Scam Call - Pretending to Be from Telstra

LOcker on 30/01/2018 - 14:06
Last edited 30/01/2018 - 14:54 by 1 other user

Beware of the Telstra scam currently doing the rounds - I have had 3 calls in 3 days.

Call will appear to be from a genuine Aussie number (which it isn't) and the Indian caller will claim you have a problem with your Telstra internet modem
They then give you a license number of your modem and ask you to use the Windows cmd prompt, enter a cmd, and then point you to where the reference number is displayed. This is an attempt to convince you their call is genuine - reality is the licence/reference number is common to all Windows OS.
Now they think you believe the call is genuine they will ask you to go through several steps, which will effectively hand control of your PC to them.

Don't get sucked in.

Computing

Comments

    • retiredfeline on 31/01/2018 - 10:28
      +3

      He should be EO and do the underwear routine with the men too, that would gross them out even further. :)

  • sharkyoz on 31/01/2018 - 10:48
    +2

    I usually ask them, in a husky sexy tone( my imagining) and ask them what they're wearing.
    I then tell em ive got stockings and suspenders on and a pair of frilly crotchless knickers.
    Most hang up quickly. lol

  • eXo on 31/01/2018 - 11:23
    +1

    I get that opencharities carp all the time!

  • musclewarrior on 31/01/2018 - 12:50
    +3

    I get these calls pretty consistently in the evening and multiple times a day. At the moment, I like to listen to their script and then ask them why they were not calling to tell me my internet had been fixed. At this point they seem somewhat confused. I then start to get cranky with them telling them I've been trying to transfer to the NBN and have had nothing but problems (Not too far from the truth actually) and was hoping they were calling to let me know its all fixed.

    Best part about this, is you can go ape at them and they have no recourse. Turn the blame onto them - they always hang up.

  • try2bhelpful on 31/01/2018 - 13:04

    I would say
    “English poor, you speak Klingon”.

    Then wait patiently.

    • cameldownunder on 31/01/2018 - 18:12

      Qapla'

      • try2bhelpful on 31/01/2018 - 18:22
        +1

        I am very pleased to say I had to look that up.

  • saleseeker on 31/01/2018 - 17:16
    +1

    I had one of these on the wife's phone, when our older folks were over. as stated by others - had some fun, which was easy for me, as i am with optus, so knew it was fake immediately, however they persisted for a while. was good awareness for the folks as they couldn't work out why i picked it up so quick and both said they would've followed it. protect your old people…

  • Herbse on 31/01/2018 - 17:16

    If people really haven't heard of this trick, you'd better read up on this site for others

    https://www.scamwatch.gov.au

  • lonix on 31/01/2018 - 18:03
    +1

    My first response would be "What's a modem?"

    • Wallyt99 on 31/01/2018 - 18:39
      +4

      They would be like…. "we got a live one"

  • chuckynoris on 31/01/2018 - 18:38

    I had one from Telstra and i said what is your name i will call you back and he just hung up lol. I also had one claiming to be from Microsoft i didn't even bother with that and i just hung up on him. You can usually tell if it is a call from India because of the delay. Everyone knows that MS never call you unless you initiated the call first. Not sure if Telstra ring you if you haven't initiated a call to them.

  • HeWhoKnows on 31/01/2018 - 19:01
    +4

    These are all too common. But a bit of common sense will tell you that Telstra never makes calls proactively to fix your problems. Its hard enough to get onto their tech support and make any sense from them let alone Telstra calling you!

  • Palamedes on 31/01/2018 - 21:14
    +2

    Apart from all these obvious scams my 85 year old demented Auntie is being ripped off by every company in Australia that is just as bad. They all have no manners and no principles and no checking. By this I mean all churches and charities in Australia from what I can see. When my Auntie went into hospital a few years back with some mental issues for a few months and using my legal Power Of Attorney handling her affairs I saw all these scumbags were rapidly siphoning off what little money she has left in all their demands for money. She never said no to anybody (buying a path to heaven maybe) and had about 20 of them taking her savings weekly! I called many and cancelled them but like flies on poo they are no doubt back after her release from hospital. She is Catholic so there are many more Catholic fleas on her back than the rest of the others.

