URGENT Tech Expertise

fairyfairy

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NiftyDigits

Support is always free of charge from Yahoo

Support from Yahoo is always free of charge, but some companies not affiliated with Yahoo could represent themselves as us and charge a fee for their "support" of our products and services. Here's how you can be sure you're working with Yahoo Customer Care.
Yahoo won't
Charge you to reset a password or to assist with technical, abuse, or account compromise concerns.
Request to remotely connect to your computer for a support related request.
Support or endorse any third-party offering to provide customer care support for your Yahoo account for a fee.


Did you pay for help with your Yahoo account? We recommend you contact your financial institution to report this as soon as possible.

The real Yahoo number: Call 1-800-318-0612 for Login Help
Every day 7:00 AM ET to 11:00 PM ET.

fairyfairy

Thank you, I've PM'd you.

fairyfairy

I really need some help, please.

Nodding_Donkey

Oh dear, it sounds as if the helpful 'yahoo' person (they weren't really from yahoo) has loaded some ransomeware onto your computer. Take it to a local repair place.

prowla

The scammers will use what methods they can to get you to install software like TeamViewer to let them access your computer, after which they can do what they like on it, access any information which is there.

The only really safe way forward is to wipe your disk and reinstall your system from scratch.

If you've got bank account details and other personal information, then that may also now be suspect.

Save any important documents/photos which you have on your machine to somewhere else (eg. a memory stick), and get them virus checked too.

agrinnall

And keep that computer offline until the problem is resolved - if it's not connected to the internet then nobody can use it remotely.

System

Hi

This looks like a local MAC shop and re-install.

Does the MAC have a DVD drive?

Can you disconnect from the internet and do a Time Machine backup?

Please give us a little more info on your hardware.

womble12345

How did you find out details for the "Y! support team" that you called?

fairyfairy

womble12345 wrote: »

How did you find out details for the "Y! support team" that you called?

via a search engine, 0800 024 6900

its a bogus number. but they told me that they were a UK based Y! HQ. Can someone please, please tell me what d.i.y checks I can make to check of there has been any corruption in the last 24hrs?


Yes I do have a dvd drive, but my time machine is turned off and I've never used it previously.

Thanks everyone for replying. Is there anyone here who uses/works with Mac who can advise me further?
As I feel they've done more than just scare me.

paddyrg

This all sounds wrong. Yahoo would not do this, so somehow you are talking to a scammer/extortionist pretending to be from Yahoo. Did you get their number from a popup, internet search, etc?

Techie bit - if they have been able to interrupt your traffic and searches to provide false contract details, they already own your computer, so don't need team viewer access. If you got a genuine search result (eg yahousupport4ufreenotascamhonest.com) then that should be deprioritised by search engines and post the link over at scamwarners.com. You should also see if there's any good contextual advice at scamwarners.com.

Your local computer place certainly can help you, what you want is a 'flatten and rebuild' buy the sounds of things - the only way to be certain the computer is clean (malware scanners can be as low as 50-60% effective). Separately, use a different computer to access you yahoo account, and if you cannot, follow the 'forgot your password' instructions and give your secret answers ONLY ON THE LEGIT YAHOO PAGE NOWHERE ELSE.

Finally, consider a different mail provider, GMail foe, where you can use a second authentication factor (eg a code sms'd to your phone each time, or an app). This eliminates the chance of anyone guessing your password.