What happens if you press 1? (Phone scam)

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Rikkitic

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#255578 19-Aug-2019 11:48

We have started getting a lot of those scam robocalls about Spark cutting off our Internet service. Naturally we never press 1 as instructed, but does anyone know what would happen if we did? Does this autodial a very expensive overseas toll number or something like that?

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wellygary

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#2301622 19-Aug-2019 11:55

Does this autodial a very expensive overseas toll number or something like that?

The call has been originated by the scammers, so there is no way for any charge to be incurred at your end...

I suspect it simply sticks you in a queue to be lined up for the "your computer is compromised" or similar spiel....

Linux

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#2301626 19-Aug-2019 12:03

I have pressed 1 and just made rude comments to them about Goats

msukiwi

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#2301628 19-Aug-2019 12:07

I've pressed 2 to get disconnected from Spark, as I'm not a Spark customer!

Still getting the calls though!

Can't wait for "Spark" to disconnect me and stop calling!

Oblivian

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#2305858 25-Aug-2019 22:02

Browsing youtube and this popped up..

Answers what happens for you.

You'll laugh. Black screen cause it may radiate your eyes..

kiwifidget

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#2305859 25-Aug-2019 22:07

I'm getting up to a dozen of those fricking calls a day, I'm over it.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

FineWine

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#2305969 26-Aug-2019 10:41

The most we've had is 4 between 0900-1800. What really gives them away is the long delay between pickup and an audio. Then what gives them even more away is an extremely heavy Indian accented recording. You would think they would use an actual English speaking Kiwi born 1st or 2nd generation Indian for that initial recording bit, then they might have better success in the scam.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

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Bung

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#2306020 26-Aug-2019 11:02

I thought the latest "Spark" version wasn't a bad attempt. It sounded like the scammers had got someone for the voice. Not as young twenty something as NZ agencies use but closer.

Pushing 1 puts you in 1 of 2 camps, potentially gullible or worth further annoying.

Deezdeehan

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#2306086 26-Aug-2019 11:44

Putting through 1 definitely marks you as gullible, probably will sharing the calling list with other scam call centers or list you down for further attempts down the track. If anything it's just an annoyance.

allan

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#2306160 26-Aug-2019 13:44

We are also getting 3-4 of these a day. I pressed 1 a few weeks back just to see and then had a fairly bizarre conversation along the following lines:

Me: "What makes you think I'm with Spark?"
Him: "You're from Spark?"
Me: “No, you're from Spark"
Him: "Sir I'm not from Spark"
Me: "But that's what your call said at the beginning"
Him: "Sir I never told you I was from Spark"
Me: "So where are you from then?"
Him: "Sir, I'm from a technical call centre"
Me: "Well if you're not from Spark, goodbye then" and I hung up.

I can only conclude he was multi tasking and had got confused as to which telco he was supposed to be impersonating.

l43a2

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#2306161 26-Aug-2019 13:46

Oblivian:

Browsing youtube and this popped up..

Answers what happens for you.

You'll laugh. Black screen cause it may radiate your eyes..

Jim browning provides pretty solid content.

Fred99

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#2306180 26-Aug-2019 14:16

For the first time in quite a while (a year or two I think), I just got a "ring once" scam call from a Lithuania number (+370 prefix).

This on 2deg mobile. I thought they'd nailed the lid on that scam.

In the past, I had calls from North African numbers with +21* prefix - easy to make the mistake that it was from a local 021 number, and call back.

Beware - they're still at it.

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pctek

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#2307969 29-Aug-2019 17:54

Me: "What makes you think I'm with Spark?"
Him: "You're from Spark?"
Me: “No, you're from Spark"
Him: "Sir I'm not from Spark"
Me: "But that's what your call said at the beginning"
Him: "Sir I never told you I was from Spark"
Me: "So where are you from then?"
Him: "Sir, I'm from a technical call centre"

I'd then say:

Which one?

Whatever he says, then the next thing would be:

Why call me, do you think I am unaware of my (issues) (Bills) (data usage)...

k1w1k1d

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#2308047 29-Aug-2019 19:22

We never call back missed calls unless we know the number.

If it is important they will ring back.