Computer phone call scam

Lovetotravel

Just to warn you folks, I received a phone call today from a foreign guy (the number came up on my phone as international) who claimed to be from Windows and saying there was a malicious attack on my PC and I had to download this software to stop it.

I have a Mac, so I knew right away he was lying. I've read about this before, happening in England. They ask you to download something, but it's a virus and it steals all your passwords, eg, internet banking and your account can be cleared out.

So I asked him a few technical questions which he couldn't answer, so I said no thanks, please don't call again and hung up. He rang back immediately and asked me, quite rudely why I ended the call!! I told him I wasn't falling for his scam and not to call again, haven't heard from them since.

I'm just worried that they'll get someone who isn't very techy and they'll end up being scammed. Please let your non-techy relatives and friends know about this.

ballyblack

This is a well known cold calling scam

I had this guy from India(claimed to be from Microsoft)on yesterday as well

I decided to waste his time and finally he gave up after an hour of him trying to 'fix' my fictional computer

http://www.computerrepairtips.net/phone-call-from-microsoft-about-virus-is-a-scam/

NOBODY from Microsoft will ever call you!

Another way to handle these calls;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Te-jnS_Dq0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVO5Go63wE

.

spike7451

Ballyblack's correct,it's a weel known scam & the are numerous threads on various boards on MSE already about it.I simply tell them they've got thru to the PSNI Computer Fraud Section & would they kindly wait while I go & get my DI....Seems to scare them off...

Artofdookie

I might be a wee bit blunt but when they call and say hello Mr Artof, i say no this is Mr F!!! O!! and hang up

RikM

One called here last night. My wife told them to "go away".
Probably helps that she's a software tester, by profession... :-)

gawa75

I had that recently, I said to the guy "Hold on, I'll go and turn on my computer" then set the phone down and just let him sit there for ages. I went back 20!! mins later and he was still there. Hahaha. Then I hung up.

:rotfl::T

Paddy2eyes

I had the call a while back. Since he claimed to be from 'windows' I kept asking if I could speak to Bill Gates. After a while I got fed up with him telling me Bill wasn't available, so I hung up on him.
He rang straight back, I saw the unknown caller ID and answered the phone "Hello, PSNI." I then gave him a good telling off for wasting police time. He hung up on me this time!

NAR

Stock answer from us is "We don't have a computer, so why are you calling?" Does the trick! :cool: