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Are phone calls about computer errors always a scam?

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Looking for some advice please for retired couple who are not terribly computer savvy.

Twice in the past couple of weeks I've received a phone call and the callers with American accents have said there is a Windows problem with my computer. I have heard about all the scam phone calls so have just said to them that I do not want to buy anything from them and hung up the phone.

My husband is now wondering if they are genuine as some time last year he had a problem with his computer and called a company (American) who asked permission to take over his computer to fix it. They gave him a price before they started. They did fix the problem. He's wondering now if these calls were maybe the same company and if they could see a problem on our computer - is this possible? Not long after I put down the phone an error message flashed up on my laptop. Didn't see it properly but saw something like 'Chrome had run out of memory'. Is that just a coincidence? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Comments

  • toffifee
    toffifee Posts: 237 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Yes, always a scam.
    Yes, it was coincidence.
    Well done for hanging up - just do the same if they call again.
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It would be a massive security risk if your computer was sending information about all the errors it encountered to a stranger in a different country!

    Not all calls about computer errors will be a scam. I have friends who phone me to discuss errors they encounter on their computer, and they're not trying to scam me or vice versa. But unsolicited calls from a foreign company...? Very dodgy!

    If you have any problems with your PC or notice any errors, post the details on a public forum (like this one). You'll get free help and advice and if anyone tries to scam you by providing misleading information, there will (hopefully) be lots of other people on the forum who will tell you to ignore their advice and point you in the right direction.

    Allowing someone untrusted to access your PC remotely could result in malware being installed on your machine. This malware could steal your personal data (e.g. credit card numbers) and your PC could be used to launch attacks on other computers/websites.
  • TheSaint_2
    TheSaint_2 Posts: 1,011 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yes, try playing them along for fun.
  • baxie
    baxie Posts: 207 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just say you are a computer scientist, worked for me.
  • Thank you for your replies. I'm glad I was doing the right thing in hanging up on them.
  • Oblivion
    Oblivion Posts: 20,248 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic
    archieboy wrote: »
    Thank you for your replies. I'm glad I was doing the right thing in hanging up on them.


    ... or say you are going to put them on hold while you switch on your computer, then mute the handset and leave them waiting racking up their phone bill. ;)
    ... Dave
    Happily retired and enjoying my 14th year of leisure
    I am cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
    Bring me sunshine in your smile
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'd be checking your husband's computer, as even if they did fix the 'problem' (which in these scams usually doesn't exist in the first place), they may well have installed malware or spyware on it.
    Do a full scan with MBAM.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • kwikbreaks
    kwikbreaks Posts: 9,187 Forumite
    There is a world of difference between you calling a support company and getting an unsolicited phone call.

    By all means run malwarebytes as suggested but as the fix was apparently some time ago I doubt there will be anything found - if they had found any financial details you'd have been cleaned out long ago.
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    baxie wrote: »
    Just say you are a computer scientist, worked for me.



    Or tell them that you are BILL GATES'S son/father etc..
  • WTFH
    WTFH Posts: 2,266 Forumite
    If you are not sure, hang up.
    Do not try to be clever or funny.
    Just hang up. Do not try to argue that you have computer skills.

    If you want to chat to them, ask them if they are religious. If they reply "yes", then ask them what their religion says about lying and stealing.
    Then hang up.
    1. Have you tried to Google the answer?
    2. If you were in the other person's shoes, how would you react?
    3. Do you want a quick answer or better understanding?
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