Had a phone call this morning ... about my computer

12 years ago

There was a virus in it, he said, and he'd show me how to fix it.

When I demurred, he asked whether my computer was on, and when I said it wasn't, he said to turn it on.

I asked where he was calling from, and when he said "Florida", I told him that my service provider had nothing to do with Florida.

He said that this was related to Windows, and had nothing to do with my service provider - and I told him that Windows was out of Washington.

I told him that my computer wasn't here, that it was at the shop being fixed ... and that a lot of us old folks don't have computers.

I guess that I should have told him that in the first place.

I hadn't thought to tell him that I don't have a connection to the internet at my home, either.

Anyway - no guy calling on the phone, unannounced and unrequested, is about to tell me what stuff I should do, at his direction, to get rid of a virus that he knows is in my computer!

He didn't seem to hear when I suggested that maybe he'd be telling me how to get a virus ... and then his company could tell me how to get rid of it ...oh, yes, he did - he said that he wouldn't be suggesting that I bring anything in to it.

When my computer wasn't available ... he sort of lost interest (in a bit of a hurry?).

I hadn't got around to telling him that I'd be no more inclined to follow instructions on fixing my computer from someone calling me unheralded than I would be to giving my credit card number over the phone to an unknown someone making a similar phone call.

ole joyful

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Comments (8)

dedtired
12 years ago
OJ -- my 94 year old mother got a similar call. They called late in the evening (I'm sure she was asleep) to ask her about her computer. Then they proceeded to ask her if she had a computer! She said no, she doesn't have one and that was the end of the conversation. The caller ID also said Florida.

Actually, my mom does have a computer but it's the rest of the family that uses it when we are there. She doesn't go near it.

She knows better than to buy anything unsolicited over the phone. I also worry that calls like this are people calling to see if the house is empty so they can break in. I suppose they could be parked in front of the house with a cell phone number from Florida to circumvent the caller id. What a world we live in.
wanda_va
12 years ago
I've had that call two times. I just tell them thanks for letting me know--my stepson is a computer guru and will fix it. Goodbye....

It is a scam, but I guess a lot of people fall for it.
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Well our televison has a mute button so I amuse myself by pushing it and then saying what i think the commercials should say. e.g. "See all these policemen they are coming to arrest me but since I have all these law books I will just throw the book at them." Or "this is the star wars missile defence system, I was playing with it and hit the wrong button and wiped out my opponent." But for phone calls i just hang up.
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My perspective on the situation was the same as all of you. However when I posted this on the stepfamily forum because it related to my sd I was slammed by a few people. I was told that since it was a relative of my stepdaughters mother there should be no time limit. I was told that I should have told my sd that I needed the phone but she could use it again as soon as I was done. I was also told that I should get a cell phone because by not getting a cell phone I was just trying to show my authority and causing problems. When my sd did not get off the phone and left the room I told her again to get off the phone. She was then snotty and rude but got off the phone. I did not let her use the phone the rest of the night. I felt that I probably handled it well but then I get bashed because I am a stepmom giving a one hour limit to a phone call between my sd and her bm's sister. A call that I told sd to make because her aunt sent her a gift in the mail. FYI my sd lives with us full-time and rarely sees her mother. ANd really the only reason I put the time limit on the call anyways was because I do not have a cell and I needed to make a call and waited as long as I could. Feel free to go to the stepfamily forum and read the post with the same name as this and comment.
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I saw the article earlier and shared it on my FB page. I raised 3 children starting in 1968 and managed to do a darn good job without having any kind of social media at the end of my arm. I know my personality and think I would have had trouble giving either one, but not both at the same time, the attention they deserved. I personally know of young mom's and dad's who are more interested in posting their every move to the world rather than being aware of missed moments or opportunities to spend that time interacting with real, live people in their presence.. And to say "checking on prices at a store" is a serious reason to have your phone out in front of you is not valid to me. I hate to see a group at a table at a restaurant where everyone has their phone in their hands, barely even eating.....sad in my opinion. What is the point of going out together if you would rather be spending time doing whatever it is that has your attention on the phone?
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Thanks, all. I'm not very worried... much. :) Kath - she is allowed to receive mail and packages but none of those specific items. I have already written a letter of support and will send some stamps but I don't think I will send her anything other than that. The army will provide her with all she needs. snidely - "Dear Mom and Dad. Here are all my things. I will work hard to be sure that nothing else gets shipped back to you in a box, myself included". Very cute, but not funny! lol Just to add... she will be home for Christmas Exodus on Dec. 20th-3th. So I wasn't meaning to say I wouldn't be giving her anything for Christmas. :) This post was edited by moonie_57 on Sat, Nov 22, 14 at 21:21
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joyfulguy
Original Author
12 years ago
When a guy tells me that I need to jump through a hoop ...

... I'm inclined to tell him to give me three reasons why I should.

ole joyful
heather_on
12 years ago
We get that call on a regular basis. I often tell them that I am have a Commmodore Vic 20 and a 386 with Windows 3.1 and DOS, and then I ask them which one has the virus. They hang up in a hurry.
jeaninwa
12 years ago
Gee...how nice of him, and how much was he going to charge you to "fix" your ocmputer?
threejs
12 years ago
Have the same number on my phone regularly and it is on block unless I pick up one of the hand held phones and don't check the number first. The last time he asked me to open windows I politely said......Why would I want to open them? It is raining and cold and besides I have brand new curtains at my windows and I like them pulled closed so nosy people like you cannot look in! He hesitated for only a few seconds before he went on again about opening them for my protection, I am pretty sure the conversation had gone over his head.
joyfulguy
Original Author
12 years ago
We hadn't gotten around to that.

Next time I may inform such a "him" early in the conversation that I never give out credit card numbers on the phone, especially to strangers who take the initiative to call me.

But that wouldn't work - he's assure me that he was giving his info away free ...

... if it were virus-ridden, it'd only be later, at the time of the repair, that I'd become aware of the sting in the tail!

ole joyful
joyfulguy
Original Author
12 years ago
Thread originator ...

... and killer ...

... again ...

... it appears!

o j

Had a phone call this morning ... about my computer

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dedtired

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Had a phone call this morning ... about my computer

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