I just don't answer. This time, however, it was a domestic number and I thought it could be something important. Instead the caller was a woman who spoke English and claimed to be from Windows tech support. Yeah, right.

I decided to play along. She talked about how my computer had been hacked and I just said yes to everything. Soon I was transferred to a male scammer who started giving me instructions. I played for time by pretending to turn on my computer and then talking about some fictional problems I had had with it. I asked if the problems were because of the hacking and surpise surprise, he said yes. Then he gave intructions to open the Command Prompt window and spelled letter by letter what I should write in it. Finally he asked what I had written, but because I had not actually written anything and couldn't remember the letters I had to stop playing.

I told the scammers I had been just wasting their time on purpose and my computer was not even open. They didn't say anything. I told I had the speaker on and my family had heard the whole exchange and were laughing their heads off, which was true. They still kept silent. I continued that I knew they were scammers, thanked them multiple times for the laughs and said "I hope you had fun, too". At this point they hung up. It was just simple fun, nothing sophisticated like those people who install malware on the scammer's computer, but it made my day.

How do you like to deal with scammers? Tell your stories.

Bravo!

It's been a long time since I actually got a real person right off the bat, now it's all robocalls out here expressing that revenue Canada is auditing you, and you owe X amount of back taxes and what not.

Used to fuck with them pretty good back in the day.
Just kept them on the phone as long as possible like you did, as you said the longer you do, the less time they have to scam other people (especially the elderly) that might fall for it.
Just don't forget to report the number that called you though.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

I've found I can't pull off any pranks on scammers, so I don't respond to them anymore. If I don't recognize the number, I block it - end of story.

Anyone who REALLY knows a thing about me knows to text me and I can fix it after the fact.

 

[Frank Gulotta]

They somehow got even worse during the pandemic, they even send fake job opportunities these days. I won't go into details on how it works, but it would result in people who are already unemployed and desperate for activity being put several thousand bucks in debt, and likely under police investigation for fraud.

I've screwed with a few of these people in the past, even pretending to be scandal-ridden celebrities and flirting with them until they're sick of it
Screw these very shit people!

 

[Raever]

I tend to block the numbers as soon as I answer them if I don't know the person.
There's no point in wasting more than a second or two of my time.

 

[Kellan Meig'h]

I get a lot of scam calls. Depends on the mood as to whether I screw with them or not. Microsoft Tech support scams are easy to waste about an hour of their time if you're good. I can do the "Computer Illiterate Grandfather with the Grandkids over" routine and really Eff with them. Let them start to give directions, then wait until they get most of the way through to "Yell at the grandkids", interrupting them. I had this one dOOd cussing in some Middle-eastern dialect after about forty minutes. Good stuff like "I don't have a key with a Windows logo. Nope no key there." "Nope, none of my keys say Alt on them" "Click on what icon? Don't have one that looks like that." Finally, when he's just ready to go ballistic, I say, "Would it help if I started this Mac G3 up?" or "Can you tell me how to turn this tablet on?" They straight up lose their shit. Starts cussing me out so I hang up. He calls back (!) cusses me out some more.

 

[MaelstromEyre]

I mess with the Microsoft tech support scam callers, telling them I can't move the cursor any more because the mouse is at the edge of the pad.

 

[Deleted member 111470]

I remember I once received a call from someone who claims to be a mobile provider, saying they had a really good deal for me, and asked me if I'm interested. I told them that I don't really use a phone and that I communicate with smoke signals. They hung up.

 

[FlooferWoofer]

I keep getting this phone call about my car's extended warranty... On a 19 year old car with 140k miles...
Now, I don't answer if it's spam risk because 9/10 it's the same morons who think my car has a warranty when it barely Kelly Blue Book's the price of it's yearly insurance. These days, I answer just hoping a real person finally picks up so I can absolutely let them have it. No one ever does and the call seems to drop right when the ring starts.

 

[TemetNosce88]

I get a lot of scam calls, but I also aggressively screen my calls. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. If it's actually important they'll leave a message. Though my favorite is when they use numbers close to my own to call. The down side is I haven't lived in that area code for about 8 years, and never had business with anyone there when I did.

Though one time, they spoofed *my own* number to call me. It was trippy.

 

[Kumali]

The ones I get are mostly about my car's "extended warranty." Once I asked if the warranty would still apply since I'd had the car extensively customized. He asked what specific custom work I'd had done, and I said I'd had a wood stove installed in the back seat, I'd had all the doors taken off and replaced with cage doors since I travel a lot with wild animals, and I'd had a swimming pool installed on the roof. About that point he hung up...

 

[Yakamaru]

Oh oh oh oh oh!

This reminded me of Jim Browning and ScammerRevolts.

First one take on scammers, the other Syskey's the scammers' computers. Absolutely hilarious content and giving these people what they deserve.

 

[Zara the Hork-Bajir]

I get a ton of scam calls that show up as a local numbers, though usually they are just automated messages so you cant mess with them. The strangest are ones that just start a rapidfire Chinese pre-recorded message, how can they possibly scam me if I have no idea what they are saying, does anyone else get these?

 

[Kumali]

I get a ton of scam calls that show up as a local numbers, though usually they are just automated messages so you cant mess with them. The strangest are ones that just start a rapidfire Chinese pre-recorded message, how can they possibly scam me if I have no idea what they are saying, does anyone else get these?

The ones that are automated usually eventually say "To speak to a representative, press one" or some such. That's when you press one, get connected to a live human being, and start fucking with them. I've gotten a few of the ones in Chinese, yeah, and I just hang up on them. It is kind of mysterious...maybe I should wait and see if there's a chance to leave a message, and then leave a message either in English or in my godawful French...

