Here's another form of Internet fraud that combines a variety of other common scams-social engineering, fake security software, and phishing. Cybercriminals have started calling people on the telephone, claiming to be from Microsoft, and offering to help solve their computer problems. Once cybercriminals have gained a victim's trust, they can do one or more of the following: Trick people into installing malicious software on their computer. Take control of a victim's computer remotely and adjust settings in order to leave the computer vulnerable. Request credit card information so that cybercriminals can bill for the phony services. Microsoft will not make unsolicited phone calls to help you with your computer. If you receive a phone call like this, hang up. If you think you might be a victim of fraud, you can report it. For more information, see What to do if you've responded to a phishing scam. For more information about how to recognize a phishing scam, see Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently.
Here's another form of Internet fraud that combines a variety of other common scams-social engineering, fake security software, and phishing.
Cybercriminals have started calling people on the telephone, claiming to be from Microsoft, and offering to help solve their computer problems. Once cybercriminals have gained a victim's trust, they can do one or more of the following:
Microsoft will not make unsolicited phone calls to help you with your computer. If you receive a phone call like this, hang up.
If you think you might be a victim of fraud, you can report it. For more information, see What to do if you've responded to a phishing scam.
For more information about how to recognize a phishing scam, see Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently.
Had a phone call from an Indian man tonight saying that i had errors and i had not responded, i am not up with scams, anyway he show me some files and said oh dear that's not good, sounded so convincing, but i keep asking him why wouldn,t bigpond contact me, he got shitty when i question him, and when i said you could be anyone ripping me off, he said he would not do that to the company microsoft, anyway i went right through to the login www.logmein 123, then i asked him does this give you total access to my computer and he said my technicaian will have, so then i said no, give me ID, then i will give you access and hanged up. lesson learnt, first scam for me.
Not all phone numbers are coming from the White Pages. One of our clients has only had a phone number in Australia for 6 weeks. Another client received a phony call immediately after a support call from a major ISP.
It continues to look like something I have never seen before, with some ODD letter, or something.
Here is a copy:
Microsoft does not send emails to everyone asking them to update Internet Explorer.
This sounds like a scam. Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently:
www.microsoft.com/.../msname.aspx
Please read: Don’t fall for phony phone tech support:
blogs.msdn.com/.../don-t-fall-for-phony-phone-tech-support.aspx
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com/contactus
I have had the same problem in the last week with an Indian male claiming to be from microsoft saying that he is receiving error messages about my computer and that i have a Trojan virus which normal Anti virus soft ware cannot detect!?!?! He wanted me to log onto www.teamviewer.com so he could access my computer and to 'show me the virus'! lol I googled it as i was talking to him and i found this website. The scary thing was he knew my full address and post code and name!! I hung up afterwards but he is still trying to contact me!
He also gave me another website to look at to 'verify' who he was!? www.onlinepcmaster.co.uk.
I'm a little concerned. I got scammed by these people in January. Then heard nothing more until 2 days ago, when they claimed that I had been scammed and that the Indian Govt. was going to pay it back. They said they were from Australian Govt. Fraud. They told me they needed information from me etc. So I hung up. Then tonight I get a call from them saying that they never recieved my payment from January. Which I know they did coz its on my account. But I was just wondering if anyone can tell me if I need to do something to fix my computer, given that I allowed remote access to it. Are they still able to hack it??
Please help. This scam is happening all over the world.
