Mon 25 Oct 2010
Phone call from the “Technical Department of Windows”
Posted by Kim under Computing related
[210] Comments
I received an odd telephone call this morning. The caller with an Indian voice, who claimed to be from the “Technical Department of Windows”, tried to tell me that I had down loaded some malware from the internet on to my computer. When I asked how she knew this, the caller became confused, and as the line was poor I took the opportunity to hang up. Ten seconds later the phone rang again, the same caller again apologising for having been cut off and once again telling me that there was a problem with my computer. So for a second time I asked how she knew, again she became confused, but this time handed me on to a male colleague who ignored my question and got on with the script. He asked me if I could see my computer, which I said I could, next he asked if I could see the “My Computer” icon. At this point I consider playing along to see where this was going, but two things stopped me, first I wasn’t going to able to follow his instructions (as I am using Ubuntu Linux, not MS Windows), and two I had better things to do with my day. Therefore I hung up once again and have had no further calls. I tried ringing 1471 but as they were phoning from abroad the number was unavailable so I had nothing to report to Consumer Direct’s “Report a Scam” service.
This afternoon I found myself still thinking about the call, I was intrigued to know how common this sort of thing is, so I did a quick Google search and I found there is plenty hits showing that this is a regular problem. Obviously, Microsoft would never make such a phone call, you have to phone them to get support not the other way around. Either way, their advice on dealing with scams is pretty thin. The best advice dealing with these scams comes from the Digital Toast blog, which also has an entertaining collection of videos of people winding up the scammers. Also, the Guardian technology editor, Charles Arthur, makes some interesting comments about who might be behind these scams. If you have received a call recently, maybe you would like to leave a comment.
Oh and just is case you were wondering if Microsoft knows about this scam, well yes they were told about it in March 2010, it is just that they can’t be bothered to do anything about it…
Addendum: It would appear that Microsoft have finally woken up and realised there is a problem and this is their official advice. Please note that the scammers are now also claiming to be from: Windows Service Centre, Windows Help Desk, Microsoft Tech Support, Microsoft Support, Windows Technical Care, Windows Technical Department Support Group or Microsoft Research and Development Team (Microsoft R & D Team). So please take care.
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I received one yesterday (13.6.2013), obviously a spate of them at the moment. Very heavy Indian accent and I could barely understand him. I am always very suspicious with anything like this and told him I would not co-operate. I told him to email me and I would show my son who is in IT. The email said it was from Windows help desk and this is the contents:
Hi mam,
This the windows help desk informing you that the laptop that you are using with the computer license I.d 888CDA60-FCOA-11CF-8FOF-00CC4FD7D062 has been generating error and warming reports to the Microsoft servers.
Our Technician tried you calling and he will help you out by guiding on the phone call to show all the problems, because this problem need to be fixed urgently otherwise it will damage the operating system of yours.
Regards
Ethane Parker
He called me back half hour later (yes VERY persistant!), I told him I would not deal with him until I had spoken with my son. He said he would call back tomorrow, I told him not to bother. Thank you all for your comments which confirm my suspicions. I will now put this on Facebook and be extrememly rude to him if he calls today!!
I just received a call from Mike Roger with Windows Tech Support telling me my computer has been sending in error reports which means I have a trojan virus. He asked me to go to the start button on my computer. At that time I told him I couldn’t reach my computer from this phone. He then wanted my cell number. I asked for his number. He told me I must call him back it is very important so that no one gets into my computer and steals my passwords etc. Very heavy indian accent and supposed phone number 845-666-1019 no extension, but windows id number 4042. I assume a scammer!
Thanks to you all. In my 60′s not very computer literate and received the very same phone call. Asked him to ring back later which gave me time to check and find this page. This is one computer he won’t be getting into!
I received a call this evening from PC Richards “Tech Support” asking me about the computer I recently purchased. He was Indian with a heavy thick accent too. He claimed my computer has malware and viruses and he was going to guide me through a process to get rid of them. I questioned him further and he stated that he was with Microsoft wondow support. So I said OH your from Microsoft too? and he said yes. to which I asked him why he said he was from pc richards and he was annoyed with me and very persistant and almost rude pushy about it. I kep telling him i was not interested cuz it was a scam and he was going to get into my computer and he said he was going to show me some tricks that no one knows about to get rid of the ‘new’ viruses that system would never recognize. After going back and forth and he was telling me to go to my computer now..I said no and he was clearly getting nowhere. He became even more persistant..I told him no and hung up on him. He kept going back and forth telling me he was from pc richards then microsoft windows. He clearly did not have my name or personal information AND the number he called from was a skype number.. 478 001 5580. BEWARE! They are persistant, you cn’t hardly understand him with a very very thick indian accent and borderline rude even.
Received a call from Windows Tech Dept. on Fri. the 24th of May. Dumb me let them on my computer and 1 hr. after they were finished my credit card co. called about a charge that was made that looked suspicious and of course it was. We cancelled the card so fortunately no harm was done. Now tonight the 30th, I got another call from them. This time I got the name of the guy, phone number to call him back and the # that the call came in on. If anyone is investigating and need the number I would be happy to give it to you.
I just received a phone call from them a few minutes ago. I played dumb and told them they would have to wait and talk to my son. They supposedly are calling back later this evening. Thanks for all the comments above.