 

[Frank Gulotta]

 

[pthhpth]

i used to answer spam calls because they always came from local numbers and i was always like "but what if it's important??". and then i'd answer and they'd ask me about my vehicle... i can't drive, and never will be able to drive, so i just hang up immediately. i recently turned on call silencing and haven't heard from them since; though, i do see the missed calls in my recents occasionally, and it seems that they stepped up their game and are now calling under names like "american eagle" and "sephora". as if i'd ever buy from either of those stores lmao

 

[Deleted member 82554]

I used to play-along play but can't be fucked with that anymore, I just straight up call them out on it now. Then I go to YouTube to watch scammers getting their ass handed to them.

Besides, all those multi-billion dollar companies never cold-call you anyways...

 

[Mambi]

How do you like to deal with scammers? Tell your stories.

Oh I LOVE dealing with scammers...they can be so much fun and knowing you're wasting the time and money of a someone who'd be stealing from someone else if not messing with you? Warms the heart...

My favourite one was the tax CRA scam . For those that don't know they basically leave a message saying many things but usually that there's a tax problem and the cops are opening a case file on you and need info or that there is tax fraud suspected and you owe <X> money and must pay in hours or the RCMP will arrest you like they're on their way right now. Obvious BS but you know how it is, right? They aim for the morons...


Anyway I get a call, and I'll try and go by memory here but basic transcription was this:

(initial message) "You are currently suspected of owing tax taxes of <some scary number...$1586.54 or so>, and a case file has been opened. You are advised to contact an legal representative and have them contact the RCMP as soon as possible. Press 1 to contact a CRA or RCMP representative to register your details and arrange payment options" (every word is BS of course, but I hit "1" for laughs)

"Hello, this is <whoever> from the "CRA", how may I help you?" (fyi, CRA=Canadian revenue agency...the gouvernment tax people)

(playing along) "Ummm, your system called me, so you tell me!"

"Ok sir, I assume you have recieved a phone message from our system then, have you been contacted concerning a recent suspected criminal activity on your account or due to a previously discovered owing of money to the gouvernment?"

"Um, the message said I owed money so I..."

(interrupting) "Very good sir, we will open a case for you right away...please give us your name and address now. (keyboard clicking sounds heard)"

(me not being an idiot) "Well, if you don't know who I am, then no you can't...like, don't you have it already? Your system called me!"

<very serious tone> "Sir please, this is a very serious matter, you must inform me of identification information or criminal charges can and will be filed against you for interefering in an active investigation! Now please give me your name and address and we can complete your case file"

(trying not to laugh) "If I refuse, what do you plan to do?"

"Sir, if you do not cooperate, the police will be sent to arrest you for interfering with a criminal investigation! Now you must..."

<me interrupting> "You don't know who I am or where I am yet, stupid!!! Where do you plan to send them? Who do you plan to tell them to arrest???" I'm just laughing openly now...there's silence for a few seconds, then they just hang up. Priceless!!! <LOL>

 

[Marius Merganser]

Had a fun call awhile back about buying a time share.
Told them I worked as an alpaca farmer and I couldn't buy the time share because they didn't allow pets and I bring all my alpacas with me whenever I go on vacation.

 

[the sleepiest kitty]

If you get a call that says, "Oh good, I'm glad you picked up. I was just about to get my answering machine voice ready." you need to just hang up and block the number. Do not say a word, just hang up.

Also, I get a lot of extended vehicle warrenty calls too, even though I have never purchased, leased or even DROVE a car before.

What I want to do next time is say (in my best automated message voice) "To speak to the person you are tryibg to contact, dial any key". Then after I hear a key tone I'll say "I'm sorry, but the person you are trying to reach is not a moron and has never purchased or even leased a car before. Hanging up now. Goodbye!"

 

[Kumali]

The first question the car warranty callers usually ask is the year, make and model of my car, so sometimes I tell them it's a 1952 DeLorean Pinto, or some equally absurd combination.

 

[The_biscuits_532]

The first question the car warranty callers usually ask is the year, make and model of my car, so sometimes I tell them it's a 1952 DeLorean Pinto, or some equally absurd combination.

1417 Honda Motorwagen

 

[aomagrat]

I must speak to Officer Agent or my warrant will be arrest. (In a thick accent)

 

[Kinare]

I don't have the smarts to fuck with scammers, but I do love watching Kitboga do just that (I have him on in the background right now live on Twitch, but he does Youtube too). He goes out of his way to make sure he wastes a ton of their time and, if he can, get info he can use to report them to authorities.

His most common are these refund scams where they contact you saying you were charged for some computer service and if you don't want it then it can be refunded, obviously most people don't want this random ass program for $300-$500, so then the scammer goes through this routine and eventually "sends" you too much money (in reality all he's doing is changing the html code on your banking website to make it look as though that's the case), then demands you pay back the extra money in gift cards or he'll steal all of your money and report you to authorities. Kit's goal is to get them all the way to that point as slowly as possible, "buy" gift cards, then while they're still on his PC remotely (he uses a virtual machine to keep his main PC safe) he redeems the gift cards instead of giving them the numbers and it's hilarious how badly they freak out. He has different characters he roleplays and sometimes has guests on. He also takes scam submissions from the community.

My favorite thing he has done so far was when he was getting towards the end of a stream and knew he was losing the guy he was trying to mess with, he merged a call with another scammer who was trying to call him and then kept going with merging different calls until he got a couple who actually played the parts, one of the scammers took the hint and pretended to be a victim while the other scammer had no idea even though they were in the same office building.