Phone scam from India-Your Microsft computer is crashing our system.

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Profile TimeLord04
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Message 1810450 - Posted: 19 Aug 2016, 18:25:02 UTC - in response to Message 1810413.  
Last modified: 19 Aug 2016, 18:44:23 UTC

Scott with that volume of calls, I wonder if at least one person in your household has not responded to one of those privacy limit sharing flyers banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, charities, magazines etc. send. Sounds like they sold name/phone number with age off to the scammer lists.

Go through everyone's accounts and set maximum limitation on sharing. I'm sure all your numbers are already on the national do not call list, which some scammers purchase to use as their call list!

Don't expect results overnight, but a year from now you should have peace and quiet.

Good luck.

We have 3 Vonage phone lines and one Vonage fax line. For the Vonage phone lines; one is my residential line, one is my parents' residential line, one is my dad's business line, the last line is my dad's business fax line.

The fax line does not qualify for Nomorobo; NOR Vonage Call Blocking. (Unfortunately... 'Cause, somehow we're getting someone's Debt Collection Voice Calls coming in daily on the Fax Machine!!!) The remaining three lines are ALL listed in my personal Nomorobo Account, (for ease of maintenance for me); however, my parents' lines are separate Vonage Accounts in my dad's name.

The IRS scammers are strictly calling my parents' home line. They also get random "Call Center" calls which get blocked by Nomorobo automatically - and thus only ring their home phone once per caller. As to their Vonage Call Blocking; I've only blocked five callers on my parents' home line. Dad's business line seems to be completely taken care of by Nomorobo - auto-blocking the "Call Center" Calls there, and has used ZERO of Vonage's Call Blocking Feature. The rest of the calls come in on my home phone!

Two years ago, I got NO Scammer NOR "Call Center" calls. One year ago, I started getting calls. Come to find through the news announcement that Anthem Blue Cross got hacked, and ALL pertinent information on customers/patients WERE STOLEN! So, because of this, we started getting the harassing calls. Then CHASE Bank got hacked, minimal information was stolen there. ...AND, most recent - my family's Primary Care Physician's office was broken into, and patient information STOLEN!!!

So, were FRAKKED!!! At least for the next few years. :-O


TL

[EDIT:]

OH... ...AND, I forgot - Keeping on topic with this Thread; my parents' home line WAS getting the fake MS calls, too! I reported that to Nomorobo; and even though these are coming in from overseas, (India, and wherever else), Nomorobo seems to be blocking them, now.


TL

[EDIT 2:]

...AND, yes ALL of our lines are registered with the Federal "DoNotCall.gov" system. This; however, DID NOTHING for us - scammers and Call Centers still managed to call my parents' home line!!! Been on DoNotCall.gov for AT LEAST 5 years; maybe longer, whenever it got started is when I put all of our numbers there.


TL
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Message 1810489 - Posted: 19 Aug 2016, 20:50:16 UTC

I'm on the National Do Not Call List, I got on that back when My phone number was a landline, needless to say I still have the same phone number, to them it's kryptonite I think. So far it doesn't stop TWC surveys, but they give up after a call or so.
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Message 1810521 - Posted: 19 Aug 2016, 22:15:54 UTC - in response to Message 1810450.  

...AND, yes ALL of our lines are registered with the Federal "DoNotCall.gov" system. This; however, DID NOTHING for us - scammers and Call Centers still managed to call my parents' home line!!! Been on DoNotCall.gov for AT LEAST 5 years; maybe longer, whenever it got started is when I put all of our numbers there.

After 5 years you have to renew.
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Message 1810546 - Posted: 19 Aug 2016, 23:38:23 UTC - in response to Message 1810521.  

...AND, yes ALL of our lines are registered with the Federal "DoNotCall.gov" system. This; however, DID NOTHING for us - scammers and Call Centers still managed to call my parents' home line!!! Been on DoNotCall.gov for AT LEAST 5 years; maybe longer, whenever it got started is when I put all of our numbers there.

After 5 years you have to renew.


Not with a cell phone.

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Message 1810560 - Posted: 20 Aug 2016, 0:09:19 UTC - in response to Message 1810521.  
Last modified: 20 Aug 2016, 0:23:18 UTC

...AND, yes ALL of our lines are registered with the Federal "DoNotCall.gov" system. This; however, DID NOTHING for us - scammers and Call Centers still managed to call my parents' home line!!! Been on DoNotCall.gov for AT LEAST 5 years; maybe longer, whenever it got started is when I put all of our numbers there.

After 5 years you have to renew.

NOT true! As of five years ago; the rules and laws changed, and ONCE is all you need to register your numbers. As long as you maintain hold on those numbers, no future registration of said numbers is needed. That's what I read when I signed up for DoNotCall.gov. So, if they've changed back to something else; NO NOTICE was given to us!

[EDIT:]

Just looked it up AGAIN! NO EXPIRATION of registered numbers; UNLESS you surrender that number. If a number is surrendered and reissued to someone else; THEN that new customer MUST re-register that number in his/her name at DoNotCall.gov.

