OT: SCAM ALERT - "Microsoft Software Support"

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Just got a scam call from someone claiming to be a Microsoft software engineer, telling me my computer was sending error messages to Microsoft, and wanted me to go to teamviewer . com... which happens to be a site that allows for remote access to a computer.
They'll even direct you to the event log in your computer... a neat trick on their parts, as it's a place that logs everything anyway... to fool you into thinking that they know what they are talking about, since there will always be SOMETHING there. Someone not familiar with computers can easily be fooled by this.

Yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhh... ok.


I had fun with the guy for a while even let him think I was following his instructions to allow him access even though he couldn't/wouldn't answer my direct questions.
As he got more and more frustrated and slightly angry with each passing minute, especially when i kept telling him that I couldn't understand most of what he was saying, due to his accent (Indian - this was not a lie, I REALLY couldn't not understand WTF he was saying most of the time).
I played dumb as long as I could stand it, eventually got bored and hung up.


Beware if you get this call...

Even moreso, tell your relatives, especially older, less savvy relatives.

 

[dash]

I hope he calls my in-laws (who don't own a computer)

/That should make for a fun conversation.

//Thanks for the warning, Biz, I'll inform the better half

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

it's an old scam that has resurfaced

here's an old link


snopes.com: Microsoft Impersonation Scam

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Seriously though, it was hilarious listening to him get more frustrated and angry every second, but didn't want to give up on it, as he thought I was actually going to do it.


I want to hear about if/when these guys all 43.
that is a call he should tape.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

another link to a discussion on this same scam from 2010
they really have run out of new idea. :/


Teamviewer scam - beware - Windows 7 Forums

 

[IPostedWhat]

A couple of weeks ago, I had a problem with my virus software showing errors, so I went to the website to ask for help fixing it.

I ended up getting some guy from India (SURPRISE!!!) and he said he needed to get remote access to my computer. I allowed it because it was through Time Warner, and while he was linked to my computer, I started pulling up pron. (real hardcore type stuff)

He immediately sent a message in the text screen to please refrain from doing anything, and to not open or look at anything while he is working on the problem.

I left the pron up on the screen, and everytime he went to click it off, I moved the mouse on him. After a few times he sent me another messaage to not touch anything until he is done. I could tell he was getting pissed.

Who doesn't like pron while at work?

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

ok, that's pretty damn funny, and you gave the guy a story to tell later, it's the giving that matters most

 

[forty_three]

Seriously though, it was hilarious listening to him get more frustrated and angry every second, but didn't want to give up on it, as he thought I was actually going to do it.


I want to hear about if/when these guys all 43.
that is a call he should tape.

They did not call me, but a receptionist on my floor. I did not intervene, but a cohort did. I got into it in enough time to connect a Linux computer to him and fire up a network debugger and figure out where he was. As soon as my friend mentioned the city name, he hung up.

My Buddy was all business and trying to pull info. I said "eff that, he's a scammer and we show them no mercy."

Next one inbound should be forwarded to me.

 

[forty_three]

A couple of weeks ago, I had a problem with my virus software showing errors, so I went to the website to ask for help fixing it.

I ended up getting some guy from India (SURPRISE!!!) and he said he needed to get remote access to my computer. I allowed it because it was through Time Warner, and while he was linked to my computer, I started pulling up pron. (real hardcore type stuff)

He immediately sent a message in the text screen to please refrain from doing anything, and to not open or look at anything while he is working on the problem.

I left the pron up on the screen, and everytime he went to click it off, I moved the mouse on him. After a few times he sent me another messaage to not touch anything until he is done. I could tell he was getting pissed.

Who doesn't like pron while at work?

*golf clap*

 

[Dacks]

Yeah, I've had these guys call a few times. I usually just end up getting in a shouting match with them. I'll try to be more creative next time.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Just got a scam call from someone claiming to be a Microsoft software engineer, telling me my computer was sending error messages to Microsoft, and wanted me to go to teamviewer . com... which happens to be a site that allows for remote access to a computer.
They'll even direct you to the event log in your computer... a neat trick on their parts, as it's a place that logs everything anyway... to fool you into thinking that they know what they are talking about, since there will always be SOMETHING there. Someone not familiar with computers can easily be fooled by this.

Yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhh... ok.


I had fun with the guy for a while even let him think I was following his instructions to allow him access even though he couldn't/wouldn't answer my direct questions.
As he got more and more frustrated and slightly angry with each passing minute, especially when i kept telling him that I couldn't understand most of what he was saying, due to his accent (Indian - this was not a lie, I REALLY couldn't not understand WTF he was saying most of the time).
I played dumb as long as I could stand it, eventually got bored and hung up.


Beware if you get this call...

Even moreso, tell your relatives, especially older, less savvy relatives.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Also, LOL @

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I don't know why you're so convinced this was a scam.

I did exactly what he said, and I've been assured that my computer will be working better in no time.

Which is good, because I need to login to my bank and see if that wire transfer from Nigeria came through yet.

 

[TOX1]

lol

Sad part is that there are good folks out there that are not computer savvy enough to not fall for those kinds of scams.

 

[Comeds]

I think I had one last week. I did not think he said he was from Microsoft though. He may have and I couldn't understand him - this person was really hard to understand and it was kind of noisy where he was.
He told me that in my area there were reports of some problems that would slow down computers and networks. Unfortunately the culprit files that were infecting systems are not spyware or viruses so antivirus programs would not detect them! Whoda thunk it? I pretended I wasnt at my computer and wanted him to tell me the steps so I could check later and he hung up on me.

 

[filosofy29]

lol

Sad part is that there are good folks out there that are not computer savvy enough to not fall for those kinds of scams.

Alright Toxy, tell us your story.....






























(hopefully the Granddaughter is doing well)