sueyh Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Hi everyone,I have just received a phone call from a very distraught english friend in our village. She received a phone call from an English company saying that her SSL was out of date on her computer and then asked her to go through lots of things on her computer to test it. They gave her a telephone number of 00441513241514 and an email address of [email protected] - has anyone heard of this as being a scam. The problem is they convinced her that she needed to update this or her computer would be open to viruses, she therefore gave her bank card details to them!!!! My hubby has gone down to try to help her out and we've told her to contact her french bank immediately.If anyone can give guidance please.Thanks Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Sounds like a scam to me, definitely. Best block all movements on her account(s) immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 It would appear Wooly may well be right as there are reports elsewhere on the internet of similar call to people saying the SSL has expired and requesting access to their computer.Did the caller have an Indian accent ? That is reported by others who have taken this call . No doubt somebody will be along who knows all about this "Scam " should it be confirmed it is one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueyh Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 We have been online and accessed her accounts on my computer so that she could change all passwords. Thankfully she does not use online banking. Be aware folks, these people are so convincing.Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 She should declare her bank card lost, so as to stop all payments immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueyh Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 She has contacted the bank by phone and cancelled the card and is going to her branch tomorrow with a security number, given to her by the bank and it will all be confirmed cancelled.Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 It is a good idea to check that the scammers have not persuaded her to enable remote access on her computer.These instructions will show how to disable this if it has been enabled.http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/rdesktop_disable.mspx?mfr=trueSue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueyh Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Thanks Sue, really kind. A friend of ours who is a computer whizz is sorting out the computer tomorrow, so she is under instruction not to turn it on until then.Thanks all Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueyh Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Having spent a great deal of time this afternoon checking all on our friends computer, all seems okay. Thankfully. Could have been so much worse. however, we still have to see how much has been taken from her French bank account.Thanks all. ......and by the way, on investigation it appears that these scammers are hitting all over the world so be aware - be very aware.Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyboop Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 How many times to people have to be told:Do not give your bank details to anyone over the phoneHopefully this thread will re-inforce this to people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueyh Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 These people contacted our friend again yesterday, unsurprisingly she told them where to go. Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Hope your friend is OK.Perhaps the simplest question to ask is 'how do they know'?Very easy to frighten people that their computer is at risk and then prove to be the risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Trellis Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 My friend had a phone call telling her that her computer was in trouble and open to viruses. A man with an Indian accent and I think pretending to be Natwest bank. She said, 'Oh dear, that sounds serious'..... and was told to turn on her computer. She then pointed out she doesn't have one! The phone was slammed down.Worry, as she used to have a computer and would not have thought to wonder how someone in another country could view her computer and see problems. Also how did this person get her phone number, know her bank (or it could be a lucky guess i suppose, and know she is English? Has the bank got a security problem I wonder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 [quote user="Mrs Trellis"]My friend had a phone call telling her that her computer was in trouble and open to viruses. A man with an Indian accent and I think pretending to be Natwest bank. She said, 'Oh dear, that sounds serious'..... and was told to turn on her computer. She then pointed out she doesn't have one! The phone was slammed down.Worry, as she used to have a computer and would not have thought to wonder how someone in another country could view her computer and see problems. Also how did this person get her phone number, know her bank (or it could be a lucky guess i suppose, and know she is English? Has the bank got a security problem I wonder. [/quote]Did he know the bank or did he ask a few 'innocent' questions to find out who she banked with?Her phone number easy - just keep trying different numbers or buy a list - there are directories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 You can buy verified lists on the Internet if you know what to look for.It's normally 'Microsoft' that tries the old virus trick but I guess they came up with bank names because of the publicity about the 'Microsoft' scam. One way to deal with them is to ask them for their number and tell them you will call them back because your just about to go to the toilet or whatever. If you can't get a number then you know. In the unlikelihood of you getting a number then ask what department they are in and their name then look on the banks website or in the phone book for the banks phone number and phone them then ask for the person via the departmental name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Trellis Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 So people can buy a list of phone numbers of Brits living in France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 [quote user="Mrs Trellis"]So people can buy a list of phone numbers of Brits living in France?[/quote]Perhaps some simple filters will isolate nationalities. For instance Smith is going to be Brit and by using other common surnames the list can be split into nationalities. What is left could then be manually scanned and educated guesses made.So now the scammers can have Dutch speaking people phoning those identified as being Dutch etc. If they get it wrong try another.Remember, labour is cheap in India even those with degrees and the amount that can be scammed high.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 In the last few weeks there has been a noticeable increase in the number of incoming ''dodgy type'' calls. They are in French and obviously know my name ( not difficult, it's in the phone book ), the numbers always come up as 'withheld'. My normal response is to answer clearly in English, at which point there is inevitably a sharp click as they disconnect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tancrède Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 [quote user="powerdesal"]…the numbers always come up as 'withheld'. My normal response is to answer clearly in English… [/quote]You are evidently a very generous natured person. If a number is 'withheld' I wouldn't even consider going to the effort of lifting the receiver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I am not generous by nature, however, one of my Daughter's number is ''withheld'' for security reasons, so I have to answer, just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueyh Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Well we are sure that the hospitals sell our details because since I was in hospital three months ago, we are constantly receiving phone calls regarding mutuelles! The exact same thing happened last year when I was in hospital. I suppose the hospitals have to try something to make money.Suey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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