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OT: I got a call telling me my computer has a virus


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I usually let my phone calls to the answering machine, because 99.9% of the time, the call is for my wife, and why take a message when I have a machine to do that.

 

Well today, I'm expecting a technician from Anlin Windows (glass windows) to call to let me know he's on his way to my house.

So I answered the phone, there was a heavily accented guy on the line, any my voice was being echoed back. To add to the confusion, he told me he was a Windows technician.

What are the odds? In reality, he was calling to tell me that he found a virus on my computer. I thought I'd have some fun, and play along. I pretended I was following his instructions, until it became too hard to understand him. Then I yelled, "There's smoke coming out of my computer, and hung up.

 

Would you believe he called back?!

This time I told him to hang on a second, brought up Spotify to play some music, put the phone in front of the speaker, and walked away.

I haven't heard back from him. very-happy.png.197c47f720636f02390cc2b0a33804da.png' alt='smiley-veryhappy'>

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I get those calls too, even though I use a MacBook.

 

I heard of another Mac user who, like you, played along. He followed the instructions and reported what was happening on the screen which, of course, was nothing like what would be happening on a Windows machine.

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biggrin.gif

 

I'd be careful about actually following any of those instructions, though, even on a Mac. If they direct you to a site, it's likely to be a malware distro site and, though the phone scam targets Windows, the site might actually be a cross-platform 'provider.' (That said, attacks on OS X have been fairly rare and because of that, fairly well publicized.)

 

 

My mom, who is a Windows user (though she'd probably have to stop and think about it if you asked) also got one of those calls. I've got her pretty well trained, though. She did call me, but started off by saying she was pretty sure it was BS. It was actually good because a) it reinforced the notion that there really are people out there trying to get you and b) it helped her own confidence level at being able to pick out something that smelled fishy.

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I had some guy from India try to pull that spoof claiming he was from Microsoft. He may have been because I was reloading Win ME on an old laptop and it wouldn't connect to the net to download updates and all. I blew him off and he kept calling back asking questions. I told him to go pound sand. If it was someone from MS its none of his flagging business what I do with my gear.

 

I don't think MS would ever call an end user. Its hard enough to get someone on the phone when you call them. What these scam artists attempt to do is get dummies to turn on remote access so they can log onto your unit and supposedly fix the computer for you. That's the same as handing your bank card to a total stranger.

 

Never, ever fall for anything like that. I suppose there are millions who do though. These kinds of people aren't dummies and do know the OS so you can be fooled by their knowledge into thinking they are legit.

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Too funny! My mom got a call just like this a few months ago, but I just happened to be there and I answered. Same thing... heavy accent claiming to be computer specialist. I didn't have as much time so wasn't as creative. I just told him, no he was not and had nothing to do with the computer there, and never to call again. He began calling me names, so I hung up. Never called back. LOL

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I feel sorry for the people who fall for that stuff.

 

Some of them just were not clued in to how dangerous this computer world can be.

 

The first Nigerian scam I got was through the US Mail. I was selling aftermarket disks for Band-in-a-Box via mail order - this was pre-Internet.

 

I knew it was a scam, but couldn't figure out how they made their money at the time (I know now). I never responded, I always figure it's best to keep a low profile and try not to anger the bad guys - they might take that as a challenge.

 

Notes

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I got my first Nigerian scam letter circa 1978 or '79, on the job (managing a warehouse for a paint company marketing division). For some reason it was addressed to my department. It was hand-typed on an old manual with a lot of bent keys -- and a hunt and peck typist and/or ridiculously worn ribbon. Lots of typos and, of course, the oddly stilted, overly formal language we've become so accustomed to. I called my boss and we figured it must be a variation on the bogus invoice scam.

 

Later I started working backward and realized that it must have been such a letter and ruse that got an acquaintance's family business involved in a bogus business venture in Africa. They actually ended up making some connections and doing some legit business, but with their scam losses, it was ultimately a negative.

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