Scamming

[rulefan]

Just had a bundle of phone calls purporting to be from Microsoft.
They suggested I had a trojan affecting my system. As it happens I had a full system check a few days ago and all clear.
Although I wasn't goint to let them do anthing to the PC I was curious.
They proceeded to tell me details of my system (including some of the digits/letters from my serial no and gave me the name and address and phone no of Micresoft in Reading. When I rang it later it was some sort of MS chatbot
Eventually they got onto downloading some software. The tag was something like ???secure.??? but didn't note what the ? were.
When I pointed out that the 'publisher's' name was blank on the little window and there was a warning to beware, they got all het up and said they were going to 'block' my PC.
I got umpteen phone calls from them trying to continue the conversation. When I checked they were all from different mobile numbers - presumablyt calls from a computer.
One address I did manage to elicit from them - www.150.co.il

Eventually after I let the phone ring out for 5 minutes (noting the displayed 0747 2699 995) they seem to have given up.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

So did you actually download any software from them?

 

[KenL]

Sounds well dodgy.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Sounds well dodgy.

It is.
Microsoft don't call you, especially with "Mark" from India somewhere.
I've had loads of these call through the years, and yes they are very good at making you thing what they are saying is true, but it isn't and the best way is to just end the phone call.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Just hang up.

I'm from Microsoft

No your not

 

[4LEX]

Just had a bundle of phone calls purporting to be from Microsoft.
They suggested I had a trojan affecting my system. As it happens I had a full system check a few days ago and all clear.
Although I wasn't goint to let them do anthing to the PC I was curious.
They proceeded to tell me details of my system (including some of the digits/letters from my serial no and gave me the name and address and phone no of Micresoft in Reading. When I rang it later it was some sort of MS chatbot
Eventually they got onto downloading some software. The tag was something like ???secure.??? but didn't note what the ? were.
When I pointed out that the 'publisher's' name was blank on the little window and there was a warning to beware, they got all het up and said they were going to 'block' my PC.
I got umpteen phone calls from them trying to continue the conversation. When I checked they were all from different mobile numbers - presumablyt calls from a computer.
One address I did manage to elicit from them - www.150.co.il

Eventually after I let the phone ring out for 5 minutes (noting the displayed 0747 2699 995) they seem to have given up.

The fact you even checked is why scammers prosper.

Cut the call off and ignore. By responding your data will be sold off and you're at a higher risk from future attacks.

 

[jim8flog]

Just had a bundle of phone calls purporting to be from Microsoft.
They suggested I had a trojan affecting my system. As it happens I had a full system check a few days ago and all clear.
Although I wasn't goint to let them do anthing to the PC I was curious.
They proceeded to tell me details of my system (including some of the digits/letters from my serial no and gave me the name and address and phone no of Micresoft in Reading. When I rang it later it was some sort of MS chatbot
Eventually they got onto downloading some software. The tag was something like ???secure.??? but didn't note what the ? were.
When I pointed out that the 'publisher's' name was blank on the little window and there was a warning to beware, they got all het up and said they were going to 'block' my PC.
I got umpteen phone calls from them trying to continue the conversation. When I checked they were all from different mobile numbers - presumablyt calls from a computer.
One address I did manage to elicit from them - www.150.co.il

Eventually after I let the phone ring out for 5 minutes (noting the displayed 0747 2699 995) they seem to have given up.

One of the rules to avoid scams - never ring the number given to you, always look it up for yourself.
If you did download the software ensure you get rid of it immediately.

 

[rulefan]

So did you actually download any software from them?

No. I'm not that daft

 

[PhilTheFragger]

No. I'm not that daft

Just checking, coz there’s many that are

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Just checking, coz there’s many that are

And no shame in it, being caught out that is

 

[PhilTheFragger]

And no shame in it, being caught out that is

Absolutely not, when I was an IT tech guy, some highly clever people got duped, these blighters are incredibly clever.

Being a bit more street does help….. you’ll be fine

 

[Deleted member 18645]

A few years back my old company made everyone do a mandatory 45 minute on-line cyber security course. It was really good outside of stating the bleeding obvious.
A week later the IT department then sent a spoof e-mail to everyone in the company with links to click - over 50% of the people clicked it even though it was blatant spam and a potential security risk. It took them to a site that pointed out their stupidity. Those people all then had to have a little talk with their managers (even though many of them did it too) Moral of the story -people are stupid.

 

[rulefan]

They proceeded to tell me details of my system (including some of the digits/letters from my serial no

This was one thing that I was curious about. How did they know some of the digits?

 

[harpo_72]

I think they will catch you at some point, it doesn’t matter we cannot all be on guard 100% of the time.
What needs to be sorted out is methods of contact .. we don’t have a landline, we use only mobiles, you get sent to answer machine if you are not known .. if you don’t leave a message you are forgotten.
I have never needed to hear the latest greatest deals or what great thing I am missing out on .. usually costs money or someone is ripping me off..
This is the world we live in .. signing up for cookies when you hit a link and then managing what you don’t want .. waste of time, move on and go elsewhere. GDPR utter cobblers .. the council sells your contact details, Amazon sells your contact details… etc etc .. personal data is spread around too easily and is requested too frequently.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

I had one of these calls years ago.
I said "Right, I'm sat at my computer. Let me be clear: you want me to let you log on so you can then clear the viruses you've identified"
He said, "Yes, that is correct".
I said "Listen to me clearly. There are two people in this conversation. One of them is a complete idiot. It's not me so which one do you think it is?"
He said "No need to be bloody rude!" and hung up.