Phone Rings...

[Lady Michelle]

My mom answers it guy tells my mom Im doing illegal things on my PC. LOL she freaks out tells me to get on the phone. I get on the phone guy changes his story tells me some hackers are trying to get into my PC. I need to go to this web site run this program. I ask him what does this program do? He told me it will give him access to look around my PC. I told him I don't think so Im not giving access to someone I don't know. He told me I would have to take my PC to a programmer it will cost me over $500.00, and since he works for microsoft plus I have a valid windows he could do it for free. I told him my brother is a programmer, and he will also do it for free. Then I hung up on him Im thinking what a Dumbazz like Im going to fall for that.
I told my mom I won't download illegal programs to play UO, and Im going to do other illegal things on my PC? Seriously.
I told her he told me someone hackers were trying to hack my PC, and I told her only one trying to hack my PC was the guy on the phone.
Call was from a private caller so I knew he was a BSer.
You get a call from someone wanting you to run a program to give them access to your PC hang up on them.

 

[Lord Nabin]

Wow!

 

[Merus]

There was a story like this on the news here a few days back.

 

[startle]

As a computer support person by trade, I've seen this a LOT over the past couple of years - the most recent only a couple of days ago... Unfortunately it's often older people who fall for this scheme... No idea HOW these people get phone numbers, but maybe they just call any number they can find and hope to find someone frightened enough to abandon common sense and fork over a credit card to pay for nothing....

 

[kelmo]

As funny as this seems to many of us, I know real life victims of fraud via internet.

 

[Flutter]

You said he told your mom you were doing naughty things. Did he know you by name? Did he just take the chance that the person who answered wasn't the person using the computer?
What the heck?

 

[Andrasta]

I got this same call on a Saturday morning about two weeks ago. It's from a call center. You can hear many people in the background. He states he is official Microsoft support and that hundreds of error messages have been coming from your computer warning him that you have many viruses and hackers. (lol)

He leads you into some Microsoft log files on your own computer that look scary but are perfectly normal. Then he asks you to go a website & tries to get you to log into and download some software off their official WINDOW$ SUPPORT website (note the $) to rid yourself of all the viruses and hackers which is amazingly free.

The only hacker is this idiot on the other end of the phone. I made him spend a lot of time with me as I pretended not to know how to find the log files. He said that I better not be wasting his time and that he had other people to call and save. When I finally told him that I wasn't going to download his program he says "You know what Ma'am? F$*# off. I started laughing and hung up on him.

I did take the time to call the real Microsoft support who told me that it was a very good thing that I had not installed the program. He referred me to IC3.gov to report the incident because I am Canadian. For those of you who get this call in the U.S. please report it to FTC.gov and hopefully we can get this site shut down. I just checked and sadly it is still up.

 

[Aurelius]

Been going on for several years, as with most similar scams all they need is one or two percent of the people they call to believe it for to become worthwhile for them, and sadly there are at least that many people who fall for it

http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx

 

[Lady Michelle]

You said he told your mom you were doing naughty things. Did he know you by name? Did he just take the chance that the person who answered wasn't the person using the computer?
What the heck?

Yes he did ask for me so he did know my name, he also said I have a valid windows. Im wondering does this guy works for microsoft. How would he know my windows is legit, and my name. That actually would be the only place he could get that info.

 

[The Zog historian]

It's extremely unlikely he really works for MS. If your mother is listed on anywho.com, her age range may be listed too, along with "Associated" names and their age ranges. She may have also been tricked into divulging your name. "Is there a John, James...oh, yes, your son Jim." Elderly are getting tricked into sending money by similar means. "It's your favorite grandson, can't you recognize my voice?" "Tommy, is that you?" "Yeah, it's me, but I can't talk long, I'm on vacation in [some foreign country] and got arrested. I didn't do it but they won't let me out without a big fine, and I don't have money!"

Having Windows is not just a lucky guess, but an extremely probable one. On top of all the staff and microphone planted around the audience, and the video editing, John Edward looks good because he rapid attempts at hits. "Someone had a mother named Mary, Margaret, Mabel, who died of a heart attack?" With an audience of a few hundred people, those are pretty good odds. With a country of a few hundred million, it's pretty good odds to call random numbers and get someone with a valid Windows license.

 

[Lady Michelle]

It's extremely unlikely he really works for MS. If your mother is listed on anywho.com, her age range may be listed too, along with "Associated" names and their age ranges. She may have also been tricked into divulging your name. "Is there a John, James...oh, yes, your son Jim." Elderly are getting tricked into sending money by similar means. "It's your favorite grandson, can't you recognize my voice?" "Tommy, is that you?" "Yeah, it's me, but I can't talk long, I'm on vacation in [some foreign country] and got arrested. I didn't do it but they won't let me out without a big fine, and I don't have money!"

Having Windows is not just a lucky guess, but an extremely probable one. On top of all the staff and microphone planted around the audience, and the video editing, John Edward looks good because he rapid attempts at hits. "Someone had a mother named Mary, Margaret, Mabel, who died of a heart attack?" With an audience of a few hundred people, those are pretty good odds. With a country of a few hundred million, it's pretty good odds to call random numbers and get someone with a valid Windows license.

I went to anywho.com only number listed is our fax only phone # are land line is unlisted.
Least I didn't fall for it, and Im hoping that posting this more people won't fall for it either, and that they pass it on to others.

 

[Spiritless]

It's not hard to guess your Windows copy is legit and it's very easy to acquire someone's name at least. These calls, as noted above, have been going on for years. Just hang up and move on with your life is the best option.

