Phone call computer scam??

[mncb]

My thought is that it is a scam of a new sort. Anyone hear of this one?
Got a call at 10pm Alaska time which would have put it at 3AM Florida time from someone with a heavy accent. After 3 times of asking him the compay name (and already knowing it was a phony and still not understanding what he said I asked where the caller was calling from again and was told Miami. Getting tired of my asking again he moved back to his speal and would not answer any more questions. He began trying to tell me that my computer sent his office a notification of "corupt files" and that he needed me to go to my computer so he could "help" me fix it.
I told him No, it didn't. I'm no fool.
He tried telling that my operating system had corupt files and had sent a notification & that he was calling to help me fix it. Didn't I want my computer fixed before it crashed?
Seariously? Do people fall for this? I couldn't help myself.
I told him that IF my computers operating system had a problem that required it to notify anybody that it would notify Microsoft and Microsoft would fix it in one of my automatic updates. That they wouldn't be calling me, and they sure as heck wouldn't be calling between 10PM and his 3AM hours! You are a scam! CLICK!
To top it off...looking at the # he called from, he was either in another area of Alaska or routing the calls through it because it was the Alaska area code, not Miami's!
Anyone see this scam yet? We thought that they were hoping to get us to get on line and help them gain remote access to our computer. Your thoughts?

 

[jugglerr]

Had one of these calls a few weeks ago, they said it was a virus on my computer(I run linux). I told the Inidan guy to hang on while I switched the computer on then went and made coffee, he hung up after about 10 mins then rung back later. I kept making excuses and got him to call me back 3 times before he gave up. Best way to handle these calls is to try and keep them on the phone as long as possible, you might just save someone else from being scammed.

 

[mncb]

Coffee......Thanks for the idea! Next caller? Ready

 

[Rabbit]

I had one of those calls too. About all I could understand with his heavy accent was that I have a computer virus. I told him to put me on his do not call list and hung up.

 

[mncb]

Wow, week and a half before they called back. Word for word same script. Enjoyed my coffee while he was just holding for nothing. I really enjoyed that cup of coffee!

 

[raftermancolo]

I'm in IT and work for a Telecom company. The call is a known scam throughout the industry. They are calling from India and/or the Philippines and using GoogleTalk and/or a Spoof app to mask their real number. Depending on your carrier you can block the number to stop them from calling back. There is also an FTC website to report phone scams too (listed below).
Another thing is since the time he called was after 9:00 pm Local Time, it was a violation of federal law. You can report it to your carrier and/or local authorities. If enough people report it the Feds will pick it up and pursue it.
Bottom line, is to do exactly the same thing you did. Unfortunately not enough people are PC/scam smart and 1 out of 100 do fall for the scam. That's why the keep doing it. There is always a sucker out there somewhere.

Scam reporting link: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/index.shtml

 

[Profit of Doom]

A version from "Windows support", they ask you to dig into some files for the CLSID "computer license ID", they read it to you, it matches your computer, "proving" it is your computer spewing viruses all over the internet. They then graciously offer to fix this problem if you give them remote access. They will do some mumbo jumbo, change your master password, and demand money to return control to you.
The trick here is the CLSID is actually the Windows class ID, which is identical on ALL WINDOWS COMPUTERS, so of course they know what it is.

 

[blueridge]

'New' (to me, anyway) scam - telephone call with robotic female voice telling you to immediately call 800-596-5071 or else your computer will no longer work -

DON"T CALL THAT NUMBER AND DON"T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THESE TURKEY LOSERS

Do a search on that number and you'll soon find out more about the scam'sters


Here's the gist of the call:

"...Robo scammer telling me my Microsoft Window's program is going to expire and will lock up my computer. If I don't want this to happen, I need to call the toll free number they list. Don't answer. Don't call. SCAM!...."


Once again: DO NOT EVER CALL THE NUMBER ABOVE OR ANY OTHER "POP-UP" number- they are SCAMSTER numbers

 

[imaginative]

I love these calls. I invent new curse words on the spot- typically insulting their mothers (a real hot button with these fools) their ethnicity (almost always Indian), and themselves.

The game isnt over until they hang up on me

 

[Profit of Doom]

I love these calls. I invent new curse words on the spot- typically insulting their mothers (a real hot button with these fools) their ethnicity (almost always Indian), and themselves.

The game isnt over until they hang up on me

I took one on with "is your mother proud of you? Does she present you at family gatherings with "see my son? He is so wonderful. He lies to people and extorts money from them. I am so proud of him."
Silence followed, then "do you have something else I could do?"