"When You Might Need to Register Again
How long does my phone number stay registered?

Telephone numbers on the Registry don’t expire. We only remove your number when it’s disconnected and reassigned, unless you ask us to remove it."

DoNotCall.gov Guidelines and Rules.


TL

[EDIT 2:]

Also, if you change carriers; or, port your number from a landline to a VoIP carrier, THEN you MUST re-register as well.


TL
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Message 1810575 - Posted: 20 Aug 2016, 1:01:24 UTC

If I got a call saying that my computer was crashing THEIR system, I would say "Yeah, well, I'm a hacker.....you should be getting the ransom message to save your files in the next few hours. Would you like to pay me now?"

Meow.
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Message 1822269 - Posted: 6 Oct 2016, 18:26:52 UTC - in response to Message 1810560.  

YES!!!

India busts bogus call centers for posing as the IRS

Police in India have arrested 70 people on suspicion of posing as IRS agents to steal cash from U.S. citizens.

Authorities in the western Indian city of Thane said they were investigating another 630 people suspected of being involved in the extortion scam.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/06/news/india-irs-scam-arrests/index.html
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Message 1822283 - Posted: 6 Oct 2016, 19:25:58 UTC - in response to Message 1822269.  

Nice :-)

Every 4 to 6 weeks over the past 6 months I've been getting calls from 00 62 320 95232 with the last one on 6th Sept, so due another call soon...

...this time I'm going to answer it & have a Roy "Chubby" Brown track playing.

Have family & relatives around the world but Indonesia?
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Message 1822304 - Posted: 6 Oct 2016, 22:11:27 UTC

Learn how to write...
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Message 1822330 - Posted: 6 Oct 2016, 23:23:49 UTC

I get the feeling this is a token bust so their diplomats can tell ours they're doing something.
David
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Message 1822395 - Posted: 7 Oct 2016, 4:17:55 UTC - in response to Message 1822330.  

I get the feeling this is a token bust so their diplomats can tell ours they're doing something.

Likely.

What the FCC needs to do is make the companies where the VOIP call is injected into the POTS system screen them so that they are unable to call any number on the do not call list or any cell phone. Bee-dee-eep you are not authorized to call that number!
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Message 1822401 - Posted: 7 Oct 2016, 4:37:38 UTC - in response to Message 1822395.  

I get the feeling this is a token bust so their diplomats can tell ours they're doing something.

Likely.

What the FCC needs to do is make the companies where the VOIP call is injected into the POTS system screen them so that they are unable to call any number on the do not call list or any cell phone. Bee-dee-eep you are not authorized to call that number!

While we wait and turn blue in the face for that to happen... In the meantime, Nomorobo and Vonage Call Block are working quite well for my family and I.

NO more fake IRS calls here, and NO more fake MS calls here. All blocked. 😃


TL
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Message 1822404 - Posted: 7 Oct 2016, 4:47:44 UTC

I pretty much ignore calls other than my own area code. I think maybe I've gotten the IRS call once (and hung up on it almost immediately), and none of the other stuff. A few of the usual junk calls, but no scams.
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Message 1822410 - Posted: 7 Oct 2016, 5:05:49 UTC

I haven't had the CRA (Canada Revenue agency.) call yet.
I was hoping that if the call came in I would be all rested
and ready to spend the time to properly deal with the scum-
buckets the other end of the phone line.


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Message 1823976 - Posted: 13 Oct 2016, 15:40:05 UTC

I just received this email from "Help Desk <petrich@tronic-media.com>

Help Desk
Scheduled Maintenance & Upgrade
Your account is in the process of being upgraded to the newest Windows-based servers and an enhanced online email interface inline with internet infrastructure Maintenance. The new servers will provide better anti-spam and anti-virus functions, along with IMAP Support for mobile devices to enhance your usage.
To ensure that your account is not disrupted but active during and after this upgrade, you are required to kindly confirm your account by stating the details below:
* Domain\user name:
* Password:
This will prompt the upgrade of your account.
Failure to acknowledge the receipt of this notification, might result to a temporary deactivation of your account from our database. Your account shall remain active upon your confirmation of your login details.
During this maintenance window, there may be periods of interruption to email services. This will include sending and receiving email in Outlook, on webmail, and on mobile devices. Also, if you leave your Mailbox open during the maintenance period, you may be prompted to close and reopen.
We appreciate your patience as this maintenance is performed and we do apologize for any inconveniences caused.
Sincerely,
Customer Care Team


Dare I risk "temporary deactivation of your account from our database"
I think I will take the chance.
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Message 1824046 - Posted: 13 Oct 2016, 21:52:29 UTC - in response to Message 1823976.  

