Micro Assist - scam ?

[Deleted User]

Just received a phone call from a woman saying that she was calling from Micro Assist (Microassist ?) telling me that they had been receiving a lot of error messages from my computer, saying that my computer was infected, etc. so could I please switch on my computer and she could help me.

Oh yeah ? So they can "helpfully" access lots of my personal details?? I think not ...

So, I put the phone down.

Has anyone had any dealing with this type of scam?

(And where the heck did they get my name and phone number from, and know that I had a computer ??)

RussJK

Yes, new name on an old scam.

They don't know that you have a computer, just assume it to be true and are often enough right.

macman

There are hundreds of posts on this subject if you browse the board.
Your name is on the electoral roll and probably many other mailing lists too.

Chartered_Eng

RussJK wrote: »

Yes, new name on an old scam.

They don't know that you have a computer, just assume it to be true and are often enough right.

They also assume you are running Windows 7 as most people are. The questioning is usually along the lines of "you're running Windows 7 - right?"

To which I reply "Am I?" and from then on it's down hill to the point they give up and hang up. I too have no idea where they got my name and number from unless there is an Indian company buying copies of the telephone book.

Another scam is selling insurance for Sky boxes. I just tell them I don have one and don't want one (true) and that tops them in their tracks.

Don't worry, they don't keep records and will call again so you can have more fun with them. When asked if my windows opened slowly I said it's was winter and don't use them then. That's when the penny dropped and they hung up. After a week or so they come back for some more sillyness.:rotfl:

andygb

I had a phone call from an Indian gentleman (???) called Spencer :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:, from Micro Assist two weeks ago, and kept him hanging around for about half an hour.
He told me that I had a serious problem with my computer, to which I replied - "Nooo Waaay Man, how serious?"
He then asked me to go and turn my computer on, so I asked him to hold the line for a moment.
After about ten minutes of browsing, I decided to see if he was still there, he was, and asked me to sit by my computer and do as he asked.
I then started to make him annoyed:
"Hi Spencer, I have just realised, that I don't have a computer any more, will a DVD player be OK, or maybe a microwave oven?"
He then virtually insisted that I take him seriously - SPENCER from India:rotfl:
He asked me if I used Outlook, and I said I had an Apple dishwasher if that would be any good.
I then started to get bored with him and told him in good Anglo Saxon to please go away.
Why are Microsoft and the various governments not doing anything about these scammers?

Chartered_Eng

andygb wrote: »

He then asked me to go and turn my computer on, so I asked him to hold the line for a moment.
After about ten minutes of browsing, I decided to see if he was still there, he was, and asked me to sit by my computer and do as he asked.
I then started to make him annoyed:

Why are Microsoft and the various governments not doing anything about these scammers?

Keeping SPENCER tied up for 15 minutes is very public spirited of you. It keeps these prats from preying on the vunerable. :T

As for why don't MicroCr**p do more about these imposters, I don't know. One thing they are doing is taking down some of the larger BotNets and stopping the "medical enhancement" spam e-mails.

spannerzone

andygb wrote: »

I had a phone call from an Indian gentleman (???) called Spencer :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:, from Micro Assist two weeks ago, and kept him hanging around for about half an hour.
He told me that I had a serious problem with my computer, to which I replied - "Nooo Waaay Man, how serious?"
He then asked me to go and turn my computer on, so I asked him to hold the line for a moment.
After about ten minutes of browsing, I decided to see if he was still there, he was, and asked me to sit by my computer and do as he asked.
I then started to make him annoyed:
"Hi Spencer, I have just realised, that I don't have a computer any more, will a DVD player be OK, or maybe a microwave oven?"
He then virtually insisted that I take him seriously - SPENCER from India:rotfl:
He asked me if I used Outlook, and I said I had an Apple dishwasher if that would be any good.
I then started to get bored with him and told him in good Anglo Saxon to please go away.
Why are Microsoft and the various governments not doing anything about these scammers?

Well done, make 'em suffer!

As to what Microsoft and governments - what exactly can they do? it's not really any different than any other cold call... basically we all need to be very aware of cold calls and door step sellers.... just say NO to them all and play it safe, sadly many people seem to be taken in for some unknown reason.

pogofish

spannerzone wrote: »

As to what Microsoft and governments - what exactly can they do?

Quite a lot actually - For one thing, governments could lean on the telecoms providers to stop selling blocks of overseas calltime at prices that make these scams worthwhile.

After all, nearly every Government licenses and makes considerable sums from them.

And Microsoft and most other tech majors have excellent legal people internationally, who will come down like a ton of bricks on anyone who even looks funny at their trademarks or intellectual property. How about turning them loose on the scammers instead?

andygb

The authorities know who is doing this and where they are based:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres

I fear that this is merely political, with certain people in government unwilling to rattle the cage of emerging, powerful trading partners. They would much rather ignore the vulnerable/foolish people in their own country who are being scammed by these leeches.

Another link:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/359233/the-unstoppable-tech-support-scam

wonderwallet

Just a warning - be careful when dealing with these phone calls. I knew about this scam so thought I'd have a bit of fun and after asking a few stupid questions told him I didn't actually have a computer. His manner changed and he proceeded to tell me what he would like me to do him (in sexually explicit terms) and was still going on when I put the phone down!!! (I am female by the way!)

Quite unnerved me actually, so I would advise just cutting them off straight away.

grizzly1911

andygb wrote: »

The authorities know who is doing this and where they are based:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres

I fear that this is merely political, with certain people in government unwilling to rattle the cage of emerging, powerful trading partners. They would much rather ignore the vulnerable/foolish people in their own country who are being scammed by these leeches.

Another link:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/359233/the-unstoppable-tech-support-scam

Thanks enjoyed the read.

Another thing they do is to ring you back several times when they put the phone down. I haven't had the explicit dialogue that wonderwallet had but they do know your name and address and like to be sarcastic.

As other posters have said simply tell them you don't have a PC and hang up.