Still getting Indian computer help calls

[#1]

Early this morning I was still in bed and a voice says " Do you know you have a problem with your computer" I yelled at them not to phone me again but they always do, I've had countless calls from them.
  Because it says International on the phone I answer it because two of my children live abroad and it might have been them. I wish it would show the numbers of Spain and Ireland where they live.
Just venting really.

[#2]

snap - except International Unavailable - pick up and put down immediately

[#3]

Oldjim what do you mean by except International unavailable.

[#4]

I wasn't clear - I might that unlike you any calls showing as International Unavailable are not answered as I don't have anyone who calls from abroad who I want to speak to
And yes - I get calls in the early morning as well (early for me that is)

[#5]

I rarely get these or any other nuisance calls but then I am ex-directory, on the telephone preference service and I don't give out my number.  I know these guys ignore our rules like TPS but they have to get the number from somewhere.
If I get a call from someone like that I engage them and have a bit of fun.
So if they say " Do you know you have a problem with your computer"
I say "Yes, how did you know?" or "I've told you once"
I then have them try and read out their script but I interrupt them all the time, when they give me directions to enable them to access my computer I say "no it does not say that, it says Working please wait" I then leave them there, if they ask me I say the same.
Just keep them on and in the end you can say it says "1702 hard disk failure"
A good resource to read them is "the bastrd operator from hell" (Google it)  if you read that you will realise what fun you can have.
Keep them on as long as possible, if you really want to freak them out ask them what they are wearing, then ask them to take it off!

[#6]

Zap,  I in no way can have a conversation with anyone at 8am in the morning being woken up with the phone ringing.  All I would like to do is swear at them. But I don't as I worry they might get  nasty and keep ringing my number.

[#7]

Quote from: Zap

I rarely get these or any other nuisance calls but then I am ex-directory, on the telephone preference service and I don't give out my number.  I know these guys ignore our rules like TPS but they have to get the number from somewhere.

I don't think that matters - the first call I had when I was connected  ( we live in a new house and plusnet  installed  the phone line ) was from India with a computer problem. Unless I was reissued  with an old number!!! I am on the TPS and I never give out my number.

[#8]

These people making these calls are usually criminal fraudsters who want to extort money from you by loading software to prevent access to your PC unless you give them your credit card details so they can extract at least one large payment from your account. Unless your have a remote support agreement already set up with a trusted supplier (and known contact arrangements) just put the the phone down on them.
Most of these criminals are not based in the UK and will ignore any TPS database entry.
Don't visit any website they suggest, nor load any software they send you.
If you do give them access and fail to pay up there is nothing  (short of unplugging your PC) to prevent them from loading kiddy porn onto your PC

[#9]

I've heard about this 'something is wrong with your PC' scam a while back, but I didn't realise it is still going.
My parents told me last weekend they had been getting them. They say "My son deals with our computers" and put the phone down.
Must be some dodgy software to make them money. Maybe by extortion (as you say AlaricAdair), to hijack search results or a dodgy AV program. And then that'll cost you money to 'fix'.

[#10]

Quote

I've heard about this 'something is wrong with your PC' scam a while back, but I didn't realise it is still going.

It's definitely still going on , I've had a couple in the last week or so. I like to play them along as much as possible, some of the more intelligent ones realize afeter a few mintes and ask 'which version of Windows are you running sir?', that will be the Linux version I reply 'click' and the phone goes dead

[#11]

Indian caller and BT call centers in India always makes me wonder if someone in said call center has sold the information on or is using it them selves.  My last call by one came after I reported a phone line fault via the call center.
I have since moved my landline to PN and haven't had one since.

[#12]

There was a documentary on TV some time back that was about Indian call centres selling on information. The presenter managed to get hold of a decent list of UK people with contact details and credit card numbers. Makes me wonder whose hands my details could be in.

[#13]

got one jusrt now trying to flog me  government grant for house insulation - how much does it cost to ship the double glazing for a detached house from India

[#14]

I had one of them pierre_pierre, I do however live on the bottom floor of an apartment so not sure her living above would be happy to have her floors ripped up for draught insulation.
The latest one is (for some reason) surveys, we're getting 2-3 calls a day asking us to take a survey.... maybe it's so they can fill out them survey websites?  Of course, the solution is simple enough, turn on caller ID for foreign numbers then we can set up a reject for unknown numbers whilst letting people who are abroad actually call us (it's possible to do that if you set up call forwarding to a mobile, the mobile will display the originating number, but that's costly).

[#15]

Yes when my son calls my mobile from Aus, it shows his number.
I cant block international call.  Cousin in Perth Aus sometimes calls.  Son on Barrier reef sometimes calls, Friends in Evian France sometimes call, Friends in Peublo Colorao sometimes call
cant block number with held, Mother in law - 92 wont display her number - B old age people