Calling at the request of Microsoft?

beta · 2016-09-14T17:11:37.000Z

So, I just want to make sure this isn’t something MS is actually doing now, but my CEO, VP, and HR person have all been called and left a message (I expect my CFO will be getting one soon), from a guy working for a MS Gold Partner (I won’t name names) saying he’s calling “at the request of Microsoft” for a brief consultation regarding our Office 365 suite (we don’t use Office 365). He says MS has “enlisted” them to help utilize our 365 investment.

So, this is BS right? I’m used to the scams where the guy with a thick accent claims to be calling from Microsoft, so I kind of expected that was what this was going to be, but they do seem to be a real company. I assume he’s phishing for sales. Just wanted to see if anyone else gets calls like these?

Mike400 · 2016-09-14T17:14:51.000Z

Since you don’t use Office 365 this is at best an unsolicited cold sales call. At worst it’s a scammer trying to get your money.

46733 · 2016-09-14T17:15:12.000Z

Sounds like a scam to me.

big-green-man · 2016-09-14T17:16:32.000Z

Yeah, Mike hit the nail on the head.

Plus, I don’t think MS partners call. I think they send letters (at least for voluntary audits, I can’t speak for other situations).

chris-microsoft · 2016-09-14T17:18:54.000Z

That sounds more like a marketing pitch by the guy calling… I mean, there are have been some programs I’ve been apart of that have “called on behalf of Microsoft”… but I would treat this as such and move on if you have no interest in what they’re selling.

ross · 2016-09-14T17:18:55.000Z

Yeah, microsoft doesn’t even take a call when you call them, i can’t imagine them paying to have calls go out.

michael9595 · 2016-09-14T17:20:32.000Z

Marketing to try and get you to go to Office365. Don’t go for it and when you do, you reach out.

peterb123 · 2016-09-14T17:30:23.000Z

Are you sure nobody signed up for a trial or other O365 subscription?

jessevas · 2016-09-14T17:48:14.000Z

I suppose that it could be said that at some point Microsoft told him to get out there and sell some stuff.

rick4 · 2016-09-14T18:32:48.000Z

Yeah, I’ve gotten those calls before…once I gave them my credit card number and they remote controlled in, I didn’t have to do anything! They got right in, and did what they needed to do. Of course, I haven’t been able to use my computer since, so that must just be coincidence…

johnmctaggart5616 · 2016-09-14T18:59:45.000Z

Funny, I just got a call from Microsoft yesterday stating that my machine was infected.

Being the curious person that I am, I asked the caller who they were and how the knew what they said they knew. “Oh, we have many tools and we can see your machine” he said through his think Bangalore accent. I said, “that’s really interesting, since you can see my machines, what’s its name?”

At which point, there were several “hello, can you hear me’s” culminating in my telling him to find a more honorable profession.

Bastiges…

zidormi · 2016-09-14T19:44:09.000Z

Just to clarify, Microsoft Partners will call you, BUT it is at your request.

If you requested information from Microsoft about one of their products, they will enlist a partner in your area to help you out.

If you didn’t request anything, this is probably a really poor cold call.

colinkent · 2016-09-15T05:55:39.000Z

sales call.

i don’t even bother when its MS calling.
If your calling on their behalf you have got no chance.

Briser-fae-the-broch · 2016-09-16T13:52:09.000Z

It’s bull, this is increasingly common these days, calling on behalf of MS, Cisco, HP, Dell, etc etc,you name it - its a sales con trick.

My boss actually called a guy out for it saying to him “You are not calling from Microsoft at all because I recognise your voice and number - you called me yesterday saying you were from Dell”.