    In case anyone wonders I don't need any money she has when divided after death between my 3 brothers and I so that is not the point here. In my youth I collected for various charities but I really wonder about the methodologies now used when ripping off the aged. This a big story waiting for someone like the ABC to investigate.

  • erroorfree on 31/01/2018 - 21:35

    my dad actuallu sent $2k usd to someone in nigeria pfft

    • Munki on 31/01/2018 - 21:57

      You scoff, but wait til that Nigerian Prince reward him handsomely in due time.

  • DBBROS on 31/01/2018 - 22:39

    Wish the home phones have something like true caller just so it gets alerted as spam. I never answer on my phone home phone and had it disconnected last week as it is of no use to me

  • Kunalk222 on 01/02/2018 - 06:58

    they usually ask you to download teamviewer which gives them control of your PC. best thing is to shut the PC off and disconnect it from internet if you think your PC is affected

  • POWER1 on 01/02/2018 - 07:46

    I had a call from an Indian guy claiming to be from Telstra. He said that my computer his hacking Telstra servers every time I turn on my computer. I kept asking him questions and he wouldn't go away. I said can you give me your number so I can call you. He refused and said he would call me back the next day. I asked to speak to his manager. He pretend he didn't understand me. This was so funny. I had a good laugh.

  • Aussiebargainer on 01/02/2018 - 08:22
    +1

    Old scam. Doing the rounds for years. They remote access your computer and lock it holding it ransom for money. If you don't pay, they clear your c drive and hang up. Few things to do to check if a call id legitimate.
    1) they should know your name
    2) Google the number they are calling you from to check if it's been recorded as a scam.
    3) hang up and call Telstra directly
    4) telstra wouldn't be proactive in contacting you about an issue, if you have an issue, you always have to contact them.

    • montorola on 01/02/2018 - 20:16

      Ok let's say they take control of your computer, if you go off line (turn off the router) can they still have control of your pc?

      • Symbiotic on 01/02/2018 - 21:09

        If you’ve let them install malware they’ll have access to your machine when you’re online, but if there’s no connection (router off)… then there’s no connection. These guys often install ransomware, though. If that’s been installed it doesn’t matter if you are online or not. Your files will be usually be encrypted and very difficult to recover. A wipe clean and restore from a backup type scenario.

    • Christy Bambi on 02/02/2018 - 02:53

      they can't lock your computer if you just reboot without internet.

  • cockneylondoner on 01/02/2018 - 08:29

    This, or something that works in the same way, will stop all of your nuisance calls

    https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Announcements/Telstra…

    The following link is a demonstration of one of the BT equiv phones. I can't find anything similar for Telstra but they both work in the same way. Start from 3mins 50 secs for a 'real time' demonstration

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flyOHEEesz4

  • ShortyX on 01/02/2018 - 10:22
    +1

    Use this on scam calls - http://jollyrogertelephone.com/how-to-send-your-telemarketer…

  • Munki on 01/02/2018 - 11:45
    +7

    Create a Virtual Machine and put up tabs of hard core porn up and let them access it.

    • ahara on 02/02/2018 - 23:59

      I would go one step further and make the VM really slow or even take a snapshot, let them mess around with it, then go back to previous snapshot and argue that whatever they did has not worked and they should check again.

      They would waste so much time and not realize why their scripts or hacks don’t take effect.

      This of course is best when pretending to be old, computer illiterate and just “happy for them to help you with your slow computer”.

      Never received a call myself, unfortunately :(

  • Symbiotic on 01/02/2018 - 13:22
    +2

    This is why landlines are dying out. Phone line connections will remain for ADSL2+ until Australia has full NBN coverage in the year 3072, but Generation X, Y and Z are often choosing not to connect a landline phone. I don't answer unknown calls on my mobile. If it is important they'll leave a message.

  • Marrk on 01/02/2018 - 13:37

    The Telstra part may be new, though this scam is at least 10 to 15 years old.

  • ireadtermsofuse on 01/02/2018 - 14:17

    I would crack my knuckles into the receiver

  • Seni0r El Cheapo on 01/02/2018 - 14:46
    -2

    A while ago I received a call from Microsoft - I knew it was a scam. I started moaning and told him to hold as I am in the middle of masterbation session. Made sure he heard all my shitty moans, once done, I asked him, hey do you know the smell of your semen? They guy dropped the call.

