Scam warning

[bluespirit]

Huh, I think I've just avoided a scam artist.

I was cold-called by someone calling themselves 'Janet' - with a heavy accent that seemed very 'unJanetlike' - saying they were getting error messages being sent from my computer.
She had my name (& obviously my telephone number) & said she was working for some firm supporting Windows. (I actually couldn't catch most of what she said.) She said she'd take me through the errors, etc on my PC.
I definitely didn't like the sound of this, so I was polite but firm & said I'd look into it myself & hung up.

I've just done a quick search & there seems to be a scam like this that's been going around for a while now. They charge you for 'cleaning' your PC & can also install malware & get your credit card details, etc. Source #1 #2, #3.

Just thought I'd give the heads-up as this was completely new to me.

Comments

[hildejohanne.livejournal.com]

They seem to be finding new ways of scamming us all the time :/ Thank you for the heads-up!

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it looks like it's been going on a while, but it was the first I'd heard of it. Thought it best to give a warning.
I hate this kind of thing. Grrr.

[coreopsis.livejournal.com]

ugh, these people suck. Just one more reason I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize who is calling.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I should have known better when I didn't recognise the number.
I won't be doing that again!

[trystings.livejournal.com]

Unbelievable.

And even worse, they are the ones who get angry when you firmly turn them down. I had some call center lady from India scream in my ear that I was 'rude' and 'wicked', when I wouldn't put her call about some undefined business opportunity through to the CEO of our company. What the heck??! Does she think our CEO has time for call center crap?

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Wow! Like they really expected to speak to the CEO?!
Crazy - but very irritating, too.

[trystings.livejournal.com]

I'm so not used to people screaming at me, my hands were shaking when she finally slammed the phone down. Some sale pitch. *g*

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

I bet! What a horrible experience.
*hugs*

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

HAH! Go you for catching them out! You've become an ace scam catcher since the, uh, unfortunate incident of the man with the broken arm in Covent Garden *ggg*.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

LOL I just was thinking about that!
Heh, fool me once... *g*

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

Bluespirit Kurgan Guesswork, MD - Scamcatcher General! (Catches scam artists without once breaking a nail!)

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Hee! That is so totally me.

If you've got a problem. If no one else can help. And if you can find her... maybe you can hire Guesswork, MD!

At your service, ma'am... LOL

[kharma2815.livejournal.com]

I actually had that a few months ago and called Microsoft (thats where they said they were from) and apparently they've got an ongoing lawsuit against the people involved but they're still doing it.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Good for you!
Yeah, I imagine this kind of thing is very hard to shut down. They just pop up somewhere else. :(

[iloveatlantis.livejournal.com]

I got one of those calls a couple of weeks ago, from a man (who had an Indian accent) saying he was with "Windows" and that they had gotten a report of problems with my computer. It didn't make sense to me that someone would call saying they were with "Windows," or that they'd be calling an individual's home even if there were a problem with that person's computer, so I hung up on him. I hadn't heard there was a rampant scam like this going on, though.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Good for you!
I was the same - it just didn't sound right. I hadn't heard about it either but it looks like it's pretty rife. :(

[tarlanx]

I think this was the same scam that I had the other weekend...except the poor guy didn't get a chance to offer me security software as I said I'd deal with it myself! Like you, I hung up BUT they phone back next week to tell you that you haven't resolved the situation, so be warned!

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning - I'll definitely be on my guard (although if I see the same number, I just won't answer! *g*)

[tarlanx]

Mine was a withheld number.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

The caller ID showed a number which I thought was something else, hence me answering. D-oh! - I won't make that mistake again. :)

[foxrafer.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you weren't taken in. Reading the articles it sounds like a really clever new line of attack.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

I think it might have sounded more plausible if I'd been able to hear the spiel, but the bit I heard just had alarm bells ringing.
It's horrible that they try this sort of stuff. Grrr.