Strange telephone call about corrupted files?

Layla

Hi everyone

I'm hoping someone on here can help me and maybe warn others if this is some sort of con.

I just got a call from an Indian call centre telling me they were calling from a company called Global Tec. She said that her name was Sheila Brown and that she was calling on behalf of Microsoft because they had detected that I had corrupted files on my computer and they needed to tell me what to do to put it right. She said they were official agents for Microsoft and were carrying out checks on their behalf.

I was very suspicious about this, but decided to carry on to see what they would say. They had my post code and telephone number. They then asked me to turn my computer on and asked if all the icons on my desktop were showing up properly. I said yes they were. The lady said that she would then transfer me to the technical department.

Another lady then came on the phone and said her name was Anita. She told me to go press the start button and go to run. She then asked me if there was anything in the search box and said there was but I had deleted it. She then told me to type something in and press run - I think it was EVENTNVR or something like that. At this point I said that I was not going to do that as I didn't really know who I was talking to and I wasn't going to carry on. She said that she had already told me that they were Global Tec and were calling on behalf of Microsoft to find out if I had corrupted files on my computer. I then told her that I was not going to do anything more until I had checked out their company on the internet. She then said "OK bye" very quickly and put the phone down!

I was wondering if anyone else has had any calls like this and does anyone know what would have happened if I had carried on and pressed the run button like she wanted me to???

I'd be grateful for anyone's thought on this - I strongly suspect that it is some sort of con but don't know enough about computers to even guess at what it is all about.

Thanks in advance for any help

penrhyn

Its a scam to gain control of your computer.
At some point they would get you to download a file, then you would be stuffed.

S0litaire

It's a scam.
It's been going on for the past year. thers a few threads in here about it...

They send you to a remote access website, They then can get access to all your files and usually install Viruses to steal more data.

Layla

Thanks very much for replying. I'm so glad I didn't carry on with it!

SnowTiger

Layla wrote: »

Another lady then came on the phone and said her name was Anita. She told me to go press the start button and go to run. She then asked me if there was anything in the search box and said there was but I had deleted it. She then told me to type something in and press run - I think it was EVENTNVR or something like that.

Yep, as others have pointed out it's a scam.

Just to add that running eventvwr.msc will bring up Window's log. On a typical system it will contain lots of entries and some will be labeled "Warning" or "Error." This is quite normal, however the scammers hope it will act as a convincer that you have a problem with your computer.

moonrakerz

That is why, when I have to register to use a website, I very rarely enter my real 'phone number.

Layla

moonrakerz wrote: »

That is why, when I have to register to use a website, I very rarely enter my real 'phone number.

Is that where they get your information from then?

moonpenny

I had the call today.

Could hardly understand what the caller was saying to begin with but, gave me a load of rubbish about my computer being corrupted etc.

I am not very computer savvy at the best of times but was on my guard and just told him that it was working perfectly and I wasn't interested and put the phone down.

LGG_2

theres some scummy ppl in this world

macman

Layla wrote: »

Is that where they get your information from then?

Your phone no. and postcode are hardly difficult to get hold of!

LadyMorticia

My MIL had a similar phone call on the landline. She was upstairs at the time and they kept stressing that she must go downstairs to turn on her laptop and follow their instructions.
She told them that she couldn't be bothered as she was resting and put the phone down. I told her afterwards about the scam that's going around. There are bound to be a few people who fall for it unfortunately.