So, "Edward" calls me ....

[g8ina]

and says he's from Microsoft and there is a problem with my Windows installation.

I usually tell them to go away and make love but this time I thought Id play him a bit longer.

Press the windows key and "R", what do you see.

I see a box with the word run on it.

Now I want you to type eventvw (or some such), what does it say.

It says, "Edward is a lying scumbag who has nothing better to do all day than try and scam people." - Oh says I, it's never done that before.

Then he actually tries to get control back !!!

This is the point where I tell him to go and make love elsewhere.

Do they really think we were born yesterday ?

[TheAnimus]

You know, there is a classier way of handling it:
http://arstechnica.com/features/2012...pport-scammer/

[DanceswithUnix]

I usually play along for a while on the grounds that while they are talking to me they aren't getting money out of some poor pensioner. Some of the efforts on ars were way beyond my patience though, I mean two hours?!? I am impressed.

I once let the scammer get nice & relaxed into their routine, before asking him "Is your mother proud of her son? Does she know what you do for a living, scamming money from people who don't know how computers work? Is your mother proud of what you do?" Almost had him in tears after a while like that.

One girl got quite abusive just for saying I knew she was a scammer, but that is fine, it's on their phone bill.

I think my best was when after a while of struggling with instructions I said "but I have a Mac", the guy apologised and said he couldn't help me, but I pleaded with him saying "but you say I have a problem with my Mac, please you have to help me". Strung him along for *ages*, you would think a scammer would have the balls to just hang up when a mark is obviously not going to pay out. Apparently they are as stupid as they think I am

[MaddAussie]

All my family and quite a few of my friends have strict instruction to just hang up on them.

[directhex]

I don't play along, and I don't waste their time.

I take my inspiration from South Park

I ask them if their mothers are proud that they raised thieves and liars, until they get mad and hang up

[chuckskull]

I got a spate of these last year. Messing with them is always fun, just remember to report them when you're done running up their phone bill.

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/mic...ne-scam-june11

[shaithis]

Had these many times, telling me the INF files in Windows\Inf are virus INFections.....

I play along and wait until they ask me to get my credit card, I then ask them to hold on while I find it

[wasabi]

Not big or clever, but I just tell them to go stick random sharp kitchen tools into their orifices then die of the first random nasty disease I can think of.

[Dutchjonsey]

My favourite response to this that I've found http://notalwaysworking.com/its-curt...his-scam/26358

Had a bunch of calls last year to the parents house in NL, thankfully mum got suspicious and hung up on them. Standing orders are now to tell them we have a Mac, seems to have worked as there have been no calls for a while now ^^

[DanceswithUnix]

I always wanted to see if I could gross them out with pervy talk to the point they hang up, ask them what underwear they are wearing, see if they are homophobic sort of thing. Kids always seem to be in the room though
Haven't had any calls since we moved house 6 months ago, I guess it takes time for your phone number to get on their lists.

[stilkun]

I remember one time I had this call and as soon as the person said I had a virus on computer, I slam the phone down on them.