Microsoft users WARNING

[Kulindahr]

I got a call purporting to be from Microsoft support, claiming that they had received error reports that indicated corrupt files on my computer that were a risk to my machine. I wanted verification that she was from Microsoft, and she said to type a command in the command prompt (led me through getting there, step by step). I couldn't even make out the command, except it had the letters "a" and "s" (twice, I think), because of the accent.

My phone showed the number as "UNAVAILABLE", which made me suspicious. So I told her that unless she could give me verification that she was in fact from Microsoft, I wasn't typing any commands into my computer, and that if she was indeed from Microsoft, she should request that they have someone who could speak understandable English call me back.

Then I called Microsoft support about it. I was told that they have gotten thousands of calls about calls like this, and that as I suspected any call from Microsoft would show the phone number. Apparently this is some sort of scam that is becoming more common.

Anyone know more about this?

Anyone who doesn't, be wary of any calls claiming to be from Microsoft.

 

[palbert]

Did they stop calling?

The "there is no problem with your credit cards but we can lower your interest rate" never stop. And the Feds are no help.

 

[Kulindahr]

Did they stop calling?

The "there is no problem with your credit cards but we can lower your interest rate" never stop. And the Feds are no help.

I actually talked with someone from Senator Wyden's office about the interest rate thing. He said many of them operate from call centers in India, and by the time the regulators can get the "UNAVAILABLE" phone number from the phone company, the number has been shut down and the scammers are using a new one.

 

[GamerBear]

In all my years of using Micro$oft, they have never called me nor do I let them have my number. Definite scam.

 

[Paws]

There already was a thread about this scam. Why would a big company like Microsoft care about single customers and call them?

 

[blackbeltninja]

I got a call purporting to be from Microsoft support, claiming that they had received error reports that indicated corrupt files on my computer that were a risk to my machine. I wanted verification that she was from Microsoft, and she said to type a command in the command prompt (led me through getting there, step by step). I couldn't even make out the command, except it had the letters "a" and "s" (twice, I think), because of the accent.

My phone showed the number as "UNAVAILABLE", which made me suspicious. So I told her that unless she could give me verification that she was in fact from Microsoft, I wasn't typing any commands into my computer, and that if she was indeed from Microsoft, she should request that they have someone who could speak understandable English call me back.

Then I called Microsoft support about it. I was told that they have gotten thousands of calls about calls like this, and that as I suspected any call from Microsoft would show the phone number. Apparently this is some sort of scam that is becoming more common.

Anyone know more about this?

Anyone who doesn't, be wary of any calls claiming to be from Microsoft.

It's a scam running out of India or Bangladesh, I believe. First heard about it probably a year ago. They're basically taking you through the process to open a specific port which allows for someone to plant a trojan onto your system.

-d-

 

[Kulindahr]

It's a scam running out of India or Bangladesh, I believe. First heard about it probably a year ago. They're basically taking you through the process to open a specific port which allows for someone to plant a trojan onto your system.

-d-

And getting your banking information and a chunk of money.

- - - Updated - - -

There already was a thread about this scam. Why would a big company like Microsoft care about single customers and call them?

Link?

 

[purina]

Here's FPNY's thread:
www.justusboys.com/forum/threads/375382-Microsoft-just-called-me-I-m-in-trouble?highlight=trouble

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I've gotten a couple of these calls from India. The act sheepish and hang up when I tell them I know it's a scam.

...and you can't trust the numbers that show up on caller ID. There are apps where they can make it look like they're calling from anywhere.

 

[bankside]

I don't understand why you'd accept calls from people you don't recognize when you have not requested or arranged the call.

I don't even accept calls from my own bank addressing me by name. The only reason I'm still with them is because they were smart enough to say "Yes, we completely understand. You're welcome to call us back at the number in the phone book and we'll be pleased to continue the call then."

 

[epod85]

These people call me once every couple of months, it has turned into a game in my house. How long can we keep the phisers on the line before they get too frustrated and hang up. As far as I can tell they seem to want you to allow them to remotely connect to your computer and to pay them an obscene amount of money to defrag your computer.

 

[EJMichaels]

A friend who doesn't have the sense to get rid of those people ended up paying $130 for some sort of service they offered. She was able to get her money back. I get those calls every few months.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

What gets me, and PISSES me off is, if the NSA/Prism/XKeyScore... US Government is REALLY monitoring all our foreign calls and internet connections, why can't those bastards DO something about these scammers ?????????

 

[Yuki Sohma]

What gets me, and PISSES me off is, if the NSA/Prism/XKeyScore... US Government is REALLY monitoring all our foreign calls and internet connections, why can't those bastards DO something about these scammers ?????????

Help the citizenry who fund the government...........what a novel idea borg69unimatrix..............who would have thunk

 

[SaskGuy]

SCAM
I didn't even need to read the whole post. in fact, as soon as you said "call", I knew it was a scam, because Microsoft simply doesn't do that.

 

[ibill1]

I have never, ever, never answered a call that said UNAVAILABLE when looking at my screen. It can't possibly be good if they don't want you to see their number. If it is an automatic dialer, a friend of mine who use to program those things said it will call 5 times if it gets no answer and then delete the number from the system and won't sell it as a live number, another good reason never to answer.

 

[trawler69]

My landlady had one of these calls saying there was a problem with a computer on her internet connection, she was worried and handed it to me. I strung the guy along for a long time pretending to type commands etc. Finally I asked him if the problem was on the internet connection related to the number he was calling. He assured me it was. I then took great pleasure in informing him that the number he called doesn't actually have broadband (It is on another line) and that he had been rumbled and that his call had been traced as we were talking. He hung up very fast!

 

[Adrock-JD]

Please, you'd have to pay Micro$oft before they'd call you.

 

[Rickrock]

I had a similar scam late last year. The guy had an accent but the phone number was from the Washington DC area. Since I had forwarded error messages to Microsoft, I at first believed him. He was going to fix my computer and charge me $75.00. At first I let him onto my system, but my sister heard us and told him to get off. I don't know if he was able to put spyware onto my system or not but it seemed to be slower for several months and then froze up a month or so ago with a notice appearing on the screen that the US Dept of Justice said that I was looking at underage pornography and I could send in a $300 fine or they would prosecute me and confiscate my computer. I went to my local police department and they confirmed that it was a scam and the Dept of Justice wouldn't send me a notice over the internet.