Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk)
Unusual phone call from Microsoft???
Page 1 of 14 next> last>>
Jun 26, 2015 18:44:18   #
Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.
 
I just received a strange phone call from (Supposedly) a Microsoft rep/agent.
A gentleman with a distinct Indian accent called a little while ago. He told me that my computer was infected with malware and/or viruses and he was calling from MS to help me. He told me to press the Windows key and type something like eventxxx at the prompt. I told him that I was very leery about typing anything in and running any program at someone who purportedly represents Microsoft.
He then told me that he knew my unique ID number and told me to write it down. He the told me to run MSCONFIG from the prompt and type in ASSOC which would match the number he gave me beforehand and prove he was legit. While he was talking to me I looked at the reports from Malwarebytes and Norton and they showed nothing.
I then told him that I very reluctant to do anything he suggested via a "phone call from Microsoft."
I said that unless I received an official email from MS, I wasn't going to run any programs from someone who made a personal call to me.
He said goodbye and hung up.
I then decided to back check the number he called me from and the app said it was an invalid number.
Has anything similar happened to any of you?
What are your thoughts?

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 18:48:37   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
Indi wrote:
I just received a strange phone call from (Supposedly) a Microsoft rep/agent.
A gentleman with a distinct Indian accent called a little while ago. He told me that my computer was infected with malware and/or viruses and he was calling from MS to help me. He told me to press the Windows key and type something like eventxxx at the prompt. I told him that I was very leery about typing anything in and running any program at someone who purportedly represents Microsoft.
He then told me that he knew my unique ID number and told me to write it down. He the told me to run MSCONFIG from the prompt and type in ASSOC which would match the number he gave me beforehand and prove he was legit. While he was talking to me I looked at the reports from Malwarebytes and Norton and they showed nothing.
I then told him that I very reluctant to do anything he suggested via a "phone call from Microsoft."
I said that unless I received an official email from MS, I wasn't going to run any programs from someone who made a personal call to me.
He said goodbye and hung up.
I then decided to back check the number he called me from and the app said it was an invalid number.
Has anything similar happened to any of you?
What are your thoughts?
I just received a strange phone call from (Suppose... (show quote)

Don't go for it, that is a scam that's been going around for a very long time!!!!

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 18:51:17   #
CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
You did the right thing. He could have got control of your PC and who knows where it would go from there. MS or any other valid company would always tell you not to give out any info to people who call you. If you call them, it is totally different and even then be careful what you give up.

Greg

Reply
 
 
Jun 26, 2015 18:51:52   #
romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
 
Indi wrote:
I just received a strange phone call from (Supposedly) a Microsoft rep/agent.
A gentleman with a distinct Indian accent called a little while ago. He told me that my computer was infected with malware and/or viruses and he was calling from MS to help me. He told me to press the Windows key and type something like eventxxx at the prompt. I told him that I was very leery about typing anything in and running any program at someone who purportedly represents Microsoft.
He then told me that he knew my unique ID number and told me to write it down. He the told me to run MSCONFIG from the prompt and type in ASSOC which would match the number he gave me beforehand and prove he was legit. While he was talking to me I looked at the reports from Malwarebytes and Norton and they showed nothing.
I then told him that I very reluctant to do anything he suggested via a "phone call from Microsoft."
I said that unless I received an official email from MS, I wasn't going to run any programs from someone who made a personal call to me.
He said goodbye and hung up.
I then decided to back check the number he called me from and the app said it was an invalid number.
Has anything similar happened to any of you?
What are your thoughts?
I just received a strange phone call from (Suppose... (show quote)


Yep. He told me my Windows computer was infected with a virus. I told him to F off. I'm on a Mac. These calls are based on probability and gullibility. If you follow their directions they'll have full access to your machine without you knowing it.

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 18:55:45   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
Indi wrote:
I just received a strange phone call from (Supposedly) a Microsoft rep/agent.
A gentleman with a distinct Indian accent called a little while ago. He told me that my computer was infected with malware and/or viruses and he was calling from MS to help me. He told me to press the Windows key and type something like eventxxx at the prompt. I told him that I was very leery about typing anything in and running any program at someone who purportedly represents Microsoft.
He then told me that he knew my unique ID number and told me to write it down. He the told me to run MSCONFIG from the prompt and type in ASSOC which would match the number he gave me beforehand and prove he was legit. While he was talking to me I looked at the reports from Malwarebytes and Norton and they showed nothing.
I then told him that I very reluctant to do anything he suggested via a "phone call from Microsoft."
I said that unless I received an official email from MS, I wasn't going to run any programs from someone who made a personal call to me.
He said goodbye and hung up.
I then decided to back check the number he called me from and the app said it was an invalid number.
Has anything similar happened to any of you?
What are your thoughts?
I just received a strange phone call from (Suppose... (show quote)


Nope, but it was obviously a scam / fraud attempt. Scary crap!

