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Computer Scams

Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
edited June 2011 in All Encompassing Trip
I just received a phone call on the home phone from some Indian sounding guy claiming to be from Microsoft.
He started saying how my PC is infected with some virus and kept using computer lingo that I could not understand. He was eager to get me to turn my PC on and allow him to guide me through removing the virus.
I just told him if I am concerned I will take my PC to a technician then he was quick to end the conversation.

I heard something on the TV not long ago about scams like this, they take control of your PC and steal your passwords and information and you get charged on your credit card.

Anyone else receive phone calls like this?
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,557
    Lol that sounds so weird.

    I've never heard people actually ringing about PCs problems...how would they even know what you have on your machine.
  • threefish10threefish10 Posts: 7,392
    i remember reading about this on hoax slayer or similar.

    fairly common by the sound of it.
    condescending and sarcastic since 1980
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
    threefish10 wrote:
    i remember reading about this on hoax slayer or similar.

    fairly common by the sound of it.

    Yeah I called the computer store I bought my PC and Windows 7 from and also Optus.
    Both told me it is very common.
    The guy I spoke to at Optus told me his sister fell for it and $600 was charged to her credit card.
    He gave me a website to make the report to, it is a government site.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • pjfan31pjfan31 Posts: 7,331
    I had a nice young Nigerian Prince send me an email... He has selected me to deposit some money into my account... What are the chances?

    All I had to do was give my account number, and passwords and he will put money in my account... It's as easy as that..

    Sounds like a nice young man...
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  • 8181 Posts: 58,276
    scam city....

    not heard that one, but not suprised by it either. people suck
    81 is now off the air

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  • iamicaiamica Posts: 2,628
    You should report him to fcc.gov.
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  • 8181 Posts: 58,276
    iamica wrote:
    You should report him to fcc.gov.


    does that work in austrilia?
    81 is now off the air

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  • JukeeJukee Posts: 4,500
    I got the exact same phone call about a month ago. I went to my computer and was about to let him do his thing and then I realized it was a scam and told him I would take my computer to a techinician like you did and then he let me go quite quickly as well. Stupid annoying scammers.
    If you have nothing to lose, you have nothing to worry about.
  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,557
    How come so few people use the things between their ears...

    I'm an I.T. Technician and it's sad to see people who don't think.
  • Who PrincessWho Princess Posts: 7,305
    Brisk. wrote:
    How come so few people use the things between their ears...

    I'm an I.T. Technician and it's sad to see people who don't think.
    My husband works in IT and used to manage email servers. He was always dealing with people who'd get an email asking for their login and password and they would give it out, opening up everybody to spammers. No matter how often he warned people not to they would do it anyway.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    whoprincess wrote:
    Brisk. wrote:
    How come so few people use the things between their ears...

    I'm an I.T. Technician and it's sad to see people who don't think.
    My husband works in IT and used to manage email servers. He was always dealing with people who'd get an email asking for their login and password and they would give it out, opening up everybody to spammers. No matter how often he warned people not to they would do it anyway.

    These are the same people that will call me (I'm also an IT Tech) to change their password and then will call back 10 minutes later because they forgot what their password is.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
    I done some reading online, all these scams are originating from call centers in Kolkata, India.
    They either steal peoples phone numbers and house addresses from other companies or dial randomly.
    They can engage in bullying, threatening behaviour.

    Next time I receive a phone call from them I will pretend to be doing what they tell me whilst doing it slowly and asking them to repeat instructions over and over (playing PC stupid) in order to waste their time. I will then say "wtf all child porn is appearing on my screen you sicko, I am reporting you to the police".

    Or I might blow a whistle real hard into the phone.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,151
    You were nice about this. I would have cursed the guy out.
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  • LoulouLoulou Posts: 6,247
    I had a nice lady ring me the other day and she said "Hello M'am, because you pay your Telstra home phone bills on time, we can organise a special through our program all we need is......." I laughed my arse off and stopped her right there. I NEVER pay my phone on time so your full of crap! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
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  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
    SVRDhand13 wrote:
    You were nice about this. I would have cursed the guy out.

