Getting a call from a fake “tech support agent” is one of the most annoying experiences in today’s digital world.
These scammers pretend to be from big companies like Microsoft or Apple, hoping to scare people into handing over money or giving them access to their computers.
But one clever Reddit user decided not to panic. Instead, they turned the scam attempt into a hilarious act of revenge that wasted the scammer’s time and gave everyone online a good laugh.
Outsmarting Scammers with Malicious Compliance – Here’s The Original Post:
The setup was classic. A caller who introduced himself as “Dan from Microsoft” claimed that the user’s computer was crawling with viruses.
Normally, this is where people panic and start following the scammer’s instructions. But this time, things went very differently.
When Dan asked, “What’s on your screen?” the user gave the most literal answer possible.
Instead of saying something simple like “my desktop,” they began describing every single thing they could see.
Icons, folders, the WiFi symbol, even the clock in the corner, all of it came spilling out in unnecessary detail.
For five whole minutes, Dan sat there listening while his victim gave a play-by-play of the screen, right down to the battery percentage.
The more the user talked, the more Dan’s carefully planned scam script fell apart.
Finally, when Dan directed them to open the Run box, the Redditor listed every single command history entry instead of following instructions.
That was the final straw. Dan gave up and hung up the phone in frustration, completely defeated.
This little act of malicious compliance was more than just funny. It showed how a scammer’s power relies on speed and control.
By deliberately slowing things down and giving irrelevant information, the Redditor flipped the situation.
Instead of being the confused victim, they became the one in control, leaving the scammer powerless.
Experts say this kind of scam is everywhere. According to the FBI, Americans lost more than 4.6 billion dollars to cyber scams in 2023, with fake tech support being one of the most common schemes.
Scammers usually target older people who may not be familiar with technology, tricking them into installing remote-access software or paying fake repair fees.
The Redditor’s trick worked because they understood how these scams operate and used humor to break the script.
Of course, there are risks. Cybersecurity specialists warn that engaging with scammers can sometimes make things worse.
They might record your voice, collect small bits of information, or keep calling once they know you pick up.
Security journalist Brian Krebs has pointed out that the safest choice is usually to hang up immediately.
Still, if you know what you are doing and keep it impersonal, wasting a scammer’s time can stop them from targeting someone else.
This story also highlights how common scam calls have become. A 2024 report from Truecaller revealed that 68 percent of Americans get scam calls every single month.
With numbers like that, awareness and prevention are just as important as good humor.
Blocking unknown numbers, reporting scam calls to the FTC, or simply refusing to engage are strong defenses.
Take a look at the comments from fellow users:
People flooded the comments with laughter, comparing the Redditor’s detailed desktop monologue to a stand-up comedy routine.
Many shared their own strategies, from pretending to be confused grandparents to putting scammers on hold for hours with silly background noise.
A Desktop Monologue or a Scammer’s Nightmare?
In the end, this was not just a prank. It was a reminder that even in a world full of online fraud, creativity and patience can turn the tables. The scammer expected an easy target but instead found someone ready to waste his time and expose the scam.
This clever Redditor transformed a scam attempt into a petty masterpiece by describing every pixel on their screen until the scammer cracked.
It raises an interesting question: is it smarter to waste a scammer’s time or safer to hang up immediately? Either way, it is proof that with a little humor and awareness, even the most annoying phone call can become a story worth telling.
