A telemarketer for Microsoft just called me an idiot

[gsdx]

I'm fuming.

The phone just rang and I answered it, but was met with dead air. Then the line at the other end rang twice before a guy picked up and said 'hello'.

I responded 'hello', and then he mentioned his name and that he was calling for Microsoft and wanted to ask me about my computer.

I said, "I'm not interested. Please remove my number from your calling list and don't phone here again."

And then he said, "I don't care if you're not interested, you idiot."

I didn't hear anything else he said. I was too busy slamming the phone in his ear.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Probably the nice people scamming from India.

They claim to be MS asking about your computer, and then ask you to "check a few things" and "run some diagnostics because they've detected a problem but will help you fix it" and you end up downloading a program which opens a nice, hackable back-door in your system.

We get it all the time here in .za, people from Microsoft calling to help us fix our computers.
-d-

 

[ruivinho]

If you have his name, just report him...
I guess that's what you get for giving them a polite response, whenever a private line calls me, and I realize I'm on hold I immeaditely hang up...

 

[palbert]

Microsoft doesn't phone people. Don't blame them for this.

 

[unloadonme]

Microsoft doesn't phone people. Don't blame them for this.

Yeah. I think blackbeltninja hit the nail on the head. It was probably an attempt to get you to download some dodgy software or to give away your bank account number. Hanging up was the best thing you could have done.

 

[m1thousand]

I hate that pause on the phone. I know what's coming. Sometimes I'll say "no thank" and hang up but it happens enough that I just hang up without saying anything.

One time I asked"are you going to sell something"? She said "No". A few minutes later she began 'to sell something'
I said "you said you were selling anything but you are so I'm hanging up"
She called back and said I was rude for hanging up
I said "you said you weren't going to sell anything but you were so I hung up"

There are miserable people in the world because they are a telemarketer. It has to be a horrible job.

 

[star-warrior]

I had this call from an guy with an indian accent too. I told him he was a scammer. He said he wasn't, lol.

Sadly, there are a lot of unsophisticated internet users who are gullible and easily conned.

You did right slamming that phone down.

 

[Taz]

Next time a telemarketer calls you an idiot, remind them of how hollow their life is as a telemarketer.

 

[cgymike]

Sounds like a phishing scam. Be careful!

 

[SaskGuy]

I get calls like that all the time, but no one has ever called me an idiot! I guess they were just fed up with people being rude to them, and hanging up on them all the time.
I usually tell them to hold on a second, and then very quietly hang up the phone.

There's a company that calls me on a regular basis... they're posing as my bank and wanting to sell me life insurance... that is obviously a scam! It's a bit freaky how they got so much of my info though.

 

[gsdx]

They claim to be MS asking about your computer, and then ask you to "check a few things" and "run some diagnostics because they've detected a problem but will help you fix it" and you end up downloading a program which opens a nice, hackable back-door in your system.

I hadn't even thought of this. I've never got far enough into the conversation for them to even ask me anything like that. I get these calls quite regularly, but none of them have ever called me an idiot. Maybe he was pissed off because he's not making his quota.

Thanks for the info.

 

[maxpowr9]

It's why I won't ever answer the phone unless I know the person calling.

You should have just said: "I own no Microsoft products."

 

[gsdx]

^ I don't know who's calling me until I answer the phone. No caller ID.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

It was a scam. I've had these calls too, and Microsoft will NEVER call you. It's an India thing where they try to get personal data from you, or get you to sign onto a web site that locks up your PC until you pay them to fix it.

It's an extortionary tactic.

When they've called me I flat out tell them I know it's a scam and that they're liars and should be ashamed of themselves.


... btw - technology is such now with Apps. that they can make it look like they're calling from anywhere on the planet. Caller ID is pretty much useless with these people, and governments don't seem to care enough to try and stop them. Your best defense is not give them any info what so ever and hang up, and feel sorry for whoever does fall for it.

 

[Telstra]

Its time to stop using land-line.
Mobile phone is the way to go.

 

[bendted]

Its time to stop using land-line.
Mobile phone is the way to go.

Yes. I get zero telemarketing calls since I switched to cellular 4 years ago. I don't know why the don't call cell phones.
OP though needs his LL for DSL.

 

[gsdx]

Its time to stop using land-line.
Mobile phone is the way to go.

I don't go anywhere. (In the past 3 years, I've only been more than 3 blocks away from home 4 times.) I don't call anyone. Very few people call me. The only reason I have a phone is for the internet service.

A cell phone would be a complete waste of time and money for me.

 

[Telstra]

Maybe give them the silent treatment or just ask them personal questions until they hang up.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

Its time to stop using land-line.
Mobile phone is the way to go.

Cell phones aren't immune to scam calls/texts/e-mails either.

 

[gsdx]

Cell phones aren't immune to scam calls/texts/e-mails either.

Indeed. My roommate just now got a "You are a winner..." call. I get more of them, but he gets his share as well. (Usually 1 or 2 per week.)