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 18:56:02   #
mariak Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico USA
 
Indi wrote:
I just received a strange phone call from (Supposedly) a Microsoft rep/agent.
A gentleman with a distinct Indian accent called a little while ago. He told me that my computer was infected with malware and/or viruses and he was calling from MS to help me. He told me to press the Windows key and type something like eventxxx at the prompt. I told him that I was very leery about typing anything in and running any program at someone who purportedly represents Microsoft.
He then told me that he knew my unique ID number and told me to write it down. He the told me to run MSCONFIG from the prompt and type in ASSOC which would match the number he gave me beforehand and prove he was legit. While he was talking to me I looked at the reports from Malwarebytes and Norton and they showed nothing.
I then told him that I very reluctant to do anything he suggested via a "phone call from Microsoft."
I said that unless I received an official email from MS, I wasn't going to run any programs from someone who made a personal call to me.
He said goodbye and hung up.
I then decided to back check the number he called me from and the app said it was an invalid number.
Has anything similar happened to any of you?
What are your thoughts?
I just received a strange phone call from (Suppose... (show quote)


Yes, I get about 3 of those calls a week. I just say I don't have a computer and hang up. They will keep calling.
mariak

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:04:14   #
Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England
 
It happens in the UK too, we get them every week, you can be rude to them but they still call back. I have a friend who fell for their scam and gave them her Bank Card number, fortunately she got her money back from the Bank.

The Police have tracked some of these people down, prosecuted and they have been jailed, but there are a number of them operating in the UK. It has been going on over here for a few years now!

Reply
 
 
Jun 26, 2015 19:11:18   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
I usually string them along for a bit, just to f with them. It's been a few weeks since they've called.

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:15:31   #
SHUTERED Loc: SO. CAL.
 
I get them 2 or 3 times a year also. I just inform him that I charge $1000 an hour to talk to anyone about anything!

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:19:12   #
blackest Loc: Ireland
 
hi i'm from microsoft, honest
now if you just type windows and r and type cmd we can just verify your consumer licence id

if you type assoc your licence number should be
CLSID 888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062 is that correct , good its the right system.

now just type verify what does it say? Verify is off thats bad very bad you can't install any security updates at all...

Now small confession i'm not from microsoft and 888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062 is not unique to your computer either.

Sounds good doesn't it. Microsoft don't particularly care if your computers infected or not and they certainly don't ring up individuals to tell them they are infected!

That little script was based on this page

http://securelist.com/blog/incidents/33734/trying-to-unmask-the-fake-microsoft-support-scammers-17/

So when you get a call ignore it , hangup and do not follow any instructions they give you.

Hope this helps, be safe

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:20:02   #
CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver
 
Yeah, I got that call.I played with the poor soul for a while until I finally called him an A-hole and told him I was on a Mac.

How can anybody fall for this?

Reply
 
 
Jun 26, 2015 19:21:11   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
I get them every couple weeks and I just hang up. The last one I received was yesterday, so I decided to play a bit.
I told him that I did not have a computer and he said: not even a laptop? I said that I had nothing and he thanked me and hung up. Maybe I'll get dropped from one list.

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:23:33   #
Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan
 
Indi wrote:
I just received a strange phone call from (Supposedly) a Microsoft rep/agent.
A gentleman with a distinct Indian accent called a little while ago. He told me that my computer was infected with malware and/or viruses and he was calling from MS to help me. He told me to press the Windows key and type something like eventxxx at the prompt. I told him that I was very leery about typing anything in and running any program at someone who purportedly represents Microsoft.
He then told me that he knew my unique ID number and told me to write it down. He the told me to run MSCONFIG from the prompt and type in ASSOC which would match the number he gave me beforehand and prove he was legit. While he was talking to me I looked at the reports from Malwarebytes and Norton and they showed nothing.
I then told him that I very reluctant to do anything he suggested via a "phone call from Microsoft."
I said that unless I received an official email from MS, I wasn't going to run any programs from someone who made a personal call to me.
He said goodbye and hung up.
I then decided to back check the number he called me from and the app said it was an invalid number.
Has anything similar happened to any of you?
What are your thoughts?
I just received a strange phone call from (Suppose... (show quote)


Yes, I am familiar with this. It is a ridiculous scam and their whole pitch collapses under the most basic questioning. It is a trick to get access to people's computers. Infuriating.

Mike

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:27:06   #
Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.
 
CaptainC wrote:
Yeah, I got that call.I played with the poor soul for a while until I finally called him an A-hole and told him I was on a Mac.

How can anybody fall for this?


:thumbup:

Reply
Jun 26, 2015 19:31:16   #
Bill Houghton Loc: New York area
 
My wife fell into that trap ONCE. She now knows more betterest. I still get calls, but thanks to Caller Block, no more.

Reply
Page 1 of 14 next> last>>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk)
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.