First, without any preamble, he told me to go and switch on my computer. When I asked him why, I didn't get the usual spiel, just a curt statement that there was a problem with it. The conversation then went like this:
(scammer) "I have a red light flashing here that shows me that there is a problem. Let me show you all the viruses."
(me) "My computer is fine. I don't have any problems with it."
(scammer) "I will show you that hackers have been installing viruses on your computer."
(me) "What, hackers like you?"
(scammer) "F&*^ your computer!"
(me, laughing) "What did you just say?"
(scammer) "F&*^ your computer! And f&*^ you!
And then he hung up before I could tell him that that was no way to persuade people to hand over cash.
Sometimes I like to play them along and If I'd wanted to keep him on the line to waste more of his time, I shouldn't have revealed my hand so early in the conversation, but I wasn't in the mood for scammer baiting as I have too much to do today. But I think this particular scam has just about run its course. What will they come up with next, I wonder?