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I once kept a "Microsoft tech support" scammer [1] on the phone for over 30 minutes while I pretended to download and install some bit of malware he was trying

I once kept a "Microsoft tech support" scammer [1] on the phone for over 30 minutes while I pretended to download and install some bit of malware he was trying to foist on me. When he finally realised what I was doing, I owned-up and politely asked why he was trying to rob me. He gave a loud scream of what sounded like pure frustration and hung up. I was laughing so hard I almost passed-out. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_support_scam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_support_scam

vijayr 11y ago
haha, one of my colleagues used to do it. somehow his phone number ended up on these lists and he used to get 2-3 calls a month, at work. Everytime he got a call he would ask us to be quiet (we have an open office) and then the fun would start - this colleague was so good in playing dumb, it was super entertaining. One day he got tired and asked the scammer if he would like to learn programming and that he was willing to teach if he wanted to learn. Nothing much came out of it but the calls stopped after that. Fun times.
jmcqk6 11y ago
I was under the impression that many times, the "scammer" is not even aware that they are in a scam. They're a contractor following a script. But I just did a search and I can't find the article (maybe from wired) where they talked about that.
- andyjohnson0 11y ago
  This one? http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/11/malwarebytes http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/11/malwarebytes
kelvin0 11y ago
Yeah, also got a call from one of these guys telling me me Windows PC was infected. I asked him if I could have his coordinates so I could call the police and confirm if this was a scam or not (obviously I knew this was a scam). So the guy at the other end of the phone tells me: "No problem, I can connect you to the police right now.." and proceeds to pause a bit and starts "Yes, Police chief here..." prentending to be the Police using the same voice and not even trying to disguise his voice ... good times!

vijayr 11y ago

haha, one of my colleagues used to do it. somehow his phone number ended up on these lists and he used to get 2-3 calls a month, at work. Everytime he got a call he would ask us to be quiet (we have an open office) and then the fun would start - this colleague was so good in playing dumb, it was super entertaining. One day he got tired and asked the scammer if he would like to learn programming and that he was willing to teach if he wanted to learn. Nothing much came out of it but the calls stopped after that. Fun times.

jmcqk6 11y ago

I was under the impression that many times, the "scammer" is not even aware that they are in a scam. They're a contractor following a script. But I just did a search and I can't find the article (maybe from wired) where they talked about that.

andyjohnson0 11y ago
This one? http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/11/malwarebytes http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/11/malwarebytes

kelvin0 11y ago

Yeah, also got a call from one of these guys telling me me Windows PC was infected. I asked him if I could have his coordinates so I could call the police and confirm if this was a scam or not (obviously I knew this was a scam). So the guy at the other end of the phone tells me: "No problem, I can connect you to the police right now.." and proceeds to pause a bit and starts "Yes, Police chief here..." prentending to be the Police using the same voice and not even trying to disguise his voice ... good times!