Beware of telephone scams

[Horndogg]

Hey everyone, I know this is the wrong place to post but I wanted everyone just to be aware. Moderators - feel free to move to wherever you please (maybe a blog post)?

I got 2 phone calls in the last 2 days. One from someone with a thick Indian accent about my Windows computer sending error reports. I am having lots of computer troubles but I guess they count on most people having them. I questioned them lots and then said I didn't time to talk to them.

The second call was an automated call from that said I won 100,000 airmiles. Sounded fishy so i hung up as well. This made me a little curious because I had just checked out the real Airmiles contest on line yesterday!

Anyway, I googled these both and they are scams. I just didn't want anyone to get duped because apparently people do and give them access to their computers and other personal info.

Stay happy and healthy!

I got the call about my computer too. I just hung up on them.

[TOLady]

This is truly bizarre!

I'd never heard of this particular scam before until I read it here on Friday.

Going home that evening, I bumped into the young son of a friend of mine who I haven't seen in ages. We started talking about his Mom and Step-Dad and how they were doing and after a few minutes he asked me if he could ask me a question (he knows I'm really good with 'puters).

Apparently, his Mom had received a call THAT DAY with exactly the scenario I had just read about earlier in the afternoon and he was a bit concerned since he wasn't aware of any program that Microsoft has like that.

Frantically, I called her up and told her to disconnect her computer and not to go online. However, at that point, she was already really upset and didn't want to deal with the problem so I left it alone.

I got a text from her this morning asking me to call her and help her out with the problem.

All I can think to do is have her bring it to the local shop. Any other suggestions? I know computers, but I certainly don't know how to deal with this kind of problem...

[torooo]

From "credit services".

[jenna]

thanx so much for the headup

[mazin]

I got this today! I was pretending that I did have a virus, but the lady had no idea what I was talking about. She could not understand English... LOL, lame.

[Tantum]

I've had the computers scam call me a few times. I'm a pretty blunt person and simply told them I've read about this scam going around and they really should try to come up with some new $hit...

However, my hubby told me after the second call to tell them to kindly leave their name and number and our resident MCP will be in touch with them as soon as possible. So I did.. the heavily accented man hung up on me...

That night I asked hubby what MCP meant, he's the computer geek in the family, not me...

He laughed and said "Microsoft certified professional"... apparently he has a little card for it and everything...

I don't think they're going to be calling back anytime soon

[grumpy]

Thanks everyone for adding to this post with your stories and how you cope. I'm glad I shared and hope many more people benefit! I've learned a lot from you guys too!

[kim.elliott]

i just recieved the telephone scam phone call a few minutes ago. the man was super hard to understand and talked so fast. he said my computer was downloading malware and that if i did not let him walk me through how to get rid of it the police would get involved. he said it was something about windows. i talked for a few minutes for curiosity of what he would say and he ended up cursing me out and hanging up on me because i asked to many questions and wouldnt go onto the computer like he was telling me to.

[Rick C]

On the people calling for windows errors:

1) Microsoft would NEVER contact you regarding errors.
2) Indeed they are a scam, if you follow their instructions it will lead you into the system manager (in windows XP) right click my computer, select "manage" if you look at the system event viewer indeed you WILL find a lot of "red X's" and these while not 100% natural (it is something you can use as a tech to genuinly determine a problem with a software or hardware related issue.

HOWEVER these scammers use the basic "red X" to alarm you since seeing all of them IS alarming to someone who would not know better. Just rest assured that it is INDEED normal. I have been in teh business for 20 years.

I will give you ALL a free basic malware scanner which catches I would say about 95-100% of malware/spyware/trojans. Just google "Malware Bytes" I highly recommend it! It works to remove many of the more serious malwares.

2) a free antivirus. if you don't have an anti virus you may as well just open the door to be invaded by viruses. there is no reason NOT to use one as there are MANY free anti virus programs, (AVG/Avast) to name two of them. Good "Free avg" to install the FREE "basic protection" anti virus.

While these may not be the best uber programs they will protect MOST "browsers" from viruses. If you run these once a week or so, no problem.

Basic routine maintenance will always keeep your system running smoother.

Hope this helps!

[freebiescout]

The one I got lately was apparently from Universal Studios. I was excited at first because I remember requesting info on the internet and was just interested if it was a free trip, which it wasn't. $249 fee (Which I believe was to be paid over the phone but I hung up while cutting the over friendly girl off while jabbering away while dinner was burning. She made it seem like she was forcing me to have the info she was sending me when I said I wasn't interested) The funny part was she was talking about my fictitious husband and credit cards. Smells like scam. They wouldn't cut to the chase about if they were sending a bill in the mail or charging over the phone and she said she has no access to that information so I said why the h*ll are you calling me then if you don't know what you are selling? lol

[MangoFruit]

I don't know if this is a scam. However, here's what happened:

I got a phone called from a representative of "Fortis BC" which is the gas company of BC. She asked to inspect my house for any gas leak of stuff. The lady on the phone didn't even understand the English I spoke to her when I asked her for the reason why. She was reading from a script. I checked the number and it was from Orlando FL. So I don't know if it was scam. I said call back another day because I was busy. She made me felt stupid because she said, "do you not understand English?" "I don't understand your English, please have a nice day," is what I said to her.

[onmom]

A scam call my cousin dealt with...
Telemarketer "What is your age, sir?".
Cousin "I'm not sure.",
Telemarketer "You aren't sure, sir?",
Cousin "No, I'm not sure. Let me get my birth certificate to check if I was *$%^* born yesterday.."
Telemarketer ended call.

[iggysbabysitter]

I once got the call about extending your vehicle's warrenty... I played along for about a half hour! LOL! When it came to giving them my credit card info, I said "you know what, I think I'll just get the new car instead, thanks for your time" and the guy got flustered and swore as I hung up! That was a dangerous scam, a lot of folks in Edmonton fell for it.

[CurvyGalSyn]

A scam call my cousin dealt with...
Telemarketer "What is your age, sir?".
Cousin "I'm not sure.",
Telemarketer "You aren't sure, sir?",
Cousin "No, I'm not sure. Let me get my birth certificate to check if I was *$%^* born yesterday.."
Telemarketer ended call.

haha I love it!

[tarrie01]

yep me too, guess we all signed up for it, funny enough I only put my real telephone number when I totally believe its a legit company or contest, I wonder who the hell gave it out?