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Illegal virus scam

onejontwo
onejontwo Posts: 1,089 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
in Techie Stuff
Here's an interesting one...........
My daughter rang me today in a state of shock to explain that she had just received a phone call from "Windows" to say that she had an" illegal" virus on her PC and that if she didn't pay them £140 to have it removed she would be reported to the police!!! Needless to say I told her to ignore it , but it shows the depths these people go to and I wonder if any actually pay up?
«1

Comments

  • steve1980
    steve1980 Posts: 2,334 Forumite
    If anyone did, it would serve them right for being so gullible. Why on earth would "Windows" call when the company name is Microsoft!
    Estate Agent, Web Designer & All Round Geek!
  • gaming_guy
    gaming_guy Posts: 6,128 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 12 June 2012 at 10:24AM
    .............
  • John_Gray
    John_Gray Posts: 5,847 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    onejontwo wrote: »
    I wonder if any actually pay up?
    Sadly the answer is, Yes. Hopefully only a very few, but the vulnerable and less technically savvy among us might be at most risk.
  • darich
    darich Posts: 2,145 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    onejontwo wrote: »
    I wonder if any actually pay up?

    For as long as gullible and vulnerable people continue to pay, these scams will continue.

    Keen photographer with sales in the UK and abroad.
    Willing to offer advice on camera equipment and photography if i can!
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So 'Windows' are quite happy if all your viruses are 'legal' ones then?
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • amcluesent
    amcluesent Posts: 9,425 Forumite
    I've never had a 'phone call from 'Linux' about viruses....just saying.
  • iMayne
    iMayne Posts: 55 Forumite
    I wished "they" call me, I really do LOL
    When I was 5, my dad told me that the ice-cream van only played songs when it's out of ice-cream. Cheek!:mad:
  • TwistedPsycho
    TwistedPsycho Posts: 971 Forumite
    I want a phone call too.

    *Hello This is your local Windows Agent here -
    *Oh hello Windows, well this is coincidence, I am a sales agent for Linux, can I interest you in our latest Linux operating system package........
    Signaller, author, father, carer.
  • CHR15
    CHR15 Posts: 5,193 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Apparently you CAN go to Prison is your computer performs an illegal operation.

    I spent over 4years in Jail when I was running Windows ME.
  • steve1980
    steve1980 Posts: 2,334 Forumite
    CHR15 wrote: »
    Apparently you CAN go to Prison is your computer performs an illegal operation.

    I spent over 4years in Jail when I was running Windows ME.

    Serves you right for using ME!
    Estate Agent, Web Designer & All Round Geek!
This discussion has been closed.
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