Scam: call from microsoft agent

[killer_carlson]

Heads up on a scam. I got a phone call from someone oversaeas 000-000-0000, who claimed to be an authorized agent of microsoft. He asked for the person authorized to make changes to the computer in my home. He sarted ino a script when i cut him off and asked him questions about who he was, his company, etc.

My mom, a senior who is still a computer novice, has recieved several of these calls, so it is going through at least edmonton and calgary.

No idea what they are selling, or what they are trying to do, but just a head's up.

[cKy]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Heads up on a scam. I got a phone call from someone oversaeas 000-000-0000, who claimed to be an authorized agent of microsoft. He asked for the person authorized to make changes to the computer in my home. He sarted ino a script when i cut him off and asked him questions about who he was, his company, etc.

My mom, a senior who is still a computer novice, has recieved several of these calls, so it is going through at least edmonton and calgary.

No idea what they are selling, or what they are trying to do, but just a head's up.

They usually remote onto the machine to 'make sure it is secure' while uploading a trojan. Big time scam. It's amazing people actually fall for it.

[burn_this_city]

They install malware on the computer that lets them steal your banking and credit card info.

[Boblobla]

I LOVE these calls. The longest I have managed to keep them on the phone for was 15 minutes and by the end the guy was so confused he thanked me an hung up.

[HalifaxDrunk]

We have had this scam down here for a while. If you tell them you have either a Mac or just use a tablet they hang up.

[keratosis]

Ya, last time they called I said I was disappointed that MS had taken over tech support for Apple.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I LOVE these calls. The longest I have managed to keep them on the phone for was 15 minutes and by the end the guy was so confused he thanked me an hung up.

Once I had the guy convinced my AV program was blocking the download of the remote access software he wanted me to use. Tried 4 different things and then he tried to walk me through disabling my AV. It was hilarious, he kept asking me to right click on things in the system tray and tell him what the options were.

"It says disable surfboard, should I click that? "

" yes sir, try that one. "

"oops, I did it and the water us coming under the door. I better turn it on again"

"what do you mean, water is coming under the door? "

" The Surfboard runs our sump pump, I think I just turned it off"

"oh oh, I think you should turn that on again sir.*

'Ok, I will be right back - I think the fish are getting out. "

*screams randomly while surfing CP*

2 minutes later...

" Ok, it's all under control. What should we try now, I really need you to fix this computer, as it is very important to us. "

" Ok sir, try the next symbol, what does it look like?"

"like a pair of boobies"

"sorry sir did you say booties? "

" No, boobs , tits, that's the icon for my pornography"

"oh, I don't think we need to do anything with that one"

"yeah, I think your right, I got some good use out of it just before you called"

20 minutes later....

"Ok, sir, what's the next icon. "

" It's a small rainbow circle, it says Antivirus on it, should I choose disable? "

" oh yes"

"oh, I didn't know we wanted to do that, I knew where that one was. OK it's disabled. "

" Ok let's try to do the download again "

" Ok, which one did I use to download that again? "

" just hit the windows key and type www.teamviewer.com"

"oh, I don't have a windows key, I am using a Mac."

*click*

Had him on the line for over an hour in total, he even called me back twice.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

An hour and a half is my record. It was about a year and a half ago or so. The story is in the archives somewhere.

[4X4]

How do you guys do it? Half the time I can't even to be bothered to tell them to f off before I hang up.

[Cheese]

Loved dragging these guys on as long as I could...I think 30-45 minutes is my longest.
There are a number of you tube vids on guys stringing them along.

[Codes]

Got a call a couple of months ago. Had him going for a while before he figured out I was stringing him along. Nevertheless, he was very upset that I didn't want to "secure my computer".

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Really? I'm the only one who the scammer explained how he was going to rape them?

They're losing their touch.

[CaptainCrunch]

I tell them that they sound hot, ask em what their wearing, tell them that I'm taking off my pants and ask them if they have access to skype.

They usually hang up at that point.

[TorqueDog]

Ugh, my dad fell for that late last year.

I get this concerned phone call: "James, someone from Microsoft called and said there was a virus on our computer. Sure enough, he installed and ran a tool and it said it found a bunch of things. But then they wanted $xxx to remove it for us."

Facepalm.

[SilverGS]

lol had one a couple months ago. Kept him on for 23 minutes along with his supervisor. Someone rang the door bell and by the time I got back they were gone.

Didn't have the patience next time and just asked them why microsoft was monitoring my Linux machine.

[CaptainCrunch]

When they phone up and tell you that they're monitoring your computer, just reply back with "What a coinicidence, I was just monitoring yours, and I noticed some issues, I'm a network security expert for a living and you have some real problems, do you mind opening up your firewall so I can help you fix them."

[Hack&Lube]

I googled around to find any stories about reverse hacking or reverse social-engineering these *******. I'm surprised I haven't found any in the vein as the 411 reverse scammers who get the fraudsters to do embarrassing acts on film or spend their own money.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I googled around to find any stories about reverse hacking or reverse social-engineering these *******. I'm surprised I haven't found any in the vein as the 411 reverse scammers who get the fraudsters to do embarrassing acts on film or spend their own money.

I put them on hold once while I "went to grab my cordless and get to my computer" I then set up the mic recorder on my laptop, when I said I was ready they already hung up

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I put them on hold once while I "went to grab my cordless and get to my computer" I then set up the mic recorder on my laptop, when I said I was ready they already hung up

Keeping them on the line just doesn't seem satisfying. Being on the phone all day is just their job anyway. They need to pay or suffer in some way.

I did find an article about the FTC tracking down their providers, getting confidential information from Logmein (they usually use that or Teamviewer), and then attempting to prosecute for damages.

[PsYcNeT]

When they do this, are you screensharing the whole time?

Would be almost worth it to have a useless dummy PC or Virtual shell setup with a goatse background and just keep opening meatspin or lemonparty with a hotkey the whole time they are trying to install a trojan.