I Had A Message With Voice

[tamaris]

Saying my computer had a virus and that I had to call an o8oo number immediately. I could not get rid of the message. I turned he computer off. This morning so far all is well. Was this a scam ?

[murraymints]

most likely..run a scan...

[waterboatman]

In short. Yes. You did the right thing. It's a common one.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably an audible ad.
The o8oo number is an interesting development though.

[tamaris]

Oh thank God, I was worried this morning to turn it on, never had one before. I sort of realised when I could not get rid of it

[EDDIE51]

Yes it's a scam and a common one. No One can know your computer has a virus from a phone call!
If it happens again just disconnect the computer from the electricity supply by removing the plug and taking out the battery DO NOT turn it off first just disconnect it. When it starts up again the virus will be gone.

[murraymints]

do you have malwarebites ? run a scan just to be sure it has not left any undesirables !

[Guilbert53]

>>>DO NOT turn it off first just disconnect it. When it starts up again the virus will be gone.

What a TERRIBLE suggestion, this could crash the hard disk.

Also they did not HAVE a virus (so it cant have gone), just a scam saying the had one.

Turn the PC off as normal if you can (or press the power off button), then start it up again, run a virus scan, run a malwarebytes scan, and run CCleaner to clear out temporary files.

It will then have gone.

This "scam" will have been downloaded when you visited a web site. Hackers will have hidden the files on the web site.

You did NOT have a virus but the files that SAY you have a virus are the scam. Running CCleaner will probably get rid of them.

[tamaris]

I just turned it off at the mains as I am alone and have no one to ask that knows about these things. I know very little about these matters.

[EDDIE51]

Guilbert, if that was a danger then every time there was a power failure it would 'crash the hard drive'
Computers are made to tolerate an unexpected power loss.