Strange solicitation

Just had a call from someone with a strong Indian accent. He claimed to be calling from Microsoft support and needed to fix a security issue with my computer. He wanted me to open my computer and allow him to access it in order to fix the issue. I told him I thought he was lying and I would never allow anyone this permission. He grew rather aggressive and rude before I hung up. His number was not traceable and showed up as am incomplete number from out of my area.
Anyone else have a similar experience and what more can I do?

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5 replies	Author	Time	Post
Strange solicitation (Original post)	randr	Nov 2012	OP
It is a well known scam.	dixiegrrrrl	Nov 2012	#1
Tell him you work for the International Technology Services for the Federal Government and	RC	Nov 2012	#3
That's the latest big scam going	RoccoR5955	Nov 2012	#2
Got one of those calls once. I told him I was running Linux	hobbit709	Nov 2012	#4
Once again--thanx to all	randr	Nov 2012	#5

Response to randr (Original post)

Tue Nov 27, 2012, 06:56 PM

dixiegrrrrl (31,413 posts)

1. It is a well known scam.

"The scam always starts the same way: the phone rings at someone's home, and the caller – usually with an Indian accent – asks for the householder, quoting their name and address before saying "I'm calling from Microsoft. We've had a report from your internet service provider of serious virus problems from your computer."

They go on to warn that the computer will become unusable if the matter is not resolved. The puzzled householder is then directed to their computer, and asked to open a program called "Windows Event Viewer". Its contents are, to the average user, worrying as they look like a long list of errors, some labelled "critical". "Yes, that's it," says the caller. "Now let me guide you through the steps to fixing it."

The computer owner is directed to a website and told to download a program that hands over remote control of the computer, and the caller "installs" various "fixes" for the problem. And then it's time to pay a fee: as much as £185 for a "subscription" to the "preventative service"."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/mar/23/hoax-microsoft-windows-security-calls

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Response to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #1)

Wed Nov 28, 2012, 12:07 AM

RC (21,864 posts)

3. Tell him you work for the International Technology Services for the Federal Government and

that there are no viruses on any of your computers. See what his response is before hanging up.

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Response to randr (Original post)

Tue Nov 27, 2012, 11:28 PM

RoccoR5955 (6,541 posts)

2. That's the latest big scam going

Tell him you have a Mac, and it has no problems.

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Response to randr (Original post)

Wed Nov 28, 2012, 09:19 AM

hobbit709 (26,464 posts)

4. Got one of those calls once. I told him I was running Linux

"Click"

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Response to randr (Original post)

Wed Nov 28, 2012, 04:24 PM

randr (4,698 posts)

5. Once again--thanx to all

Now another computer related problem.
All of a sudden my printer, HP Photosmart Premium is stalling. Prints 3/4 of page stops for about a minute and then prints the rest.
WTF?

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