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Scam phone calls about Windows PC
Today I have received my 3rd phone call from a fraudster company claiming my windows computer is rammed full of malicious viruses and will shut down at any moment. Clearly as I don't have a PC, only mac, this is a load of nonsense (to put it politely). I can only achieve so much my asking how they sleep at night preying on people's insecurities right before they hang up on me.
They always speak immediately in English so I don't know where they've got my number from. Everyone else starts in French.
How can I report this and will it do any good? I know the phone calls are a scam but it worries me for others.
I had this the other day. Its quite a sophisticated scam. Its a very sad fact that people fall for these scams.
Anyway, in the interest of sharing and educating others, do a google search for "windows scam" and you'll see that the scammers are not to be messed with- i.e. if you follow their instructions they will either get money off you, or delete all the files on your computer. Here's how they work:
1. An English speaking person calls and says that they are from Windows (not sure why they don't say Microsoft). Their system has detected some errors in your computer caused by viruses.
2. They ask you to log on to your computer and they will direct you to your desktop. You will be asked to enter a file name into the search box and lo and behold, you'll see a list of errors on your computer. These are normal, but they will make them sound like they aren't. So out comes the scare tactics about how you need their help to remove these errors (caused by viruses).
3. You will be asked to download a programme. This allows them to remote access your computer.
4. Their "technician" will then direct you to a paypal site where you are asked to pay a few hundred bucks.
5. If you refuse to pay, (or if you start to annoy them, or if you show that you are on to their scam), they will start to delete all the files on your computer (remember- they have remote access!).
The moral of the story is simply hang up. Do not entertain these people and do not think that you can turn the tables on them and "play along".
Microsoft are aware of the problem but I am not sure that there is anything to be done. All we can do is try to educate others so that no one falls for these scams!
> do not think that you can turn the tables on them and "play along".
Why on earth not? You make them sound like they are some sort of computer semi-gods with access to some brilliant new technology instead of what they actually are, i.e. some fairly low intelligence serfs from India or whatnot.
If you have the time I say play along as much as you want. I've done it myself a couple of times when they have caught me at the right time and with the right mindset. it can actually be quite good fun. And every minute they spend with me, trying in vain to get me to install their programme, is one less minute they can potentially spend with someone who might actually fall for this.
The answer is simple.
Get caller display on your phone and never answer a call that shows a blocked number.
In the unlikely event of you getting a genuine call from someone who has blocked their number they will leave a message on your voicemail.
I'm not aware of ever having missed a genuine call but I don't get calls from scammers, cold calling sellers or any of the other comic singers who try their luck from time to time.
On one of the social sites, one of the scammers had answered questions on how these scams work.
And to get numbers, they basically have a database of valid numbers and they even randomly dial numbers and if somebody picks up the phone, voilá, new number to their database. So they could have gotten your number simply by doing guess work or it is already on their db.
And the reason they say windows is because the people who will fall for the scam don't really know what microsoft is, but they know the term windows.
These pc scams originate from India and it seems at least one or two person fall for it daily, and that's why they continue.
I guess the same reason we see beggars at the grocery store. People continue to give money, beggars keep on coming.
