Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'

Subject: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 07:15 PM

I'm sure most people won't be taken in but be aware f this phone scam - they have rung me at least 3 times!


Scam details

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 09:28 PM

Essentially the same scam appears as popups on lots of websites, offering to do a "free scan." If you click to run the "scan" often nothing at all is done, except a pause, then you get a report that disaster will be upon you if you don't download "something." The something (or sometimes even the first click for the scan) downloads malware that disrupts your computer enough to persuade you that you need to pay them for their "upgraded version" which is even worse, and eventually you may pay them - or someone else - to remove the original infection (which may or may not be removed after you pay).

But just incidentally, one recent report asserts that more "identity thefts" come from "dumpster diving" than from spam/scam/phishing on the internet.

Do we all have good shredders, and run everything with any identifying information through the shredder before it goes in the dump?

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,DrugCrazed
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 06:42 AM

Oh I love these. The trick is to do one of the following:

• When they say "I'm calling about your PC", you answer "Oh good, when is it going to arrive?"
• When they say "I'm calling about your PC", you answer "Well he's already under internal review down at the station, and we gave all information then"
• Get a cheap laptop and install Ubuntu on it. Then do everything they tell you. Make sure you know what you're doing and tell them how many hoops you're having to jump through

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: Tootler
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 04:40 PM

I've had a similar call a few times. I just tell them my computer runs Linux (which it does).

The silence is usually deafening, at which point I put the phone down.

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 05:37 PM

I think we've been here before - haven't we?

I also think I've told this story on a previous thread - but I'll tell it again here:

I started getting these calls but usually just put the phone down on such an obvious scam. One day, though, I decided to have a bit of fun and told the woman on the end of the phone that, yes, I was having some trouble with my computer. She started giving me instructions over the phone and asking me questions about what I could see on the screen - and I pretended to follow the instructions and made up spurious answers to the questions. When she asked the fifth or sixth time what I could see on the screen, I told her that I could see a duck. I then accused her of "programming a duck into my computer"! She went to get her supervisor and I'm (not really) ashamed to say I got a bit hysterical and started screaming down the phone about ducks - breaking off now and again to make 'quacking' sounds behind my hand ... Somehow I don't think they saw the joke ... ?

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 05:53 PM

My mate , when asked for , says "Hold on , I'll get him!" -Puts the phone down and puts the kettle on - Usually there is no one there when he comes back with his coffee

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 07:14 PM

Aww Tootler! It's much more fun to do what they tell you to do and say it isn't working!

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: Andrez
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 08:25 PM

I've found that telling the callers that "this call is being recorded" generally elicits a welcome hanging up click on the other end of the line.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: Tootler
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 05:08 PM

Maybe you're right, DrugCrazed.

My computer really does run Ubuntu so I don't even need to dig out the old laptop gathering dust in the garage :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: Tootler
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 05:33 PM

This thread reminds me of an experience with Virgin Media's helpline when I was having problems with drastically reduced speeds on my broadband connection.

I phone their helpline and, judging by the accent of the person at the other end, got a call centre in India.

She told me to connect the computer directly to the modem which I did then she gave me url to connect to so I did that.

The site was a connection speed test which I duly did and both the download and upload speeds were diabolically slow (about 150Kb on a 10Mb connection IIRC). I don't think she believed me because a conversation roughly as follows ensued:

"Are you using Internet Explorer"
"No, I'm using Firefox"
"But you must use Internet Explorer, please start Internet Explorer"
"I don't have Internet Explorer"
"But you must use Internet Explorer"
"I told you, I don't have Internet Explorer. I have Firefox, that should do just as well"
"But you must use Internet Explorer. Have you another computer?"
"Yes"
"Well connect that up then and start Internet Explorer"
"That one runs Linux as well and it doesn't have Internet Explorer, it has Firefox"

Silence!

"Oh...Well...I can't help you then"
At which point she hung up.

I did get the problem sorted eventually. I rang the helpline again, got a UK call centre this time, explained the problem and after they did the same speed test they sent a technician out who found that a connection where the cable enters the house had come loose.