    I always try my best to refrain from abusing them, after all they have my phone number, they could harass me with a barrage of phone calls as revenge.
    I had him on the phone for about 2-3 mins, I was trying to keep it going so that it could be long enough to be able to trace, but it can't be.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • pjfan31pjfan31 Posts: 7,331
    Loulou wrote:
    I had a nice lady ring me the other day and she said "Hello M'am, because you pay your Telstra home phone bills on time, we can organise a special through our program all we need is......." I laughed my arse off and stopped her right there. I NEVER pay my phone on time so your full of crap! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:


    hahaha
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  • iamicaiamica Posts: 2,628
    The 81 wrote:
    iamica wrote:
    You should report him to fcc.gov.


    does that work in austrilia?

    Ah, good point. Maybe this would help instead:
    https://www.donotcall.gov.au/
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  • threefish10threefish10 Posts: 7,392
    edited June 2011
    iamica wrote:
    Ah, good point. Maybe this would help instead:
    https://www.donotcall.gov.au/


    but adding yourself to the do not call register only works for companies that are legitimate telemarketing companies. so i don't think scammers would care if you are on the register or not.
    Post edited by threefish10 on
    condescending and sarcastic since 1980
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
    The guy I spoke to a Optus told me to report it on this site: acma.gov.au

    There is also a scam going around where people are being contacted on their mobile phones which they end up paying for simply by answering.
    You can add your mobile number on the do not call register also.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • threefish10threefish10 Posts: 7,392
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    There is also a scam going around where people are being contacted on their mobile phones which they end up paying for simply by answering.


    that doesn't sound right to me at all. where did you read or hear that?
    condescending and sarcastic since 1980
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
    threefish10 wrote:
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    There is also a scam going around where people are being contacted on their mobile phones which they end up paying for simply by answering.


    that doesn't sound right to me at all. where did you read or hear that?

    My sister sent me an email, one of those warning emails floating around.
    And the guy at Optus that I spoke to knows about that one.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • threefish10threefish10 Posts: 7,392
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    threefish10 wrote:
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    There is also a scam going around where people are being contacted on their mobile phones which they end up paying for simply by answering.


    that doesn't sound right to me at all. where did you read or hear that?

    My sister sent me an email, one of those warning emails floating around.
    And the guy at Optus that I spoke to knows about that one.


    You mean this?

    http://www.hoax-slayer.com/do-not-call-register.shtml
    condescending and sarcastic since 1980
  • pjfan31pjfan31 Posts: 7,331
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    The guy I spoke to a Optus told me to report it on this site: acma.gov.au

    There is also a scam going around where people are being contacted on their mobile phones which they end up paying for simply by answering.
    You can add your mobile number on the do not call register also.


    YEah I also heard that....

    My sister's dumb arse mother-in-law (she is an absolute bitch) got a text message from one of those stupid marketing places that charge $5 a text. it was one of the ones where they ask you a question... She was so dumb that she thought it was a friend of hers. So she kept replying and racked up a massive phone bill...

    Stupid bitch...
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  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Posts: 15,165
    threefish10 wrote:

    You mean this?

    http://www.hoax-slayer.com/do-not-call-register.shtml

    I don't think it was that site but yeah that was the message in the email.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • threefish10threefish10 Posts: 7,392
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    threefish10 wrote:

    You mean this?

    http://www.hoax-slayer.com/do-not-call-register.shtml

    I don't think it was that site but yeah that was the message in the email.


    Yeah, in other words it was bullshit, a shit ton of these bogus warnings go round all the time, from the fake ons on Facebook saying don't join "parents of kids in brisbane" group cause it's run by pedophiles and they are after your photos of kids, to don't answer your phone from numbers that come up with some codeas it will put a virus on your phone.

    That website I linked to lists all the scams and email ad tells you whats genuine and what is bullshit.
    condescending and sarcastic since 1980
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