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Windows Technical Support - Scam?

  1. #1
    Forum Guru MarvinP's Avatar
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    Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    I've been getting a phone call every week or two that wants me to do this:

    1. Are you at your at your computer?
    2. Are you the owner of your computer?
    3. Click on Windows Key + R to bring up the Dos Run Dialog.
    4. Type EventVwr and press OK.
    5. Branch to Event Viewer (Local) -> Custom Views -> Administrative Events.
    6. See how many problems your computer has...
    7. We will fix them if you connect to our servers and we remote control your maching.

    At about this time - I refuse to let them connect to my machine. They get mad and hang up.

    I feel, by taking up there time, I'm saving some other poor soul from being abused by these people.

    I got a website from them today, that is supposed to prove they are legitimate. It is at:
    http://www.inextsupport.com/About-us.html

    I used to work at Microsoft and did Technical Support. I know that, in the USA, telling someone you are Windows (Microsoft implied) Technical Support is simply wrong.

    Do you get similar random calls. How do we stop this type of scam from happing? Is this really a scam?
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    Forum Expert shg's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Complete scam: http://www.computerworld.com/article...consumers.html

    I've taken to telling them I don't own a compooter. Don't even know what them dern things are ...
    Entia non sunt multiplicanda sine necessitate

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    THis is a great place to post this kind of thing, so that all members are made aware of the problem, thanks for the heads-up guys
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    Forum Guru MarvinP's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    The call I got a few weeks ago got abusive. I asked if they knew my address and they told me what it was.

    They had my Name, Address and Phone number. That was more disturbing than a simple random phone call.

    Maybe I'll start saying I don't own one of those confuters things either.

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    wow, that IS disturbing

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    This is one of the reasons I've gone back to using cash only, no plastic!

    Although, that still doesn't stop someone from hacking into a company that has all my personal info and stealing it, but it will help lessen the chances of my bank account disappearing!
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    I get them occasionally, though I haven't had one recently. My response tends to vary depending on what mood I'm in and how much time I feel like wasting ... mine and theirs. Sometimes I act dumb and awestruck at how they know there is a problem with my computer and let them walk me through the diagnostic process, tripping up at several points to a) drag it out and b) demonstrate how computer illiterate I am. Sometimes, I just sit the phone near a TV and let them chat to it for a while before they get fed up and hang up. Once I told one of them to "f... off and die" and then put the phone down (not in such a good mood that day). They had the nerve to phone back to complain about my verbal abuse. My wife picked it up and, having berated them for their fraudulent and criminal activity, told them pretty much the same thing. She can be bad tempered, trust me, I know

    I guess, if you know, it's not that big an issue. The problem is that some people take it as gospel and do as they are told.


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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    If in USA, see:
    https://www.nomorobo.com/

    I've been using it for 4 weeks now (att u-verse land line). I chose the option to block all calls except my contact list (15 max). All spam/bot calls have been stopped.
    Ben Van Johnson

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Interesting that this is an article in the Steamboat Pilot today.

    http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2...-services-sca/

    BTW: The snow is outstanding. More on the way for christmas day.
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Someone I know got 1 of these calls. They played dumb, and followed the instructions, even going so far as to make sure the key strokes could be heard over the phone. They said that what was supposed to be happening, wasnt happening, there was nothing on their screen. The hacker went through all the steps a few more times with the same result.

    Finally, they said to the hacker...oh, by the way, does the PC need to be on for this to work? The hacker just hung up LOL
    Last edited by FDibbins; 12-24-2014 at 01:32 AM.

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    A months ago, I took a different approach. I wanted to explain to the caller that they were breaking USA laws and might be in trouble for their actions. I wanted them to know that they might be liable for what they were doing. He finally hung up when I suggested that the longer he stayed on the line the easier it was to get his IP address and track him down.

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    I got one of those calls last year, I kept them on the line for quite a long time and enjoyed stringing them along with "oohs" and "aahs" as they led me through more and more levels of discovery. Fun for me...
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    If I read this attached PDF correctly, Microsoft may be going after these guys.

    http://mscorp.blob.core.windows.net/...aint-FINAL.pdf

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Here is a similar article from TechRepublic. MS has filed suit.

    http://www.techrepublic.com/article/...tag=TREe331754

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    get at least one a fortnight,i just talk and talk and talk, one even threatened my that i was breaking the law by not complying with ms eula and the police would be "through your door" as soon has they had resolved my ip and found my location. tossers. my record is about 40 mins though. they do get rather upset
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    I must lead a charmed life - or,maybe it's because I don't answer my phone??
    If I've helped you, please consider adding to my reputation - just click on the liitle star at the left.

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Quote Originally Posted by martindwilson View Post
    tossers
    Hmmm...

    Is that the same as this?

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Think of in terms of one who "tosses oneself off", maybe?

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    tony nope more this!
    here

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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    The last one I received, I asked which "Windows Computer" had the issue, because I have 4. The ESL idiot kept just repeating that my "Windows Computer" had a serious problem...and I kept asking him which one! He kept repeating...and I kept asking. After around 5 cycles he hung up.
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Ron - and they wonder why you are called cheeky?

  22. #22
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    i like they way they and try to show you that they know its your computer by trying to get you to find this
    ZFSendToTarget=CLSID{888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062} whick is probably on most pc and convince you its your unique id,

  23. #23
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    Re: Windows Technical Support - Scam?

    Quote Originally Posted by martindwilson View Post
    tony nope more this!
    here
    Got it!

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