  • Winston100s on 01/02/2018 - 14:59

    I've had quite a few call like that in the past, sometimes I waste their time and speak to them but other times when I can't be bothered I'd say give me these commands for a Linux system and they won't bother calling again.

  • StuffnStuff on 01/02/2018 - 19:37
    +3

    I use an app called "Should I Answer" on my phone after receiving about 2-10 scam or unwanted calls per day. Its a great app that allows you to add you own feedback. I've found it to be 100% accurate in identifying scam calls or unwanted calls from various legitimate companies or telemarketers. It also allows you to auto block numbers or even auto answer and immediately hang up on them.
    It will tell you who is calling eg "ATO scam call" so you can choose to ignore, block or answer just for fun and play their game.

    Best thing of all for Ozbargainers…..its free !

    • montorola on 01/02/2018 - 21:11

      Oh nice thanks for telling me, I'll definitely have some fun with them

    • Symbiotic on 01/02/2018 - 21:13
      +1

      That’s a good solution. 2-10 scam calls per day to my mobile would drive me mad. I get one every 3 months if I’m unlucky. Do you know how your mobile number got “out there”?

  • Christy Bambi on 02/02/2018 - 02:51

    Same type of person called me a week ago. He directed me to windows cmd and than the event handler. I told them "why the f** am in the event handler. Where do you want me to go? Tell me now" and he was like "these are the event errors your computer is having". Than i told him " Wtf are you talking about, these are log errors that occurs on all systems". Than i said " are you actually from telstra?. I'm actual technician and tell me my account number for telstra than". He hung up after that. I would love to ring his neck, scamming people of money who have no clue who they r.

    • PJC on 02/02/2018 - 02:55
      +1

      Tell them to flip off. You'll feel much better about yourself.

      • Christy Bambi on 03/02/2018 - 14:45
        +2

        he hung up before that, i wish i could. I hate these scum type of people who pray on the weak minded

        • montorola on 03/02/2018 - 18:02
          +2

          I hate these scum type of people who pray on the weak minded

          Damn they sound very religious =p

  • akoli on 02/02/2018 - 09:19

    I just drag out the call on them usually they get suspect and just tell you to F off… but they dont call back again so it is worth the effort.. even more if you say you need to go for a dump mid call and leave them hanging on whilst your just sitting watching TV then you have to do some other task.

    My Mother in Law got conned with the microsoft scam… they called her three times previous and she was warned not to do anything by the family… remote 123 installed and left running… they didn't get anything though just her watching chilean TV and latino music on youtube all day… maybe some grandpa porn who knows… !!

  • sajidmib on 02/02/2018 - 11:33

    I told them its a mac and they hang up straight away

  • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2018 - 12:53
    +1

    my hairdresser has been getting these calls too. I feel for the older non-pc literate generation who will be getting done by these dirty fu**wits.

    I once got a call and realized what it was - I went off at them and they turned quite vulgar and angry in return - these are the real scum of the earth

  • bolt on 02/02/2018 - 21:49

    I work in a fraud department and this type of scam is sadly very common.

    If you get any call from a company that you're not sure is legitimate or not, simply ask for an employee ID and/or department, then hang up and call them back on their official number (find it on the official website) and ask if your profile has an actual issue - if it's legit you'll simply be transferred to the right department/employee and you can discuss your issue with at least some degree of confidence that you're not talking to a scammer.

  • pennypincher98 on 03/02/2018 - 16:26
    +1

    I've had 3 calls in the one day about this recently and I'm not even with Telstra lol! Find it amazing how a different voice answers every time.

    Had a bit of fun with them, acted dumb for another and that was golden xD

  • lainey13 on 04/02/2018 - 17:32

    These ones I never get. What I do get in droves is bloody electricity switching companies and it drives me up the wall! I'm not interested in switching, they use many different numbers and company names and yes they do sound Indian…

  • Baghern on 07/02/2018 - 22:19

    heh my brother almost fell for the Windows one… till he realised… hmm I'm on a Macbook

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