Wierd phone call about Windows

[Ratty2E]

I have just had the strangest phone call, sadly it was from someone with such a strong indian accent that i could barely understand them so I have no idea who they were.
Anyway they told me they are calling all windows users because they have been made aware of online threats and errors and basically he wanted me to go through some things on my computer whilst talking to him on the phone. He also said that eventually these 'threats ans errors' would cause me to be unable to use my computer. Being the suspicious soul that I am I said no thanks and put the phone down. Surely if I did have issues my anti-virus or my windows would make me aware of it first. I'm pretty sure it was some sort of scam to get my card details or something but just wondered what more technical people thought about it.

[Safiya]

I think you did the right thing, that sounds really suspicious to me.

[daffy654]

It was definitely a scam. How would some random bloke in India know if you had PC problems?
This has become a quite common way for scammers to get control of your PC (they ask you to give them remote access rights), they then plant a key logger or trawl your drive for personal and bank info.

[carmalee]

Absolutely the right decision RG - some sort of scam to get access to your computer - well done

[karenmac60]

It's a scam ratty

http://www.microsoft....e-privacy/msname.aspx

[albaqwerty]

Son's pal had a phone call similar, I remember Co-Mantra being mentioned. They try to sell you something after chatting away to you for about an hour or so. (At their expense)

[KikiTiger]

I get this call twice a day, everyday and it makes me so mad my blod pressure must be sky high. Its cold calling, and yes indeed a scam. Another one from India again, starts "I am calling about your computer". So in future any calls from India about your computer should be ignored.

[guilliebrougues]

i have been approached by this call, it is a scam . they also make out that they are helping you out and not selling you something,this of course is not correct. after the second telephone call i got, i just said, why bother me, i don't have a computer, they soon put the phone down.

[Ratty2E]

Well he said he was from Manchester, but that was about all I could understand. I did'nt know it was a common scam but it's quite scarey to think that someone more trusting than me could be taken in and scared that their computer was going into meltdown if they did'nt do whatever it was he was going to want me to do.

[crisper]

Hiya rattyratgirl..... I was talking to a customer..(in the hair salon that i work in) this morning... she's had loads of theses calls.. she thinks from the same people, but the numbers always withheld.. so she's contacted her phone supplier, and reported it as nuisance calls... she's been sensible enough not agree to anything, but she's recently widowed, new to computers and a bit vulnerable!.. As everyone else is saying..its a scam!!

[ubasses]

There are two going round at the moment one is a scam to get into your computer the other is a genuine company, but still unscrupulous, they get you to pay by card and 'clean up your computer' most of which does not need doing. Hubbie had a call from one of his elderly customers in a panic the other day, he went flying round there and on going through everything, the errors were all what you would expect to see on any computer also they told her she had 2 profiles which she didn't need and cleared one off. This was a new profile he had just made up for her due to major problems on the original and to save her spending loads of money out, so nothing worked when they had finished. When he checked the Co out they were genuine and linked to microsoft but loads of complaints about them.

[Frank97]

I and my mother regularly get these damn calls in fact the other week I called him a con-man and told him to f---off to which he replied "OK sir thank you" before he hung up. My mother says "I shouldn't be so rude" to which I said "so would you be polite to a mugger" after all that is basically what he's trying to do.

[Frank97]

That should be my mother and I !

[Ratty2E]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I thought it all sounded a bit dodgy but thanks for the confirmations. If I get them again I shall tell them where to go straight away.

[TTG]

Ask for their email address and say you are going out but will send them your details later. Then sign them up for as many news letters as you can.

[tearinghair]

I usually say 'I'm recording this call'.

[joko]

i kept one on the line for ages, going through their instruntions...over an over...just cannot understand why it wouldnt let them access it... i was so helpful... haha

[marval]

Ask them to bear with you, and then tell them which item of clothing you are both going to take off first.

[Buenchico]

I've had the same phone call several times (including this morning!).

I just tell that that I'm a qualified computer technician anyway (false, of course!) and put the phone down.

[weecalf]

Heard of double glazing companies phoning but this is a new one .

[Giggsie]

I have had this same call a few times saying my computer is going to crash,I just replied........ that's strange I don't have a computer end of..... phone cut off ha ha ha serves him right.