Not MS::Microsoft Scam Warning.

Everyday living
1

Warning Microsoft Scam.

If you get a telephone call and the caller says they are calling from Microsoft, and will state that your computer is at a security risk, every time you log on to the internet. Unless you have contacted Microsoft, recently with a problem and expecting a call, then the call is 99.9%, certain to be a scam, (ie) the caller is not from Microsoft.

The caller will ask you to log on to the internet, and will then give you further instructions, if you log on and carry out these instructions, the scammers have gained access to your computer and all information you have stored on it.

I have had these calls a number of times in the past, but it appears that it has started again, as I have had two calls within the last ten days.

I used to just drop the phone, but there is no satisfaction in that, so now I just let them babble on, may be ask a couple of questions, eventually they will ask me to log on to the internet, that is when I state that I have a problem in doing that, as I don’t have a computer, they will instantly drop their phone. You have the satisfaction that you have cost them an extended phone call, plus taken up, a fair amount of their ill-gotten time. Result.

The purpose of this post is not to scare anyone, just to make you aware, of these low life.

Take care.

Chris R.

I. El. (Eng). (Rtd).

I know its going to be a bad day when I get out of bed and miss the floor, today is such a day.

2

Hiya Chris,

Had the call yesterday from someone with a ‘foreign’ accent saying exactly what you say. I was aware straight away it was a hoax, so kept them talking and when the asked me to log on to the internet i told them ok no problem but where they aware i had a Apple Mac computer ?

They soon put the phone down

John

3

Hello Chris, thank you for this usefull information. This site is not just helpful for help & support with MS. Now I know what to do if this ever happens to me & I will warn other people.

4

This is very interesting as I have had 2 calls recently exactly the same as this. I just put the phone down on them but it is a worry as they knew my name.

5

Yes, we have also had this call this week. Teresa xx

6

My OH got one of those calls a few weeks ago. He is the calmest, gentlest guy you’d ever be lucky enough to meet. In the many years I have know him I think I’ve heard him loose ‘it’ all of 4 times! He looked at the receiver and then at the top of his voice yelled "You f***ing liar!’

(I nearly peed!)

Clarexxx

7

I had one of those calls yesterday,and this time I let them prattle on for a bit and then said,you know,I think you’ve made a mistake,I don’t have a computer,never had one…like you say they say goodbye pretty sharpish.

I had one months ago and I’d read about it on the old site,so I said this is a scam and you will go to hell for doing this.

It’s a terrible thing to do,some people may well fall for it.Utter * insert word of your choice here*

Thanks for the reminder,xxjo

8

My wife got one of those today and she gave the phone to me. Told him I knew it was a a scam and not to call back. He called back within 10 seconds of putting the phone down. We didn’t answer and he didn’t call back.

9

Yes, this is a well known scam. Some folk have fallen for it, given a credit card number over the phone (yes, honestly) and then found that they have been charged a lot more than they expected. You can NOT stop the calls, so how do you deal with them? Let’s look at how it works:

A call centre somewhere overseas (far east from the accents I have heard personally) has a computer that dials UK phone numbers at a really fast rate (10 per second is typical). When someone answers and there is a free operator, they come on the line. The name of the person associated with that number comes up on their screen. Then they follow their script. “Hello Mr/Mrs Doe, I’m calling from Windows about your computer …”.

The operator has no control over the numbers being dialled, or the ones put through to him (sometimes her). All they do is transfer the interested party (sucker) to the scammer. So what can you do?

1 - Hang up. But the computer can easily call you again - and you get through to a different operator.

2 - Lay the phone down very gently, and let them go on speaking. This burns up the overseas call time they have contracted for.

3 - Get just a little bit annoyed (middle of a relapse, perhaps) and hit back at the person who has invaded your home via a telephone. Yes, I know the operator is only getting 4p an hour (for example), but I did not make them take that job. I have an old-fashioned ex-railway guard whistle, and I blow this very loudly into the phone. Then I put it down.

What you do not do:

Do not confirm your name. This is a good idea for all unsolicited calls. There are plenty of things that you can say that will soon sort out if the call is genuine or a time-waster. Something like:
Hello
Is that Mr John Doe?
Who is calling?
Am I speaking to Mr John Doe
What is this call about?
… … … and now you have taken them off their script and wasted their time …

Another ploy I have heard used is to answer every question with one word - “Yes”

I have been known to pick the phone up and answer “Ja bitte”, and been prepared to go on speaking German long enough to put them right off. The last time, the vioce at the other end said “Is that you, Geoff? It doesn’t sound like you”. So of course I had to explain why.

Time-wasters: don’t get mad - get even!

Geoff