Beware checkmypconline.com SCAM

I've just had the boys from Bangalore on the phone, telling me they're from Microsoft and offering to clear malware from my PC.

I strung them along for 15 minutes ... I have to admit, "John" was very patient as I failed to find the start button on my desktop (I managed not to tell him it's an iMac) and failed to download and run the .exe file from his scammer 'help' website.

I eventually came clean, told him I knew what he was up to and tried to appeal to his conscience. He signed off, insisting he really is a MS CSE, but I got a follow up call a minute later in which someone asked, in heavily accented English, if I was the mother etc a-hole. Except without the obfuscation. So I think I may have pricked his conscience, just a wee little bit.

Anyway, mainly in the hope that this thread pops up in a google search and helps someone else avoid the unpleasantness that would surely have ensued had that .exe file been capable of running on my system ... Don't download anything from checkmypconline.com ... It is run by scammers. Beware.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Chris

I've just had the boys from Bangalore on the phone, telling me they're from Microsoft and offering to clear malware from my PC.

I strung them along for 15 minutes ... I have to admit, "John" was very patient as I failed to find the start button on my desktop (I managed not to tell him it's an iMac) and failed to download and run the .exe file from his scammer 'help' website.

I eventually came clean, told him I knew what he was up to and tried to appeal to his conscience. He signed off, insisting he really is a MS CSE, but I got a follow up call a minute later in which someone asked, in heavily accented English, if I was the mother etc a-hole. Except without the obfuscation. So I think I may have pricked his conscience, just a wee little bit.

Anyway, mainly in the hope that this thread pops up in a google search and helps someone else avoid the unpleasantness that would surely have ensued had that .exe file been capable of running on my system ... Don't download anything from checkmypconline.com ... It is run by scammers. Beware.

I love playing them along as well. Might try and record it next time

[Russ]

Try their website, there's even an 0800 number you can call them on

[thenry]

These people need help or a nice kick in.

[MadGamer]

There must be some organisation that these people can be reported to and investigated by surely

My OH gives them a wrong name and generally tries to find out a bit more about them.

I'm more inclined to be straight forward.I put the phone down and leave it to the answer phone.

[Kymmy]

As with the many threads on the same subject (normally in the Security/Virus forum) I'll state again that there is a central point to report these scammers to and that is http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/

Originally Posted by Kymmy

As with the many threads on the same subject (normally in the Security/Virus forum) I'll state again that there is a central point to report these scammers to and that is http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/

What's the point?They will just move on and we get it again. The reason why they keep doing it is because people fall for it..And I know they do because I've actually had a friend phone me when her husband was talking on the phone to them and luckily I got them to hang up before they fell for it.

[Kymmy]

You might as well then leave your front door open and put up a large sign saying "All valuables free to any thieve who wants them"

The action fraud site will collate as much evidence as possible which the police may use to prosecute. Just look at the fraud program on share certificates that was on last friday and tonight.

Currently it's the only way forward with a hope of action being taken

[djmagnifique]

All this is is an evolution of the mail scams (be it email or snail mail), where anyone who falls for it gets put on a 'suckers' list so the get called back a few months later. Bes advice is to educate the vunrable people about this to reduce it as it will never be stamped out.

Originally Posted by Kymmy

You might as well then leave your front door open and put up a large sign saying "All valuables free to any thieve who wants them"

The action fraud site will collate as much evidence as possible which the police may use to prosecute. Just look at the fraud program on share certificates that was on last friday and tonight.

Currently it's the only way forward with a hope of action being taken

I'm not the one who needs the lecture..it's the gullible that need the education.

Just how many scammers have been prosecuted BTW after being reported.I bet the number is minute.As for the telephone scam where does one start?Number withheld and I don't see how there can be any point in reporting it even if you do catch the name uttered in a thick Asian accented English.

[qasdfdsaq]

Minute is better than none.

[Kymmy]

Also some action is better than none..

It's very hard to trace these guys down especially if the calls are coming from outside of Europe.. a complete log of the calls is a start and that helps if everyone reports them. As much info as possible passed to the action fraud group means more info for the police to chase up international arrest warrants that are hard to get at the best of times.

No matter how little or useless you think your info is it will help and all it takes is a simple email/phonecall or webform.

[Anonymouse]

My advice, as always: don't browse the Internet with an Administrator account - one of these days they'll start trying to install this crap without people's say-so, and not running an Admin account will stop 'em in their tracks.

And it's easier to manage with Win7 - use a "normal" account for day to day stuff, and set up an admin account for installing/changing stuff; with Win7 you don't have to log off and on - you just get a pop-up window asking for your Admin account.