Alert: PC Scam by phone

[Zeuhl]

Hi All,

Apologies if you know this one - but it's a new one on me!

Wednesday; Mrs Zeuhl took a call at home (on our ex directory number!?!) from someone who sounded like they could be calling from India.

He said he was a Microsoft Engineer, they'd received a report that our broadband was slow and if she sat at the computer he would walk her through a process to fix it and speed up our system
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She declined, asked him to call back when i was there next morning and he said he would.

That evening we reasoned; Microsoft Engineers don't call domestic users, certainly not about broadband and no, I hadn't reported it as I think our connection is slow in the same way 95% of the population do.

He rang back yesterday afternoon, Mrs Zeuhl asked him 3 questions; Who are you? Who do you work for? What is the purpose of the call?

He immediately hung up.

At best, he may have been selling some overpriced and suspect system-maintenance software but worst still, I imagine, with the right skills, they could walk someone through a process that gives them access to sensitive information on their PC in seconds and installs any sort of spyware.

So beware and it might be worth warning any PC users you know and think might be vulnerable.
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[marval]

Thank you for the warning

[Bobbisox]

A friend of ours has had the same call Zeuhl so he said to the caller
Ok email me and I will let you know!!!
needless to say the phone went,,dead!

[ABerrant]

http://www.guardian.c...am-india-call-centres

[Zeuhl]

Thanks ABerrant

will print out to show Mrs Zeuhl and hopefully minimise her persecution complex :-)
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[Zeuhl]

We have Doc - our phone number :-)
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[karenmac60]

http://www.microsoft..../phishing/Msname.aspx

[boxtops]

Thanks zheul - I;ve seen this scam reported several times in different places, each time it's someone allegedly from Microsoft saying that they have noticed that the computer's not running well. The end result is usually that they want to sell you something to clear up your computer - which it doesn't need anyway - and ask you for card details so they can do it remotely. Well done Mrs Z for sending them away.

[bushbaby_de]

I'm ex directory because I have a public job and I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry being able to call me. It also lists your address, and similarly I don't want just anyone knowing where I live. Nothing to hide, just want my privacy!

[boxtops]

Me too bushbaby, I choose who I give my number to.

[Bobbisox]

doc are you a peoples person or just a nosy little bugger...LOL
you want to see peoples pics on here,, I've obliged..lol
but yer not getting me phone number,,ha-ha

[mrs.chappie]

I had a similar call a few weeks ago. I too was suspicious. The bu88er got nowt off me.

[Bobbisox]

hello doc:0
a lot of people may have to use this facility because of many reasons, we don't know

[Bobbisox]

now c'mon have you ever come across a geordie snob?
PMSL
and I am ex directory

[boxtops]

I wouldn't have put them to the back of the queue myself, I like things in writing, covers both of us - been caught too often with people making promises or statements over the phone. I always want things confirmed in writing even if it's only an email (which is a legal document these days).

[boxtops]

It's certainly not snobbery doc, many women leaving on their own wouldn't countenance having their number in a public phone book - I didn't and still wouldn't.