"we are calling about a problem your reported...

Man of Honour
Joined
14 Nov 2005
Posts
10,722
Location
Up North
Recieved a call from today over my landline regarding a problem I reported.

Caller "Hello, this is xxxxxx from HCL. I am calling with regard to the problem you reported with your internet."

Me: "Sorry, I do not know what you are talking about, I havn't made any such report?"

Caller: "Ok, the first thing I would like you to do is click start....."

She then went on to direct me to allow remote connection. Obviously I didn't do this and when I asked her where she got her information from about me (I am ex-directory) she said I made the report. When I asked her my name or my i.p address (thinking one of my little ones had been up to no good) the line went dead. 5 minutes later I get another call from a different person (but again with an asian accent), this time asking about a problem with my windows xp installation (all my household pc's are W7) and again ignoring my refusal to accept I had made any report, they went on to direct me to remote desktop again. Due to me decorating and being up to my eyes in wallpaper paste at the time, I lost patience instead of actually investigating further and playing along.

I've checked with the kids and the wife but nobody has asked for help with any pc either by phone or by clicking some dodgy add. My kids don't know our landline number anyway so that pretty much counts them out and the wife rarely uses the pc's.

Anybody else had calls like this? New kind of scam perhaps?

Number was witheld but wiki showed HCL (could have been HSL?) is a legit company in the I.T field. Wonder how many people fall for this?

HCL
 
Yup. Obviously the pc savvy won't but the likes of my mum/dad who can just about turn pc on and open a browser wouldn't know what they were letting themselves in for before it's too late!
 
play along. My Grandad does whenever he gets calls about stuff he doesn't want. They always give up and he has a right good time.

Last one some dude tried to sell him a new mobile. Grandad told the guy that he already had a mobile but would like a car. 15 minutes later the caller gave up.
 
Were I not covered in goop I would have had some fun but alas I lost my rag with them instead which perhaps prompted the second call.
 
its a scam
use google
many people get this
it could have been from email sign up
sign up to websites
mobile phone sign up
maybe something you did a year ago
make sure the family dont do it
 
Wont work with my network anyway for some very good reasons.

1) Have a dynamic IP so it wont work.
2) The firewall blocks these connections.
 
Wont work with my network anyway for some very good reasons.

1) Have a dynamic IP so it wont work.
2) The firewall blocks these connections.

I'm not talking about hacking into your network. With RDC you let the person take control of your pc by inviting them!
 
had a couple of family members and mates report this to me lately asking what would I do (hate being the pronounced IT guy of the family) but yeah I reckon its a scam
 
Asians keep on calling me to talk about my government grant for cavity wall insulation. The line dies when I ask them where they got my number.

I'm also ex-directory. How much effort does it take to scan for active phone lines?
 
its a scam
use google
many people get this
it could have been from email sign up
sign up to websites
mobile phone sign up
maybe something you did a year ago
make sure the family dont do it
cheers dude
great info
helpful post
ill google it
love your posts
short and punchy
punctuation absent
no capitals
efficient and minimalist
like ADD poems
someone on speed
teeth grinding
dismantle a biro
banging hard house
up till 4
 
In other news, they're probably just making up any old numbers and trying them. They'll get lucky and trojan a few PCs here and there, get a bit of a botnet going, rent it out to the unscrupulous.

Should keep them hanging on for ages... "Where is remote desktop connection?" etc.
 
Of course it's a scam; that much is as clear as daylight.

It's just depressing how many people will simply do what the caller tells them to do, under the assumption that they know best. It's a little like someone knocking on your door and asking for your car keys so they can fix your car for you.
 
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