Someone claiming to be from TalkTalk just rang me out of the blue, to tell me there was something wrong with my router. He had rung a couple of weeks ago, telling me to unplug or turn off this, that and the other, but I was busy and couldn’t be fagged, so I rang off.
Anyway, who was this fellow, ringing and bossing me about? Was he a scammer? We’re forever being warned against cold calls from trick banks and rogues wanting money. Perhaps this was just another scoundrel preying on a weedy old lady. If I needed help from my provider, then surely I should be able to ring them myself? So I tried. But I couldn’t get through.
Now here he was again, nagging. “We are trying to help you,” said this cove, sounding crotchety. “You have junk files on your router. Do you have a laptop or PC? Turn it on.”
“I don’t have time for this now. Anyway, my computer is fine. I just mended it myself,” I tell him, sharp as a tack and defying elderly stereotypes. “I would like a phone number, please, on which I can call you when I need help.”
“You mended it?” said he, sounding even more ratty. “Are you a technician?”
No, I am not, but I had remembered something about those filter thingumebobs that you’re meant to have on each telephone extension, noticed one was missing, unplugged the guilty extension, bought myself a new mouse, and ta-dah! My PC began to run like clockwork. I now feel in command of my life, and tremendously independent. I do not need to take orders from this chap.
“No ma’am,” he banged on. “It is not fine. Hacking devices are getting into your internal parts.” Again I begged for his number, but he slammed the phone down. Then guess what? I managed to get through to a real-life person at TalkTalk, who told me that this was a scam – so watch out, everyone – and that she would email me within minutes, explaining how to block it. I’m still waiting for her email. Waiting and waiting …
