Scammers offer to "help" remove errors

xyzzy_2

This is a scam that has been running on and off for a while. I was called by a lady from Wizsoft Solutions "a Microsoft partner" who told me my computer has many errors being reported. She wanted me to check up on the errors and passed me onto an engineer who would help. (I already smelled a rat, but went along with this). The idea was that I would connect to their web site and the problems would be resolved. At this point I terminated the call. They are persistant though. TWO call backs! This is a scam - do NOT do what they say. Somewhere along the line you get to pay for this "service". Some weeks later they call back pretending to help you get this money back again! Scam number two. They refer you to a very credible-looking web site with an address in Regent St, London. This address is occupied by another company who know nothing about Wizsoft Solutions. BEWARE!

photome

They call themselves lots of different names, My mum and my MIL have both had phone calls offering the same at a cost and yes they were persistent

sillygoose

I get 'Geoff' (surname Patel no doubt) from 'Microsoft Windows' calls me every single day to 'help me get rid of my virus'.

Its become a sort of a hobby of mine thinking of a new creative wind-up to tell him and to see how long and ridiculous I can make it before he twigs and hangs up on me.

Sadly its an international call with no ID so the only way to block it would be to block all international calls which would be an inconvenience. They must generate a lot of phone traffic so I don't understand why B.T. can't develop some sort of phone spam filter to block them, but then they get call revenue from it so I suppose I answered my own question.

RussJK

Feel free to share your stories Sillygoose

Pikeyp

I answered one of these at my sister's place the other day .. (the usual line 'We are phoning about your computer problems etc , etc .. !)
As soon as I asked him for his name and address .. (ie .. 'real' address , street name , town) .. he put the phone down ...

At home I use an answerphone all the time which always scares these people off .. highly recommended!!

T_T_2

I had a similar call last night, or rather my mother-in-law did. She quite politely repied "I'm very sorry but we don't believe you" and hung up.

sillygoose

RussJK wrote: »

Feel free to share your stories Sillygoose

Really?

Well the other day I talked him through as I went to fetch some disinfectant and pour it through the disk slot, that will kill the nasty virus won't it?

Today I answered as the burger van on the A55, we ain't got any computers, do you want bacon on in mate?

Last week I answered as 'Hello microsoft fraud unit'...BRRRRRRR!

He also seemed to enjoy listening to 12 minutes of the Jeremy Kyle show, my hope was it would cause him to kill himself. Alas not.

Another one, 'sir we have detected a virus on your PC' me- 'which one? the 1200xl, the 800xl, the BBC B or the Spectrum 16k?

or 'sir we have detected a virus on your PC' me - so what is the virus called? last week I had the Kevin virus, before that the Mr whippy 99 flake out, very nasty.

I could go on but you get the jest.

RussJK

sillygoose wrote: »

Really?

Well the other day I talked him through as I went to fetch some disinfectant and pour it through the disk slot, that will kill the nasty virus won't it?

Nice one I'd wondered if you'd seen my post, only just found your reply now.

redrobin24

My parents had a phone call from this bunch the other day.

Normally they are very good about this sort of thing, and my Mum wouldn't dream of giving them the time of day. Unfortunately, my Dad answered the phone, and was suckered in (they were having computer problems).

Of course, when he told me about this nice company that fixed his computer, alarm bells were ringing. He paid with his credit card (the invoice was in dollars) and he said the name of the company is IT Solutions Online. He gave me a website address (itsolutionsonline.us) which I visited. It didn't look right, so I google-mapsed the address. That also looked a bit suspect. I then googled the phone number and the first hit was Wizsoft.

This is when the real fun began! There was "online support" so I sent a message. I was immediately replied to by "John Smith". I asked if Wizsoft was in any way affiliated with this itsolutionsonline.us and was answered with "i have no idea". Needless to say, the more questions I asked, the more heated the exchange became. The "support agent" was instantly on the defensive, typing in capital letters phrases like "I AM HERE TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS OF SERVICE"...

I'm annoyed at my Dad for not being wary enough of this, but I've told him to call the credit card company and cancel the card, as well as the payment if he can. Unfortunately, like most parents, they are of the "we don't need you to tell us how nasty the big bad world is" school of thought, and I am miles away from them.

I just wanted to stick my two-pennorth in as I don't want to see other people suckered in by this bunch. I just hope they avoid any money being taken from them or their computer's safety being compromised...

Zx

Dave_C_2

xyzzy wrote: »

<snip MS call scam>

I see your xyzzy and raise you a plugh

Dave

bob_a_builder

Hello, the night shifts just come online in Mumbai !