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Virus scam ?

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Someone rang me this afternoon saying he was from Microsoft and that they had discovered that someone was sending viruses to my computer that would wipe out my hard drive. I would have to follow certain instructions to prevent this.
I thanked him and put the phone down.
I am sure that this is a scam of some sort as Microsoft would not ring you out of the blue like that.
I know you love your computers but love your common sense first as this can catch you off guard.

Comments

  • Azari
    Azari Posts: 4,317 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes, it's a scam and one that has been running for some time.

    No harm in airing a warning from time to time, though.
    There are two types of people in the world: Those that can extrapolate information.
  • Next time you get a call like that, just ask how they managed to get hold of you because you don't have a phone. Then tell them (in English) that you don't speak English.
  • burnleymik
    burnleymik Posts: 1,391 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Scam baiting, it's the way forward:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scam_baiting
    A smile costs nothing, but gives a lot.
    It enriches those who receive it without making poorer those who give it.
    A smile takes only a moment, but the memory of it can last forever.
  • Yepp scam - a guy in my last place of work fell for it - ended up following advice - letting them put a trogen on his comp and when they told him the price they said his comp would crash unless he paid - he did - then had to do a format to remove the offending code. Luckily his bank refunded him.....
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