virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies 1 What Operating System I am I using? 2 What's my local/network IP address? 3 What's my router's IP address? 4 What's my Internet IP address? * Must be my Atari 2600, How did that get on the Internet? * let me drag out my PDP-10 do you want to debug that for me? * Where my ARPANET IMP? ' I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? --- tom_a_sparks It's a nerdy thing I like to do -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
Last time they called I told them I had a Mac (They claimed to be from Microsoft). I don't actually have a Mac, but it makes them hang up :D Regards, Boden Matthews, http://bodenm.wordpress.com On 20 June 2012 22:20, Tom Sparks tom_a_spa...@yahoo.com.au wrote: 'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies 1 What Operating System I am I using? 2 What's my local/network IP address? 3 What's my router's IP address? 4 What's my Internet IP address? * Must be my Atari 2600, How did that get on the Internet? * let me drag out my PDP-10 do you want to debug that for me? * Where my ARPANET IMP? ' I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? --- tom_a_sparks It's a nerdy thing I like to do -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
On 20/06/12 22:20, Tom Sparks wrote: 'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies ... I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? One night I tied them up for almost an hour. I just played along being a really stupid user. The most annoying this was that my credit card was flagged as stolen just days before, I wanted to give them the number to pay for their services, but they wouldn't take it until they were done. I couldn't get an XP VM installed in time for them to login to it. In the end I told them that they had called an IT consultant and that I had enough information to track them down. During the call they gave me a callback number which I tried from my mobile to see if it was legit, it worked during the call and immediately after it, 20 mins later it stopped working. Based on some research it was a SkypeIn number. I also reported them to GoToMyPC or whatever service they were using for the remote login, I got a positive response from them in a few hours. I have never got a virus call since. Every time you string them along it is a lot potential victims they can't call because they are busy with you. Cheers Dave -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
I really want to string them along some time, but they always call during dinner time. Usually then I don't have a computer. On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 22:46:56 +1000, Dave Hall wrote: On 20/06/12 22:20, Tom Sparks wrote: 'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies ... I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? One night I tied them up for almost an hour. I just played along being a really stupid user. The most annoying this was that my credit card was flagged as stolen just days before, I wanted to give them the number to pay for their services, but they wouldn't take it until they were done. I couldn't get an XP VM installed in time for them to login to it. In the end I told them that they had called an IT consultant and that I had enough information to track them down. During the call they gave me a callback number which I tried from my mobile to see if it was legit, it worked during the call and immediately after it, 20 mins later it stopped working. Based on some research it was a SkypeIn number. I also reported them to GoToMyPC or whatever service they were using for the remote login, I got a positive response from them in a few hours. I have never got a virus call since. Every time you string them along it is a lot potential victims they can't call because they are busy with you. Cheers Dave -- David Drury Senior Systems Engineer Logic Plus He's mostly dead, Jim. Get Miracle Max. -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
On notes to the VM, I have a Vista VM setup that I made to look like an actual PC - wallpaper, desktop covered in crap, shittons of bloatware and no antivirus. Whenever they call next, I'm going to have some fun with them :) Regards, Boden Matthews, http://bodenm.wordpress.com On 20 June 2012 22:46, Dave Hall dave.h...@skwashd.com wrote: On 20/06/12 22:20, Tom Sparks wrote: 'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies ... I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? One night I tied them up for almost an hour. I just played along being a really stupid user. The most annoying this was that my credit card was flagged as stolen just days before, I wanted to give them the number to pay for their services, but they wouldn't take it until they were done. I couldn't get an XP VM installed in time for them to login to it. In the end I told them that they had called an IT consultant and that I had enough information to track them down. During the call they gave me a callback number which I tried from my mobile to see if it was legit, it worked during the call and immediately after it, 20 mins later it stopped working. Based on some research it was a SkypeIn number. I also reported them to GoToMyPC or whatever service they were using for the remote login, I got a positive response from them in a few hours. I have never got a virus call since. Every time you string them along it is a lot potential victims they can't call because they are busy with you. Cheers Dave -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/**mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-auhttps://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
