Warning Computer Phone Scam!!!
 

An hour ago, I got a phone call supposedly from Microsoft Tech Maintenance Dept saying that they have been receiving error messges from my computer for some time now, that I had an infection on my hard drive, something about International Router System.
When I questioned what is the name of the infection, he talked around it. I told him I had Anti-Virus, Spyware, Malwarebytes software, he said it wouldn't catch anything like this.
He tried to get me to follow steps from Start and I wouldn't. I asked for a phone number where he could be reached, he never gave it to me.
I've never received a phone call from Microsoft, unless it is a callback after I have contacted a technician there.
He told me my computer was going to crash. I told him I had computers over 10 years and never got an infection that crashed my comptuter.
I hung up and called a person that fixes computers, he said it was a scam, that he'd gotten a call last week from a guy that had the same phone call but he had no computer, the guy hung up on him.
I could hear another person on a phone line talking as he was talking to me.
I was afraid he would try to gain access to my computer, so I wouldn't comply.
Be warned, this isn't the way Microsoft works or any other company.

Thanks for the heads-up. I wouldn't have done anything either; those bad guys get craftier every day. "If only they used their powers for good, Batman."

The same goes for banking emails - I have received three of them in the past week (in my spam box) and one of them is from a bank that we haven't banked with for over 15 years! The subject line told me my account was blocked ... never open them and know that banks would never send an email to you.

This scam has been around for awhile, and recently hit the news. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/10/pecon.shtm

The scammers will claim to be from microsoft or some other big computer tech support company. They try to trick you into giving them remote access to your computer. They will try to charge you hundreds of dollars to clean your computer of non existant viruses.

Good for you for hanging up on him! Supposedly the FTC is going after these scammers, but lets face it, they are all overseas and not a whole lot that they can do about it.

Thanks for posting. I did get a call like that, too. And let me add a warning that some scammers may sound very convincing. My caller knew how to talk. As a matter of fact, he almost convinced me. Had I not known that such a scam has been happening, I might have allowed the scammer access to my computer. Tsk tsk..

So you guys out there, be cautious about suspicious calls.

And if you do get calls like that, I strongly suggest you report them to www.callercenter.com and the FTC in an attempt to shut the scam down.

Yep...had that call last year, or earlier this year. He was most insistent that I follow his instructions...which of course I didn't and had no intention of doing.

Thanks for all the replies, don't have caller ID so don't have their number to report, of course, there is call blocking too.
I wondered how they got my number to begin with, never addressed me, that made me suspicious too, but I have had to call Tech Support many times and know they don't call you, unless you have already started an inquiry and they may follow up after they helped you and they give you a case number. After I posted this, got another call and hung up. There were two more calls after that, wouldn't answer.

thanks for the info. some time ago i got a call about my computer and i just said i didn't have one and hung up. I have no idea who he was supposed to be. I get odd emails too, supposedly from UPS about a refused return or something. i delete those quickly.

The scammers tried the same with me on two occasions through Sype - so everyone just needs to be careful - just like when your parents gave you telephone education of how to behave if anyone rang whilst you were home alone.

I had a phone call like this one night years ago. The guy said he was a police officer and he'd had a report of a break-in and they'd given my phone number. He wanted my address so he could check it out. It just so happened that I was dating the Sargeant of the police SWAT team. I told him to call the SWAT phone number, ask for Sargeant XX and ask him for the address.

I get this call a couple of times a month. I tell the guy that my uber techie husband BUILT out computer himself and if there was a problem he would know it long before them and he would fix it. The last time I got this call was last Wednesday and I told the guy I knew he was a con artist and the call was BS. He stammered and cleared his throat and warned me of the dire consequences to my computer, blah blah blah. I said "Nice try butt-head" and hung up

I never open anything that has a paper clip attachment. Even if its from some one I know unless I call them first to verify. But my favorite ones are from 2 banks. The bank in Nigeria is trying to pay me for the work I perform there to the tune of 750million usd And the other is from the Bank of London. This is a sad story--my uncle Bernard passed on.Well just before his passing he found that his children were not worthy of his riches and while searching for lost family members he found that I am his only living relative from acrost the pond. You would think he would have found my 3 brothers and my father?? We live in the same zip code.. But with both I can pick up $5000 per day til paid in full at any Western Union office.

I must get 2-5 emails from people that owe me millions. I only wish I could collect somehow without having to give my name, rank and serial number. I would single handed be able to pay off the national debt and become the most well known, respected and celebrated citizen in the US. But atlas it is only a dream and so I press the delete button one more time.

Thanks for the information.

I got that same call yesterday and told them no. I would deal with a crash if it happened. Didn't believe a word he said and finally hung up on him.

Yes, for some reason this guy is persistent, he called again today, after he said, "Hello", I hung up. You'd think they'd pursue someone that was cooperating with their instructions?!

My parents got stung by that scam. Grrrr! With help from us and their credit card company they were not charged. But, by golly, why are people so mean and why are senior citizens so free to part with their money that they can't earn any more of. Just say no!

I have had these calls down here in Australia usually from someone with a strong Indian accent who keeps calling me Madam. Believe me I have not been anywhere near as polite as some of you to them. :mad:

I have 4 calls from "Microsoft" in the last 3 months, told them they were nothing but scammers and to leave me alone. I rang Microsoft to tell them and they say that they never ring anyone, if you have a problem you have to ring them. So BEWARE of these phone calls

As soon as I hear a call from a company I have not called myself, I hang up - FAST!

I wish they would call me, I would have some fun with them.