Computer Virus Phone Call Scam

[UnderwearModel]

I just received a phone call from "Microsoft."

They said my machine was infected and sending "Microsoft" a bunch of error messages.

Since I am pretty familiar with computers, I wrote code for X number of years in the Unix and Windows environment I played along.

1st Red Flag why would Microsoft know my phone number?
2nd Red flag why didn't the Microsoft guy know my machine was on?
3rd Red Flag why didn't the guy know that the machine I was looking at was an Apple machine?

Yes, I game on Windows, but I immediately switched to the iMac for dealing with this person. This was the first time I ever had a call like this, and I wanted to learn from it to warn my friends and family.

The person sounded as if from India.

The person had me do things that showed my machine had errors. Usual stuff like an application shutting down because I killed it via TaskManager.

So, once we finally got to the point where I was at his website, their website tried to download software on my machine. Since I block all downloads until I verify, I read back to him the file he was trying to download and I then told him that this file is a known trojan horse program. AA_V3.exe is the trojan horse.

So, I called Microsoft at 1-800- MICROSO and talked to their security people, who were in India. They basically told me to not worry about it. Microsoft said they don't call people. Which I know they don't.

I am like, lots of people are going to fall for this shouldn't there be more about this?

I was not reassured by the representative of Microsfoft's security. I decided to write this for others.

if you get a call from "Microsoft" just ignore it or ask them to tell you the name of the computer that is infected in your house as you have ten devices on your home/business network.

if anyone wants more information, I will talk further on the subject if you post and ask.

[whitehawk74]

This has been going on for ages. Your last name must start with a Z or something at that end of the alphabet.

Have fun with them and enjoy. For how to troll them, a quick YouTube search brings up some great videos :)

Append: the people (yes, Indian) who called me were from 'Windows'

[Enoach]

#1 rule Microsoft is not calling you to fix your computer - They make more money if you buy a new one :)

#2 unless they are your company IT guys, you are not going to get FREE IT fixing of your PC. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.

#3 A legitimate call from a company will allow you to call them back.

I know I've already warned all but my Mother/Father-In-Law about this scam already - They don't own a computer so never ask me to fix their PC/Internet problems, its heaven to get away from electronics. (it also helps that cell reception is spotty at best)

[Arnhelm]

Hmm... I'd probably miss the call because I let most calls, especially unknown ones, go to voice mail. :)

[Grosbeak07]

Yep, this one has been making the rounds forever now.

[UnderwearModel]

Never knew scammers would actually call you. Now, I am not happy that scammers have my home phone number.

My thoughts, why doesn't Microsoft just include code to block these guys? It is the same website they have been using for at least two years(from my research).

Just put into the patch for Windows Defender a simple message that pops up when you connect to their website. I am saying Windows Defender as that comes already loaded on all Windows Machines and windows constantly sends updates to it.

[Miow]

Impersonated an old lady once(i'm a guy but i have mad skills) he eventually got so frustrasted and hung up :)

[Aedra1]

A good friend of mine has a PhD in computer science, and she recieved a call simalar to this a few months a go. She led him on for about 20 minutes or so and then asked what the MAC address was... the guy told her, "No, lady, not a Mac, your Window's PC."

I recieved the call a few weeks ago, and I said to him, "My husband is a professor who teaches computer science, let me get him to talk to you about this, he'd understand it better." The guy hung up on me ... can't figure out why.... :rolleyes:

[Loromir]

I had one of these guys call me several months ago. I was on to him right from the start. I played along with him and acted like a total computer noob. I had him going for about 20 mins and then convinced him to hang up and call me back about 10 minutes later (Which shockingly he did). I led him on for about 10 more minutes before he figured me out.

Amazingly, the same guy called me back about 2 hours later as if he had never spoke to me before. I figured the longer I could keep him on my line the less opportunity he would have to scam someone else....plus it was fun.

[Sonos]

Dear OP:

I am writing you now as I don't have much time. My father was a wealthy General from the Ibo tribe of Nigeria. Before he passed, he entrusted me to $2,884,312.62 he had accumulated through his life. I am willing to pay you half of my inherited fortune as you are my only hope. I will be able to escape, however, I need to be able to transfer all of these funds to you. In the case that I should pass, you will continue my legacy with the full amount.

God speed. e-mail me back ASAP at Notanothernigerianscam@fullongrifterz.com

God bless,
Adetayo Mafe

[Gkar]

Forms of that scam have been around for longer than most companies and people have been on the internet.

[Memnir]

Microsoft calls me every few months. However, it's to find out if either my wife, the kids, or I would be eligible for some game-testing. Living in the Seattle area, it's pretty convenient and often fun. Been doing it since 06, when the MS folks were signing up playtesters at PAX. I still wish some of the stuff we tested for Kinect (which was known then as Natal) would come out. Microsoft has a policy that if you test a game for a certain number of hours or for 3 sessions or more, you get that game free. I've gotten Halo 2 and Mass Effect 1 & 2 that way.



However, we also tested as a family for Star Wars: Kinect - which was about as painful a four hours as I've ever spent. ::shudder::


So, when Microsoft calls - we tend to pick up the phone. TY for the info. While I know we wouldn't have gotten suckered - it's still good to know.

[Ivan_Milic]

I dont have to tell you how many times I died because I didnt forward mail.

[Rodasch]

redacted. Link itself might violate forum rules in it's body, so self-censoring here.

[Beethoven]

1st Red Flag why would Microsoft know my phone number?

Some people still use their actual (or primary) phone number when they register software products (such as MS Office). So, this may not be a red flag for them.

My first red flag would be that Microsoft does not usually (like ever) call and that cases like these would not be handled by Microsoft but by your internet provider's (ie: cable) Customer Security Assurance Division.


I am like, lots of people are going to fall for this shouldn't there be more about this?

The real issue is what can be done about it? There is no shortage of people posting information about those scams on the internet, every provider has an own department to deal with this kind of attacks and every country has a cybercrimes division were people can send reports of those attacks.

The problem is more often than not the actual perpetrator is physically located in a country were they cannot be prosecuted. Now specifically the US controls the DNS servers and could effectively shut someone out of the internet, they also can block the phone number from contacting people in the US - but nothing keeps a criminal from simply getting a new phone number and internet access and start all over again. The second issue is for every perpetrator they shut down ten new show up.



I was not reassured by the representative of Microsfoft's security.


Actually, phone calls like this becoming more frequent speaks well for Microsoft's security. It used to be that Microsoft's products had such blatantly obvious and easily exploitable security holes, you could teach a monkey how to download all kinds of harmful software onto an unsuspecting users computer. There really was no point into ever calling someone.

Now Microsoft has slowly gotten to closing those holes and even though even your latest Windows still has some security issues they are not as easily to get around, thus requiring potential criminals to find new ways to get their software on your computer (like calling to make you instal the stuff for them).


Microsoft calls me every few months.

You are right. It'd probably would be more accurate to say "Microsoft does not usually call, unless it is for a service you have signed up for and gave them permission to call."

[Jay203]

oOooo
i had one of those calls before
wasn't in the mood to play with them so i told the person i don't use internet and she just stops and hung up

ha, not in your script is it! :D:D:D