I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

It was from a 'Microsoft Windows' expert advising me that my computer was infected and running slow and was about to crash, and would I like the fix that he could provide? Spoke good English with an Indian accent. Err, no thanks. Is this kind of thing common?

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

SCAM!

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Quite.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Not sure how common it is, but it does happen, and is 100% Scam.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

When I get calls from numbers I don't recognize on caller ID or it says they're International I screen them with the answerphone, usually they ring off without leaving a message. If there is a UK number I Google it, several websites usually have lots of reports for common Scam numbers.

Had several calls recently from an East Grinstead code, reports on the web said this was a Microsoft scammer so next time I had a call from this number I replied & chatted to the Indian sounding guy for a few minutes then told him the number was being monitored by Hampshire Fraud Squad due to nuisance calls he rang off and haven't had any more since! :-)

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Next time he rings tell him you're running Linux!

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

I genuinely would one of these callers up.

Let him rabbit on and then revealed I don't even own a Windows device as have 3 Macs in the house.

He hung up once rumbled.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

I just say that's interesting, because I am in charge of Microsoft UK support (I'm not), and could I speak to his line manager, please - the call is usually quickly terminated...

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Like you I just let rabbit then I tell them that I do not have a computer.


He hangs up.!

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I just hung up.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Same here. I get several calls a day from unknown/spoofed numbers, international or withheld and they all get to hear the answer machine.

Just think: Even if they had your IP how would they get your phone number from that?

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

We near enough hang up straight away as my partner susses them out pretty quickly.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

That spoils all the fun.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

I just hang up. Winding them up won't stop them trying you or someone else in future so is a waste of your own time.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

I quite enjoy winding them up.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

...and whilst your wasting their time for your own entertainment, they are leaving others (who may be taken in) alone.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

they happen all the time first thing i tell friends and family when i set up machines is if any one calls supposedly about your computer hang up. One day when i am board i may set up a spare old laptop to send something nasty to the one they try to connect with when i get a call, though I would have to turn off my call guardian first lol

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

You know it's a scam when they tell you they're calling from "Windows". Not even Microsoft, but "Windows".

Here's how they make money.

There are many small IT companies in India that sell antivirus software. In order to increase their sales, some of those companies pay people to dial random numbers in English speaking countries and then read them a script, which tries to convince the person being called that they have a virus. Since a lot of people don't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to computers, this is fairly effective. Once they've "demonstrated" to the user that there is a virus on their computer, according to their predefined set of steps (which involves them logging in remotely to your computer) they either install a fake virus or point out normal programs in your system that might look suspicious to someone who doesn't normally know what it is - and then they offer to solve the "problem" for you by signing you up to their antivirus solution.

Sometimes they install legit antivirus software, sometimes they don't - depends who calls you.

Ironically, if you give many of them access to a computer that is not running Windows, they don't know their own arses from their own elbows, and will will follow their script anyway and get confused, continuing to assume that it is Windows. Normally, they will realize something is wrong but not know what, and continue to bluff their way through to try to make the sale anyway.

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Exactly

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Another scam is they get access to your PC, encrypt/password the SAM database and then request payment to release it. The patter is more on the lines of illustrating problems that aren't (normal lines in logs that look bad but really are nothing), offering to help, showing there is now a real problem and charging to fix it.

There are some brilliant YouTube videos of people getting their own back on these including using virtual machines, key loggers and the like. One of the best has someone talking to obviously a new employee, getting them to set a number of BIOS passwords on their machine, rebooting and hearing the moan of despair as they suddenly realise their PC is now locked out completely. (Well to them anyway! I'm sure their IT folks can reset BIOS).

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

We used to get this a lot in our neighbourhood. But I think they got fed up with people telling them to get lost or just hanging up. Most annoying

Re: I've just received a call from Microsoft
 

Ever since we bought trucall phones life has been so boring.