 

[Haddy G]

Did he have a Nigerian accent? lol

 

[silent]

Spear phishing for MMO gaming accounts.

 

[GreywolfUK]

My mom answers it guy tells my mom Im doing illegal things on my PC. LOL she freaks out tells me to get on the phone. I get on the phone guy changes his story tells me some hackers are trying to get into my PC. I need to go to this web site run this program. I ask him what does this program do? He told me it will give him access to look around my PC. I told him I don't think so Im not giving access to someone I don't know. He told me I would have to take my PC to a programmer it will cost me over $500.00, and since he works for microsoft plus I have a valid windows he could do it for free. I told him my brother is a programmer, and he will also do it for free. Then I hung up on him Im thinking what a Dumbazz like Im going to fall for that.
I told my mom I won't download illegal programs to play UO, and Im going to do other illegal things on my PC? Seriously.
I told her he told me someone hackers were trying to hack my PC, and I told her only one trying to hack my PC was the guy on the phone.
Call was from a private caller so I knew he was a BSer.
You get a call from someone wanting you to run a program to give them access to your PC hang up on them.

That is an old scam, that was doing the rounds here in the UK a few years ago, I see they are just as stupid as ever. Microsoft would never call you directly, nor would they email you. I used to just go into geek mode and ask them questions about computer hardware and software, they soon get tied up in knots, when you ask them something not on their scripts.

 

[Widow Maker]

Glad to see the OP is smarter than the average sheeple we have now.

*applause*

 

[RaDian FlGith]

Same basic thing's happened to me twice. Funny thing is, I'm the guy my friends call when their computers go down, and I also spent over a decade working on the internet...

So this guy calls one day, says he's calling to handle a free repair of my computer. I'm like, "Strange, what seems to be wrong with my computer."
Guy: "Well, it's running slower than it could be. If you just visit our website, I can clean it up for you. I'm authorized to do this for free by your computer manufacturer."
Me: "Strange, I was just using it, and it seems fine to me."
Guy: "It's not. Just visit our website..."
Me: "So, this is free, right? Who authorized it?"
Guy: "The manufacturer of your computer."
Me: "Which component? Motherboard? Processor? Ram?"
Guy: "Your computer's manufacturer."
Me: "Really? Because I custom built my system myself. So which one was it again?"
Guy: "You just need to visit our website."
Me: "So I can download the trojan from it and give you unfettered access to my computer? I don't think so."
Guy: "There aren't any viruses or trojans on the site. We're here to help."
Me: "Yes, I know... authorized by me, apparently, since I'm the manufacturer of my computer."
Guy: "Are you in front of your computer."
Me: "Sure, I'll play along. Yes, I'm in front of my computer."
Guy: "Okay, open your web browser..."
Me: "Which one?"
Guy: "What?"
Me: "Well, I mean which one is most vulnerable to your security exploit. I'm happy to assist in any way I can. Do you prefer Opera, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer? Hell, I think I've got an old copy of Netscape Navigator laying around if you think it would help."
Guy: "Just open your web browser..."
Me: "Which one?"
Guy: "I don't care."
Me: "Me either. Make a decision for me. If I'm going to let you install a trojan, we might as well make sure it works."
Guy: "Just choose one."
Me: "Okay, Internet Explorer it is. Now, before I open it, is there any particular port you need me to open on my firewall that will make this task easier for you?"
Guy: "No, I just need you to visit our website."
Me: "You know, I have to give you credit. After all of this proof that I have every idea what it is that you're trying to do, you're still on the phone with me. I'm actually amazed."
Guy: "Are you ready for the website."
Me: "You seriously think I'm going to go there?"
Guy: "This will help your computer stop running so slow."
Me: "I don't know... I've got a 3.4 gigaherz i7 with 32 gb of RAM, 2 gigs of DDR5 video ram via Crossfire, and have an SSD for my OS drive. It takes me a whole 27.5 seconds to boot up and be able to run programs, and that includes the time it takes to type in my password. I'm not sure how much faster you can make it. Could you give me an estimate?"
Guy: "There's no estimate. This is free."
...
This conversation went on for well over five minutes before I finally said, "I'm sorry, my mom's calling. Could you call back later?" and hung up.

Six weeks later, he (or someone very much like him) called back again.
For another tortuous five minute conversation.
But hey, at least I was amused.

 

[Rhiannon]

But hey, at least I was amused.

OMG RaDian. You sound EXACTLY like my son. He's a student getting his degree in computer game design (that's after being a computer engineer for Christy Digital that has computers that run in the movie theaters). He has your sense of humor and would definitely (justifiably) torture someone in such a manner. He's 28 now so I don't expect he'll ever change. If we can't get these people put in jail for these illegal activities, at least we can delay them so they have less time to scam those less aware than the people on this thread. Don't forget that someone like my mother-in-law who is 86 and can barely turn her computer on would definitely fall for something like this. Fortunately, the entire family has warned her to be careful of this type of thing but lots of folks don't have anyone to warn them. It's so sad.

So good job! And the OP, also good job! Warning others is the only way to get the word out that things like this exist.

 

[Viper09]

Bravo Antraste and RaDian! I've received calls from these idiots before, including someone with a strong Indian accent claiming to be from the IRS saying I could collect lots of unclaimed money. He actually pitched me the line "now I'm sure you're wondering how you can collect this money." Unfortunately I've always been to busy to entertain them when they call.

But while some of us are wise to these stupid people, some are not. Good to get this out there.

 

[MalagAste]

Ra I remember that conversation from vent one night. That was soooo funny.