Warning: Scam phone call

Question

This morning I received a phone call from some people claiming to be from BT's Potential Malicious Use department (or something similar). The woman said her name was Venniser. When I said I had trouble understanding her heavy Indian accent she handed me over to a man whose name sounded like Dariel. They claimed that malicious software had been downloaded with my emails and that this was uploading more malicious software on to the BT servers. Because of this, I was going to be disconnected from BT internet. They claimed that my anti-virus and firewall wouldn't protect me from the threats.
I was unwilling to follow any directions given over the phone to resolve the 'issue'. I asked the woman for my BT billing reference as a way of confirming that the call was genuine. The number she gave me was wrong - it didn't even start with the right letters. If I'd know at the time that BT employees have an ID number, I'd have asked for that instead of their names. When I told Dariel that BT would have sent some kind of notification of their intention to disconnect, he told me it was probably in my Spam folder. It isn't. I haven't received anything from BT, email or post, since my last bill. When I said I didn't believe the call was genuine, he told me he was going to disconnect my internet there and then, and disconnect my phone at the same time. I said goodbye and hung up. That was two hours ago. I'm still here!
The call sounded like it was coming from an office or call centre - there were other voices in the background. Dariel gave himself a convincing job title - Senior Supervisor. When I dialled 1471 to find out who had called, there number was not available. This is a scam.

Answer 1

There are so many scams doing the rounds that you would have to get Microsoft, Banks, Building Societies, Pension Companies, Lottery Companies etc etc etc to put out emails warning of them then you would have to get emails warning you of phishing emails about warning emails from these companies and so it goes on.
The best thing is to remember that NO reputable company will ever phone you unsolicited and ask you to reveal any personal details, log on username or password details or security questions or to access your computer.
They will never ask you for bank account details or tell you that there is a problem with your bank card and they will arrange a courier to pick it up or any of the many other ways to get you to part with your cash.
No ISP will contact you about corrupted files or folders on your computer effecting their servers or that you have a virus.
In short, any one who phones you wanting your details or access to your computer is a scammer.