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Is this a scam please?

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I've just been called by someone purporting to be from Virgin media checking my broadband connection. (have had a couple of intermittent problems in the past.)


They told me to go on line, and change the http of my homepage to something else which I've forgotten(but Norton said it was safe). I think it allowed access to the computer, and eventually a list of files came up and he said they were corrupted and should be removed from the computer as they were making it run slow.


Alarm bells rang, and I said I didn't think they should be checking the computer itself, just the connection and switched the computer off.


I suspect I've been stupid and have been got at.


Everything seemed above board until they said the computer itself wanted cleaning up


Rang Virgin, who have no record of a call.


Any advice on what to do would be welcome.


Thank you
«1

Comments

  • I think you have been scammed my Dad got a call from 'virgin' last week telling him he had a problem on his computer.
    Nothing to see here, move along.
  • imoneyop
    imoneyop Posts: 970 Forumite
    It is likely that they sent you to a site that allowed remote connection to the computer - the site itself will have been legit (TeamViewer is one such site), which is why Norton would have been OK with it.

    The best thing to do would be to run a full scan of your computer with Norton and also run malwarebytes.
  • kwikbreaks
    kwikbreaks Posts: 9,187 Forumite
    Yes it was a scam. Sounds like they had access to your machine so could have installed some malware. They may have downloaded or had sight of some personal info.

    I'd suggest that you download and run MalwareBytes Free and clean anything found. Once you are sure there are no keyloggers etc. then start with the unenviable task of changing all your passwords.

    That may well be overkill but there is an outside chance that not doing so will cost you dear.
  • spacey2012
    spacey2012 Posts: 5,836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Log in on another device and change any passwords stored on the suspect PC that can be used to access anything connect with money, e-bay, paypal, banking prioritise and work quickly, then the other PC will need a full scan and malware check and any proxy settings and ad-hock networks. removing from connections
    Be happy...;)
  • jamanda
    jamanda Posts: 968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    Am running malware now. Will ring online banking while it is working


    Thanks. Can't believe I fell for it
  • spacey2012
    spacey2012 Posts: 5,836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Passwords must be changed on another device !
    Be happy...;)
  • jamanda
    jamanda Posts: 968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    edited 20 February 2014 at 4:10PM
    I've checked list of installed programmes, nothing for today other than malware stuff I've just put on. Would these be hidden? If malware scan doesn't find anything, should it then be secure?


    Rang main bank, and they said nothing looking untoward, but keep an eye on it and if anything looks odd let them know straight away.


    Should I be safe after malware has done it's stuff?


    Edit. Malware bytes has found nothing. Do you think I switched it off before they got anything installed, and it would be safe now?


    Many thanks. Am luddite at this
  • bod1467
    bod1467 Posts: 15,214 Forumite
    I would echo the above suggestion to use another computer/device to logon to any financial site you use and to change the passwords. The reason for this is that the scammers may have installed a keylogger and so would pickup the new passwords if you did this on that PC.
  • Katem
    Katem Posts: 126 Forumite
    Yes, it's a scam. I got one last week from someone purporting to be from "microsoft" saying my computer was running slowly etc etc. I kept them chatting, playing the eejit, and when they asked me to log onto a particular site I told them for some odd reason it had come up with the Metropolitan Police :D.

    They put the phone down……..
  • SuperHan
    SuperHan Posts: 2,269 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    bod1467 wrote: »
    I would echo the above suggestion to use another computer/device to logon to any financial site you use and to change the passwords. The reason for this is that the scammers may have installed a keylogger and so would pickup the new passwords if you did this on that PC.


    But the next time they log in on the affected device with the new password, the key logger will pick up the new password.

    Once you're sure there are no key loggers, then you can change your password on your main device. It may be worth a full system remaster to ensure that there are no untoward devices. Back up all your files, and then restore to factory settings is the safest way!
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