It didn't say much for Virgin Media's Indian Call centre, though.

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: scouse
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 04:22 AM

Had one this morning.. 08:30 my time, nice little voice that sounded very Indian or a bad imitation of Peter Sellers telling me he was from Microsoft and something was wrong with my computer!!! Told him that was strange as I have a Mac!(Which I don't) and then the phone went dead!!!!

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 09:32 PM

haha, I love the one where you answer "oh nice, when is it arriving"... Check out these phone reports about the scam , there are some interesting links to youtube video of people getting these calls.

These people should get an oscar for the way the exclaim "Oh god, please don't click this link it's very dangerous" for when they see a mundane event viewer error message.

Quite funny actually

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,sandra in sydney still cookiless
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:27 AM

one of our local columnists has a great time with the Microsoft Security The phone rings. It rings about the same time most days. Four in the afternoon for me, 11.30am in Kolkata. Just enough time before a yummy lamb korma lunch for the ever helpful mavens of the Microsoft Security to secure my security from the many, many security threats that I - a helpless Apple slave with no Microsoft products in my house (save for an Xbox) - will never face.

"Hello, am I speaking to owner of the house, because I am the Microsoft Security and your computer is to be showing up on our systems as being very insecure, sir or madam."   (read on)

Trying to find where to post this led to a few interesting google byways like this Phone scammers call the wrong guy, get mad and trash PC & it's very interesting 108 comments

sandra

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:55 AM

Any caller claiming to be from Microsoft must be exceedingly suspect, since my recent experience has been that the won't answer the phone WHEN YOU CALL THEM. I've begun to supsect that Microsft doesn't have a telephone now.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: treewind
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 11:44 AM

It's easy to hang up or tell them you're not running Windows and make them hang up - but if you want to get in to competitive sport, surely the game is to see how long you can keep them on the phone (wasting their time) before they catch on. Seeing these stories of letting them have full access to your computer though... no, that's too dangerous!

I usually just say "no thank you" and put the phone down. Linux user here anyway, but I don't want to waste *my* time...

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: treewind
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 11:50 AM

Just followed Sandra's link - excellent, a master of the art of wasting their time!

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 12:46 PM

I've tried on and off to reach Microsoft for ten f##kin' years. As with JiK, I've concluded Microsoft doesn't have phones. Be nice if they did, though. You could give the scammers Microsoft's number and see how that works out for them.

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,sandra still cookieless in sydney
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 09:13 PM

good idea, Guest -

some of the reader comments on the Malwarebytes link are funny, some not so funny

sandra

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: Gurney
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:47 PM

The last one I had was from a very Indian voice, giving me the same spiel that scouse got. I told them to go away, but used two different words.
It was 11:30pm, and it woke me.

Sometimes I just talk gibberish until they put the phone down.
I sometimes wish that I had a recorded message from an evangelist that I could start and leave them to listen to, at international rates.

I'm getting really tired of being cold-called on a phone that 'I' pay for.

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 01:08 AM

They are a great source of amusement.

Lots of fun.

Thank them profusely. Become increasingly thankful to eventual hysteria. Ring your own doorbell. Use local siren or helicopter sounds, even the radio or television ... and thank them for the genius of modern technology that could anticipate and forecast the dire situation your household is in. Continue to thank them, and thank them some more as you ask about advice to remove bloodstains, or revive an unconscious person, or the best way to bury your dead monkey. Thank them, and thank them, and invent preposterous ... explain the police are taking you away...but, PLEASE share the miricle of the phone call to keep you out of jail....and the caller also since they were identified as (giberish) and interpol is sweeping up people across the globe....scream that the handcuffs are too tight, or you need to follow the ambulence to with your cat to the hospital....or get them to channel their insight into movong a table, or ask for a good recipe for curry and then how to slaughter your dog.

Sincetely,
Gargoyle

Enjoy. Enjoy immencely. Opportunities will become less and less as you ask about prince albert in a can or a running refrigerator.

Subject: RE: Tech: Phone scam from 'Microsoft'
From: GUEST,sandra
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 02:52 AM

brilliant idea, gargoyle