I received a phone call from a "rep" from microsoft asking me how I enjoyed the Windows 7 on my new computer. He also said that I was having some connectivity issues and that he wanted to help me. I told him I was busy, but he said it would only take about 10 minutes. I told him, no I was busy, he wanted to call me back later that evening, I told him no, I was not getting on my computer later. I told him to call me back the next day at the same time and we could complete the updates. That night, I sent an email to microsoft and they informed me that they would never contact me via the phone, unless I asked for a call. Four days later, still no call. It was a bad connection, lots of static in the line, he had an accent, I could not distinguish because of the static
I have just been rung up by someone claiming to be a Windows Technician who said that I have major corrupted files and he wanted me to turn on my computer so he could fix it. He said he knew that I was operating a Windows system and that my computer would crash if I didn't get him to fix it. He confirmed my name and address. I did speak to this person for some time and I told him that I didn't believe him and he gave me this phone no 02 8001 5005 for me to check to confirm that he was legitimate claiming to be from Sydney - he had an Indian accent. I now realise it was a scam but it was quite disconcerting at the time. I hope Microsoft can stop these disgusting people for good!!!!!
I have had two more calls which I have promptly hung up on. It is so scary. I wish he would just go away!!!!
Did not fall for the scam,microsoft has never called me before so why now ,the call isfrom VA.8044669633,so don't get taken.
Hi
On the morning of Thursday, April 28th I received a call from a person claiming to be Microsoft Windows Services Department. They said so much junk had been downloaded onto my computer it would crash immediately without intervention from their technician. I gave remote control to their technician who worked on my computer for half an hour. II paid $60 for this service and for another year to be serviced by them if I had more problems.
Afterwards I spoke to a friend who said Microsoft never contacts people. So I phoned Microsoft and talked to an employee who said this must have been a hacker. I immediately cancelled my Master card and did a full scan on my computer which had actually speeded up and had no problems whatsoever. I then saw I had an e-mail from a billing company congratulating me on my $60 purchase so I contacted them and explained the full story. Then I saw on their e-mail that the website of the company who called me is www.techpccure.com. They said they act on behalf of approximately 100,000 companies but would investigate and give me a refund if my story proved true. The following morning (today April 29th) I got another call from the same company. I also got the phone number from them which is 203-411-0477. I told the girl who called that I had contacted Microsoft and the employee had told me they are hackers. She asked if I got the ID number of the employee and at that point I asked her what her Microsoft employee ID number is and she hung up.
I have reported this verbally to Microsoft customer service and she gave me this e-mail address to report to as wel. Can you let me know what you find out about this company.
Thanks
Elizabeth Ginger
I recieved a phone call from a individual that told me he was from microsoft and did not show ohone number on phone He told me I hade infected computer and would fix it for me. I ask him if he worked for microsoft and he said yes. I told him my pc was clean and he said the viruses he was refering to could not be seen..I said If thats the case i will go purchase windows 7 and a new H D and nothing will survive then.. he said will not fix it ..I hung up on him as i know for a fact it would there would be no place to hide.. I thought i should report this to You as he was useing your name..
My silver surfer mother keeps being bothered by these callers - every week or so - they say they have been subcontracted by microsoft to address a serious systems problem. She sensibly has ignored them, but they are very insistent that her whole hard drive will be corrupted without their help and she is now scared to use the computer at all! These guys are really bothering innocent folks! WATCH OUT EVERYONE!
I did receive a phone call telling me they were from Microsoft and that Microsoft updates were not being installed correctly on my computer and that the updates were coming back and they had gotten from my ip address they had contacted my Internet service provider to get my phone number and that there were some serious problems with my computer security and ask to be able to look at my computer to fix these issues. Unfortunately, I fell for it and they immediately said there were serious problems with my computer which would cause the computer to crash if I did not purchase this security package that was not a division of Microsoft. At this point I declined and hung up. What should I do? Is it possible that they did copy something malicious, or copied files? If so what should I di?
just recieved this call at 4 pm may 2 2011.. the number that came over was 91618.. they had a overseas voice.. i told him i didnt understand a word he was saying and i needed someone who spoke clear english and he hung up... figures they will try anything
i am receiving countless calls every day from some Indian sounding man telling me they are Microsoft technical department at least i think so the English is so bad i believe this is an attempt at fraud is it and to whom should i report it and apart for putting down the phone what else can i do i have subscribed to the bt preference call service but it appears not to work help Neil Murphy herne bay England