Yeah, this tactic has gotten very common. They get people to drill down into their Windows files and then they will ask if you see so and so number. Of course you do and this makes one think the guy is legit and knows what he's talking about. The thing is this number is on every Windows install so it's not unique. Once they get your trust they will get you to run an install and BAM you have been hacked! Most likely some ransomware.

For the record NO computer company will call you and tell you your PC has a problem. It doesn't work that way. How could it?
When i get a call i try to jack them around for awhile just for kicks.

I also get calls from these people on a regular basis.

The "Windows" guy usually hangs up when I tell him I don't have a computer and I usually hang up on the credit card recording.

I've also played with both of them a few times. When they get to the point of asking for personal info I tell them to take my number off their list. At that point, they usually hang up on me.

I wish there was a way to stop all the political candidate recorded messages received before elections. Unfortunately, they are exempt from the Do Not Call list.

Classic Seinfeld bit:

Aside from charities, the three groups from whom I get the most calls are "utility"companies eager to help me save money on my electric and gas bills, aggregators who want to speak with the person in charge of the "Verizon account", and stock brokers who don't want to sell me anything, but want to see if I am interesting in a golden opportunity to make a killing in the market.

If I had more time and patience, instead of hanging up immediately as I usually do, I would follow your lead Rusty and ask enough questions, until they realize they are wasting their time so they hang up on me.

I did once ask a solicitor trying to sell a newspaper subscription if they offered a braille edition, since I was recently blinded in an industrial accident. He apologized, said no and hung up.

I have internet phone service (VOIP) from AT&T Uverse. They let you block up to 20 numbers, but I need to block about 80..... The caller gets a message that 'this number no longer accepts calls from you'

If you have the right kind of phone that allows more than one phone number to ring when you get a call (Uverse does this, I think Comcast does too), then you can sign up for nomorobo at nomorobo.com. You go into your phone setup and add their 800 number to ring when you get a call. If the number calling is a known robocaller, their computer answers and hangs up. Your phone only rings once. If you keep getting calls that don't get blocked, you can report the number to them and they will add it to the list...... I laugh every time the phone rings just once...... nomorobo is free.

[Edited on 2/17/2015 by Sang]

I really try hard to get in an argument with the calling criminal. Insult their mother, accuse their spouse of being a pedophile, ask for sexual favors or anything else that comes to mind. I always get a hearty laugh when I can tell the very angry and cussing criminal to look around the boiler room and see how many of his fellow criminals are laughing their asses off at him or her right now. Oh, and please call back on a regular basis, I got a million ways to piss you off! The more time they spend with me, the less time they have to scam the elderly and less savvy among us. Messing with these folks is a civic duty I'm happy to provide.

I really try hard to get in an argument with the calling criminal. Insult their mother, accuse their spouse of being a pedophile, ask for sexual favors or anything else that comes to mind. I always get a hearty laugh when I can tell the very angry and cussing criminal to look around the boiler room and see how many of his fellow criminals are laughing their asses off at him or her right now. Oh, and please call back on a regular basis, I got a million ways to piss you off! The more time they spend with me, the less time they have to scam the elderly and less savvy among us. Messing with these folks is a civic duty I'm happy to provide.

Community service at its finest!

I really try hard to get in an argument with the calling criminal. Insult their mother, accuse their spouse of being a pedophile, ask for sexual favors or anything else that comes to mind. I always get a hearty laugh when I can tell the very angry and cussing criminal to look around the boiler room and see how many of his fellow criminals are laughing their asses off at him or her right now. Oh, and please call back on a regular basis, I got a million ways to piss you off! The more time they spend with me, the less time they have to scam the elderly and less savvy among us. Messing with these folks is a civic duty I'm happy to provide.

I start by asking them what they're wearing, it gets better from there.

My wife calls it "playing with my friends". On days when I have time, I have decided to use them as comic relief as opposed to the "don't call here" route.

Sanji calls for a Duct Cleaning company all the time. I tell him that I have multiple homes and ask if they offer discounts. This hooks him right in. After that I go into Info commercial audience mode where I repeat everything he says and act amazed. Dollar signs are rolling in his eyes.

After my amusement runs out, I ask him if ducks are the only type of birds that they clean and whether or not they catch them or do I have to have them ready. The confusion that follows the holiday turkey question is priceless. Poor bastard goes from square foot/number of vents to questions about feather cleaning procedures. Sometimes the bird portion can go on for 5+ minutes depending on how stupid the guy on the other end is. One time we were laughing so hard that I just hung up - he actually called me back confused. I told him that I was running around and counting the ducks as he asked a number of times how many I had. When asked if I count those that flew away, he really seemed to be asking himself "How can this guy be so confused.".

My wife calls it "playing with my friends". On days when I have time, I have decided to use them as comic relief as opposed to the "don't call here" route.

Sanji calls for a Duct Cleaning company all the time. I tell him that I have multiple homes and ask if they offer discounts. This hooks him right in. After that I go into Info commercial audience mode where I repeat everything he says and act amazed. Dollar signs are rolling in his eyes.

After my amusement runs out, I ask him if ducks are the only type of birds that they clean and whether or not they catch them or do I have to have them ready. The confusion that follows the holiday turkey question is priceless. Poor bastard goes from square foot/number of vents to questions about feather cleaning procedures. Sometimes the bird portion can go on for 5+ minutes depending on how stupid the guy on the other end is. One time we were laughing so hard that I just hung up - he actually called me back confused. I told him that I was running around and counting the ducks as he asked a number of times how many I had. When asked if I count those that flew away, he really seemed to be asking himself "How can this guy be so confused.".

Please, please, PLEASE record one of these phone calls! The Groucho, "why a duck?" routine could be worked into this!