What's The Scam?

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Ryan000001

Ryan000001

Free Member
Jan 15, 2013
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Edinburgh
  • #1
    Hi all,

    Recently we have been receiving up to three calls a day from people trying to convince us that they are from Microsoft and our computers have viruses which needs urgently removed. Obviously this isn't the case and they sound as if they are calling from abroad, India perhaps.

    So what's the scam?

    We're not daft enough to fall for it but I was curious as to what they are trying to get from people? I thought that perhaps they try and get you to install or download something dodgy.

    Has anyone had a similar experience and can you shed light on these guys? It was fun to pretend and play along with them once or twice, only to be met with a tirade of expletives once they realised we were messing with them, but it's just getting silly now.
     
    JElder

    JElder

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    Jul 2, 2008
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    Southampton, Hampshire
  • #4
    AS brokersteve said, they will always find 'problems', and either:

    a) charge a small fortune for fixing the problems

    b) Keep using your card number for more charges

    c) Install keyloggers, redirects, password stealers and all sorts of other nasties to steal your logins, banking details or identity

    or

    d) all of the above.

    Keeps them on the phone. It will slow then down from contacting the more vulnerable.
     
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    T

    toastking

  • #7
    I work for an IT VAR and we end up explaining this to a lot of people.

    They basically get you to help them to gain remote access and control of your computer. Which then means they can get your information OR the other route is they lock you out of your computer and ask for money to unlock it.

    In the case of computers being locked, there are no stories I know of where the customer has paid and then actually got their data back.
     
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    14Steve14

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    May 18, 2010
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    www.railwayscenics.com
  • #8
    I had one of these calls and even after telling the caller that no computers were installed at the number he still went through the process of trying to get remote access to my computers. There were genuinely no computers. He got very pissed off when he couldn't get to where hew wanted to get. He even had the cheek to start name calling using all the nasty English swear words he could think of. I just wish i could have recorded the call as it was so funny. 45 minutes where I should really have had something better to do.
     
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    toastking

  • #10
    Nuno said:
    Another reason to be fully backed up either offline or secure in some cloud. Backed up on the same machine is foolish.
    Click to expand...

    Couldn't agree more you need something as a backup plan, but too many people will save unprotected documents on their desktops then wonder why they cannot get them back when the hard drive packs in! You need a backup plan people and with the options and the price points available today there is little excuse to expose such valuable data...

    More on topic thought I've known customers to store credit card numbers and passwords on their desktops in word documents. Hardly going to take a master criminal to use that once they had access!
     
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    Newchodge

    Newchodge

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    Nov 8, 2012
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  • #11
    toastking said:
    Couldn't agree more you need something as a backup plan, but too many people will save unprotected documents on their desktops then wonder why they cannot get them back when the hard drive packs in! You need a backup plan people and with the options and the price points available today there is little excuse to expose such valuable data...

    More on topic thought I've known customers to store credit card numbers and passwords on their desktops in word documents. Hardly going to take a master criminal to use that once they had access!
    Click to expand...

    I used to do that, even called the file "passwords". Then I thought about it!
     
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    Banksbroo

    Banksbroo

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    Nov 7, 2008
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    www.bss503.co.uk
  • #14
    Tempting as it is to wind up these people, don't!

    I once got the "microsoft support centre" scam call. I spun them along for about an hour. Had the guy call back about 4 times, put them on hold etc. The guy became very agressive, then eventually hung up.

    That's them sorted I thought. Not so. What they then did out of pure spite was that for the rest of the day they spoofed my telephone number over (presumably) an IP phone system as the outgoing number. I spent the rest of the day fielding calls from people all over the UK who thought I had called them. At least I was able to explain it was a scam.

    I also spent several hours reporting the incident to BT (who were actually very helpful) and national fraud hotline (also very helpful).

    Don't mess with these people, they are nasty and vindictive. A firm and instant good bye is the only response you need give.
     
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    mit74

    Free Member
    Jun 4, 2010
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  • #15
    I deal with theese people every week, or at least the people who have been scammed. 99% of them will simply sell you a free AV or free clean up tool off the web and they make their money that way. They've realised if they do anything else (install malware/steal data etc) it would attract too much attention from authorities.
    They take over remotely and usually prompt you to visit a website to enter you credit card details or read them over the phone before they install the software. This is where the danger lies. Where are they storing this data, how secure is it and more importantly who else will they give it to later down the line?
     
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    The Byre

  • #17
    For some reason, we keep getting calls for a Mr Greemy. Why Mr Greemy, I have no idea! Sometimes from India, sometimes from the UK and sometimes from some local company.

    But nearly always for Mr Greemy! He has become quite a phantom presence around the office. We have toyed with the idea of creating a Mrs Greemy and perhaps even some baby Greemlettes, but I digress -

    Anyway, I was sitting in the main office, all on my own at the weekend, listening to some requiem music that a friend had sent me. I say, on my own, but I had a young dog with me. The phone rang, so, against my better judgement, I hit the talk button.

    "Can I speak to Mr Greemy please!" said Estuary Boy at the other end.

    "Well that's a bit difficult." I said, the requiem music playing rather loudly in the background. "What do you need to talk to him about? Perhaps somebody else here could help you."

    Estuary Boy was quite insistent and made it clear that only Mr Greemy would do. "I believe Mr Greemy is the decision maker for software and networking. Is he there at all?"

    I assured Estuary Boy that our Mr Greemy was quite the go-getter in all things IT. "He's here, but you will not be able to talk to him."

    "Well, when will Mr Greemy be free?" said my new-found friend.

    I explained that I was not in the office, but in the local church. "You've been patched through to my mobile." I said in hushed tone. "This is Mr Greemy's funeral."

    "Oh, I'm ever so sorry!"

    "Yes, it is all very sad and rather sudden." I told him. "He was shot dead by his gay lover."

    At that moment the dog started whining to be let out for a pee.

    "Oh dear, his widow is taking this very badly!"

    Estuary Boy hung up.
     
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    Marked

  • #18
    They did this to a family member just before Christmas, she gave them remote access and demanded payment for it to be unlocked or they would delete all her photos and memories (cretins). Luckily i walked in, she asked me to speak to "windows". When i realised i pulled the battery out, unplugged the laptop and told them to get lost.

    When i started the laptop back up to try fix it, they still had control of it so i disconnected the internet until my friend who was more technically minded came to sort it out for me.

    From what i have heard they are still at it so we should advise all our family and friends who aren't so savvy to avoid this kind of thing.
     
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