JohnRoss Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Just to warn you that you may get a phone call like the one I got today from, they say, Windows Technical Division.They tell you that your computer has been sending them messages about virus infections and ask you to look at certain windows on your computer, Windows log file, and then say that what you are seeing, some log entries have red blobs beside them, is evidence of a virus/malware infection. They then ask you to go to a certain website and download something. I note that this scam has been mentioned before on this forum. It was at this point I stopped going along with them and asked for some information about my recent emails with Microsoft which they could not do. I had noted that emails from Microsoft customer support have Indian sounding names on them and it was this that made me think that the call might be genuine initially. I only went this far as I had been in contact with Microsoft about a Windows problem caused by a virus and their call today must be purely coincidence. In fact when I challenged the bloke, heavy Indian accent, to tell me what was the subject of my recent communication with Microsoft he got very stroppy and hung up on me. So be warned folks they sound quite genuine but they ain't!!!!!!! ................................JR PS Read all about this scam below. The last one is a Youtube video of such a phone call. PPS The longer they take with the call the fewer people they can scam, the record is 1Hr 20 mins of their time wasted. You will be ok as long as you don't download anything! http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/10/i-am-calling-you-from-windows-a-tech-support-scammer-dials-ars-technica/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/mar/23/hoax-microsoft-windows-security-calls http://www.informationweek.com/security/management/microsoft-windows-support-call-scams-7-f/240005023 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSFRtPus3DQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 My son (self confessed über computer geek [geek]) took one of these calls recently. He played Mr Innocent and strung them along for ages until he came out with 'So, all my computers run Android or Linux, will your download fix these too?" They rapidly hung up [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I received two of these recently. To the first, I denied that I had any computers at all. To the second, I went further and said that I didn't even have a telephone (I was a bit more awake and quicker on the uptake that day!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Like it [:D][:D][:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I was getting one of these a week for months. After a while, I got bored with telling them I didn't have a computer, I only have Macs, I'm not running Windows, I'm a Microsoft employee working from home, etc... I even tried leaving them on the line while I did the ironing. In the end I just hung up every time I heard the crackle of a long distance call on the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 We had a thread on this last year, it might have even of been the year before. There was a quote in there from the Microsoft website telling you that they never phone anyone. Quite frankly I am amazed they are still trying this scam but then they are still trying loads of the old scams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I usually respond with a polite observation regarding sex and travel.However, on one occasion, I pretended to be following their instructions (without touching my PC of course) and pretended to be confused when the things they were telling me weren't working. After a reasonable period I became bored and then reverted to my sex and travel out pouring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 [quote user="Quillan"]We had a thread on this last year, it might have even of been the year before. There was a quote in there from the Microsoft website telling you that they never phone anyone. Quite frankly I am amazed they are still trying this scam but then they are still trying loads of the old scams.[/quote]I got my first 419 scam letter at work in about 1983. They're still trying that, too. Even more surprising, there are still people posting them on the internet under the heading "Is this a scam?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 [quote user="Quillan"]We had a thread on this last year, it might have even of been the year before. There was a quote in there from the Microsoft website telling you that they never phone anyone. Quite frankly I am amazed they are still trying this scam but then they are still trying loads of the old scams.[/quote]They pay them peanuts so they can keep trying until someone falls for it.There was a story about an American on a six figure salary outsourcing his work to China for a sixth of what he was being paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebaynut Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 This is the guy who has been phoning you all. His name is John and he works for UKBA in the immigration department at Peterborough in his spare time. [IMG]http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk77/ebaynut/funny%20pictures%20and%20icons/Microsoft.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Love the photo of Bill Gates, what part does that play in the job I wonder ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 It prevents friction burns to the knee. [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneySuckleDreams Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 They are still trying it on with this scam - so be warned. Wifey phoned me up on the mobile this morning saying she had the MS technical support people on the line saying that our computer was badly infected and she needed their help. Luckily she remembered I had mentioned it a while back and thought to confirm with me before something costly occurred. Nice indian chap she said...very good american accent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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