--- On Wed, 20/6/12, Boden Matthews boden.matth...@gmail.com wrote: From: Boden Matthews boden.matth...@gmail.com Subject: Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies To: Dave Hall dave.h...@skwashd.com Cc: ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com Received: Wednesday, 20 June, 2012, 11:24 PM On notes to the VM, I have a Vista VM setup that I made to look like an actual PC - wallpaper, desktop covered in crap, shittons of bloatware and no antivirus. Whenever they call next, I'm going to have some fun with them :) Regards, Boden Matthews, http://bodenm.wordpress.com record it for us :) --- tom_a_sparks It's a nerdy thing I like to do On 20 June 2012 22:46, Dave Hall dave.h...@skwashd.com wrote: On 20/06/12 22:20, Tom Sparks wrote: 'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies ... I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? One night I tied them up for almost an hour. I just played along being a really stupid user. The most annoying this was that my credit card was flagged as stolen just days before, I wanted to give them the number to pay for their services, but they wouldn't take it until they were done. I couldn't get an XP VM installed in time for them to login to it. In the end I told them that they had called an IT consultant and that I had enough information to track them down. During the call they gave me a callback number which I tried from my mobile to see if it was legit, it worked during the call and immediately after it, 20 mins later it stopped working. Based on some research it was a SkypeIn number. I also reported them to GoToMyPC or whatever service they were using for the remote login, I got a positive response from them in a few hours. I have never got a virus call since. Every time you string them along it is a lot potential victims they can't call because they are busy with you. Cheers Dave -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au -Inline Attachment Follows- -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
We generally tell them we are running linux (or solaris). I was quite surprised one time when one of them even knew what linux was!! (most just don't understand at all) For a period of time we were getting on average 5 calls a week - we still get the occasional but only 1 a week or so. Depending on how much time I have I sometimes 'play' for a bit ;) Some of my personal favourite ways to mess with them are: * Spent a few minutes trying to load up the control panel on my microwave * Tried to sell them my car * Tried to convince them to move to a better customer management system so that they could reduce costs and improve productivity (I work for a company which does CMS stuff so even suggested a few products and referred them to our consulting services number ;) ) * Sang the national anthem (both verses) * Told them I don't understand computers good and so would pass them onto my son (who is 12 months old and had a lovely 'conversation' with them) * Followed their instruction on my ubuntu box and acted all confused when it did not match what they were saying it should look like * Transferred them to our household 'technical support' person (me with different voice) who was too busy so he transferred them to remote support (me - new voice again) who was in the wrong group so he transferred them to management (my wife) She said this was an IT issue and transferred back to the original person. By this time the person on the other end hung up. * Pretended to be an automated phone system (Say support for IT support, say sales for Sales etc) with really back voice recognition which kept messing it up * Told them that what they are doing is wrong and offered to pray with them about this * Call them out on this all being a scam (in the process have had threats and rather bad language shouted at me) There are many, many other things to do - any other people have favourite responses? Chris On 20 June 2012 22:22, Boden Matthews boden.matth...@gmail.com wrote: Last time they called I told them I had a Mac (They claimed to be from Microsoft). I don't actually have a Mac, but it makes them hang up :D Regards, Boden Matthews, http://bodenm.wordpress.com On 20 June 2012 22:20, Tom Sparks tom_a_spa...@yahoo.com.au wrote: 'We have been getting phone calls say your computer has a problem... Most time I just hand up. But I've been think of give these caller a 10 question or some wacky replies 1 What Operating System I am I using? 2 What's my local/network IP address? 3 What's my router's IP address? 4 What's my Internet IP address? * Must be my Atari 2600, How did that get on the Internet? * let me drag out my PDP-10 do you want to debug that for me? * Where my ARPANET IMP? ' I am wondering what question or wacky replies would you come up with? --- tom_a_sparks It's a nerdy thing I like to do -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies
On 21 June 2012 13:08, Chris Robinson fabricat...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Chris Debenham ch...@adebenham.com To: Boden Matthews boden.matth...@gmail.com Cc: ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com Sent: Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:02 AM Subject: Re: virus phone call scam: question/wacky replies * Call them out on this all being a scam (in the process have had threats and rather bad language shouted at me) I've actually done that one. I was at my father-in-laws house - he's 90 and has never even owned a computer. The person (female) did not get abusive, but rather got upset and admitted that it was a scam. Surprise! I like to think it might have been a life changing experience for her ;-) I like the idea of letting them have access to a VM, just to see what will happen though. I'd be a little concerned about all the other computers on the same router though - some of them (the wife's) are Windows computers. I have actually tried this before. I setup a virtualmachine and put it in it's very own VLAN (so can't access other machines) I also setup routing so it was the default destination for a while. They get you to go through a few steps to show some 'errors' (which are not really a problem) Then they get you to go to a website and install a remote-access application to they can access your system directly (note that some of the the webpages they can refer you to even have a nice big warning about scams :) ) After this they futz around a bit 'cleaning' the system. At this point it is all pretty innocuous. The big problem is that after all this the call ends - but the remote-access software is still installed! I left the VM running for a few days and kept an eye on it (with wireshark running on host to track network connections to the VM) Nothing much happened that day - but the next evening around 9pm there was a connection to the remote-access software and someone spent a while looking around on the computer. They did things like looking for documents, and checking browser history/password store. Since the VM was a clean install they didn't find anything and left after a while. At this point I shutdown the VM and got rid of that VLAN/routing setup I also blacklisted the IP range involved just in case ;) Chris -- ubuntu-au mailing list ubuntu-au@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