I just received this email from "Help Desk <petrich@tronic-media.com>

Help Desk
Scheduled Maintenance & Upgrade
Your account is in the process of being upgraded to the newest Windows-based servers and an enhanced online email interface inline with internet infrastructure Maintenance. The new servers will provide better anti-spam and anti-virus functions, along with IMAP Support for mobile devices to enhance your usage.
To ensure that your account is not disrupted but active during and after this upgrade, you are required to kindly confirm your account by stating the details below:
* Domain\user name:
* Password:
This will prompt the upgrade of your account.
Failure to acknowledge the receipt of this notification, might result to a temporary deactivation of your account from our database. Your account shall remain active upon your confirmation of your login details.
During this maintenance window, there may be periods of interruption to email services. This will include sending and receiving email in Outlook, on webmail, and on mobile devices. Also, if you leave your Mailbox open during the maintenance period, you may be prompted to close and reopen.
We appreciate your patience as this maintenance is performed and we do apologize for any inconveniences caused.
Sincerely,
Customer Care Team


Dare I risk "temporary deactivation of your account from our database"
I think I will take the chance.

Too bad it won't be permanent.
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Message 1824177 - Posted: 14 Oct 2016, 11:03:31 UTC

The scam calls seem to have slowed down lately. A while back it seemed to be a call every week or so.

Last time I pretended I had called them, and ordered a Chicken Masala, extra hot with 2 Naan bread.

If they call back, ask where the heck my order is.

The only problem I have is that I have 2 good customers that are Indian. So I can't just hang up when I hear the accent. But if they say they are "Dave from Microsoft" then I demand my Masala Chicken.
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Message 1826765 - Posted: 26 Oct 2016, 7:56:01 UTC

A quite involved one I got yesterday:-

BEWARE...

I recieved a phone call from BT (a person with a indian sounding accent) saying that they had by mistake cancelled my direct debit as part of some account changes (I had made some about 3 weeks ago), and asked whether I really did intend to leave BT. I said I didn't. They then said that they would re-instate the direct debit, but that to confirm who I was, asked who I banked with, I said HSBC. They said that was enough, and then rang off.

Some time later (at about 14:50) I had another phone call, claiming to be HSBC (a mild american or canadian accent), and saying that BT were trying to start a Direct debit, and asking me to comfirm this was OK. I said I knew about this and that it was. He then said he needed to confirm my identity, and quoted my address to me, I confirmed this. He then asked for my Bank sort code and then account number. After I gave these, he then asked for my Date of Birth, which I gave, but I was now becoming a little suspicious. He then asked for my banking ID number, I then said I didn't have this to hand, he asked me to look for it and offered to call back in a short while. I then offered to go to the local HSBC branch to get the number, he said OK, and asked when he should call back. I said at 16:00 (the time being at about 15:00) He said that he would put a note to call back at 16:00 on my account. He hung up.

I went to the local Woodley branch, and the very helpful lady showed me the ID number I needed, and then looked and said that there was no note on the account, and that it might be a scam. I then remembered that the both the phone calls came in on our home phone, the HSBC lady checked and confirmed that HSBC doesn't know my home phone number only my mobile number. She also confirmed that the Direct Debit to BT was still in place. She then said I should send all the details of this event that I could remember to the HSBC phishing team.

It is currently just after 16:00, I will wait for a while for a second call from this person (I suspect it won't come), then send this email.

The call came in, from a 3rd voice. I asked why he didn't use the phone number on my account on the HSBC system, he said that the number came from BT. I told him to call back on the phone number on my HSBC account, he then asked me to confirm it, I then told him to use the number on my account and I hung up. To date no call on my mobile.....
Happy Crunching,

Graham

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Message 1834569 - Posted: 7 Dec 2016, 7:44:08 UTC

I didn't know where to put this at, but over the last few days, I was getting a phone call from 760-589-2020, I'd say hello, and no one answered, after the
1st call this number kept on calling Me back, so I got an app for My phone to block or hang up on the guy, the app is called"Call Blocker", it's free, so I did a
search after I put this app on My phone, and found out the caller was supposedly from Death Valley, which is unlikely as almost nobody lives there, in any
case I blocked the number and after a few days of that, and the calls stopped.
Savoir-Faire is everywhere!
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Message 1834573 - Posted: 7 Dec 2016, 8:30:27 UTC - in response to Message 1834569.  

I didn't know where to put this at, but over the last few days, I was getting a phone call from 760-589-2020, I'd say hello, and no one answered, after the 1st call this number kept on calling Me back, so I got an app for My phone to block or hang up on the guy, the app is called"Call Blocker", it's free, so I did a search after I put this app on My phone, and found out the caller was supposedly from Death Valley, which is unlikely as almost nobody lives there, in any case I blocked the number and after a few days of that, and the calls stopped.


Interesting that there are posts about this number at several other places but NOT at 800notes.com.
800 Notes is usually the first site I check of several web sites when looking up pesky phone number(s) since it has the LARGEST collection of reports about (un)known phone numbers.
Zoom, can you post some info about the call over there to help others out?

It appears to be a SPOOFED number according to my source at the verify phone web site:
Service Provider: O1 Communications Inc - CA,
Provider Type: Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
Phone Type: Landline/POTS/Broadband/Plain Old Telephone Service

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