Nasty people pretending they're from BT

[--------]

I've just had a call from a very unpleasant individual calling himself Brian Thomson to tell me that due to arrears on my account he was about to cut my phone and broadband off for up to 72 hours after I settled the account.

He was very helpful - I could pay the arrears by Credit or Debit card right there and then.

All I needed to do was give him my card details ....

He was convincing, up to a point, but he had no idea of my account number or of how many bills I had received since the date of my alleged failure to pay this fictitious surcharge.

My line was to be cut as soon as either he or I put the phone down on his call. Neat?

Didn't get what he was after, but I'd like to shove his phone where the sun don't shine.

Take care, folks.

[Pretty Boy]

I've just had a call from a very unpleasant individual calling himself Brian Thomson to tell me that due to arrears on my account he was about to cut my phone and broadband off for up to 72 hours after I settled the account.

He was very helpful - I could pay the arrears by Credit or Debit card right there and then.

All I needed to do was give him my card details ....

He was convincing, up to a point, but he had no idea of my account number or of how many bills I had received since the date of my alleged failure to pay this fictitious surcharge.

My line was to be cut as soon as either he or I put the phone down on his call. Neat?

Didn't get what he was after, but I'd like to shove his phone where the sun don't shine.

Take care, folks.

That one is particularly nasty and effective. Usually what happens is when you hang up they stay on the line at their end. You pick up a minute later to check your phobes working and hey presto there's no dialling tone because you're still connected to the scammer. Cue Mr helpful phoning back a couple of minutes later to sort the issue for you.

It's preying on the vulnerable and it's pretty disgusting behaviour.

[McD]

That one is particularly nasty and effective. Usually what happens is when you hang up they stay on the line at their end. You pick up a minute later to check your phobes working and hey presto there's no dialling tone because you're still connected to the scammer. Cue Mr helpful phoning back a couple of minutes later to sort the issue for you.

It's preying on the vulnerable and it's pretty disgusting behaviour.


Yep that's how I've heard it happens too. I completely agree with your last sentence PB.

[Speedy]

I've just had a call from a very unpleasant individual calling himself Brian Thomson to tell me that due to arrears on my account he was about to cut my phone and broadband off for up to 72 hours after I settled the account.

He was very helpful - I could pay the arrears by Credit or Debit card right there and then.

All I needed to do was give him my card details ....

He was convincing, up to a point, but he had no idea of my account number or of how many bills I had received since the date of my alleged failure to pay this fictitious surcharge.

My line was to be cut as soon as either he or I put the phone down on his call. Neat?

Didn't get what he was after, but I'd like to shove his phone where the sun don't shine.

Take care, folks.

If he phones back can you ask him if he knows he helpful representative from "BT, Sky, Talk Talk AND Virgin Media" that phoned me last week to tell me I'd won £10,000.

Was still half asleep and accidentally cut him off in the excitement. Really hope I've not lost my prize.

[heretoday]

It's got to the stage where we don't pick up the landline unless we recognise the number. So many fake calls.

[bobbyhibs1983]

On a slightly similar note(in a round about way) in the last year or so we have had maybe a phone per month from someone *claiming* to be from microsoft and it seems to be from some people with indian accents(i assume they are from india).

Just be careful as well if you recieve these sorta calls cos i think if they can connect to your pc(however they do that !) they ll put nasty things on it and can steal personal data

[CropleyWasGod]

On a slightly similar note(in a round about way) in the last year or so we have had maybe a phone per month from someone *claiming* to be from microsoft and it seems to be from some people with indian accents(i assume they are from india).

Just be careful as well if you recieve these sorta calls cos i think if they can connect to your pc(however they do that !) they ll put nasty things on it and can steal personal data

I had one of those recently.

I had time on my hands, so I decided to humour them. A few brief highlights from a long call....

"A windows computer, you say? Sorry, I work my windows myself. Don't need a computer".

"To get on the inter-what?......Oh, wait, I've heard of that. The computer at the library has an internet."

"So, let me get this straight. You want me to go to the library and sit in front of their windows computer with an internet? (yes, please sir). And then you'll call me back? (yes, sir). I don't see how that would work (why not, sir?). Because I'll be at the library."

Strangely, they never did call me back.....

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I had one of those recently.

I had time on my hands, so I decided to humour them. A few brief highlights from a long call....

"A windows computer, you say? Sorry, I work my windows myself. Don't need a computer".

"To get on the inter-what?......Oh, wait, I've heard of that. The computer at the library has an internet."

"So, let me get this straight. You want me to go to the library and sit in front of their windows computer with an internet? (yes, please sir). And then you'll call me back? (yes, sir). I don't see how that would work (why not, sir?). Because I'll be at the library."

Strangely, they never did call me back.....

I've taken the time to do similar recently. The call usually ends with me chuckling and them chucking abuse down the line, its good fun though!

[bobbyhibs1983]

I've taken the time to do similar recently. The call usually ends with me chuckling and them chucking abuse down the line, its good fun though!

same here, i would signal my brother through and we d think of something to say(its a family board so i better not say too much)

CropleyWasGod (http://www.hibs.net/member.php?415-CropleyWasGod) i loved your story !:faf:

[Hibrandenburg]

The lowest of the low are those who pray on people's trust, especially the elderly. Everytime they rip someone off it makes our world a little worse.

[Killiehibbie]

I've taken the time to do similar recently. The call usually ends with me chuckling and them chucking abuse down the line, its good fun though!
A few times i've kept them on the phone for 20 odd minutes but I eventually get fed up, they just don't believe I don't use windows. It means they've less time to catch some unsuspecting person.

[heretoday]

I've taken the time to do similar recently. The call usually ends with me chuckling and them chucking abuse down the line, its good fun though!

I gather that gentlemen from that part of the world hate remarks about their undergarments. It's worth a try!

Personally I suspect these call centres are operating from inside legit call centres, possibly belonging to banks or insurance companies.

[Hibee87]

haha I love the windows phone calls, you can get them talking for ages and play dumb, then when your board I hit them with the line I work in IT myself and know they are at it (not so politely) and you get some abuse from them. effing **** so they are. we had a guy at work with a degree in 'ethical hacking' I always wanted to ask him how to set up a way that I could counter hack the callers machine to really get it up them but he left before I got a chance.

[Jack]

I gather that gentlemen from that part of the world hate remarks about their undergarments. It's worth a try!

Personally I suspect these call centres are operating from inside legit call centres, possibly belonging to banks or insurance companies.

I'll remember that.

What I like doing is pretending I'm a little deaf and asking them to repeat everything and for them to spell words out. Sometimes it can take a good 10 minutes just to get beyond their name and who they're supposed to be working for :-)

Going off script is fun too. Just chuck in a totally random statement - the dog is howling at the moon - if necessary spell the words out for them lol

[Viva_Palmeiras]

That one is particularly nasty and effective. Usually what happens is when you hang up they stay on the line at their end. You pick up a minute later to check your phobes working and hey presto there's no dialling tone because you're still connected to the scammer. Cue Mr helpful phoning back a couple of minutes later to sort the issue for you.

It's preying on the vulnerable and it's pretty disgusting behaviour.

Youd think learning English would open a few more doors...
I suppose it's like being a parking warden - you sometimes get abuse but no one will be able to deck you...