Hello again money friends, do you think this is a scam?
| Related: | Electronics & Computing•Computers•Laptops & Netbooks |
I was phoned early this morning just after 8.00am from 'somewhere overseas'by a man with an Asian accent saying he would help me get rid of all my unwanted Emails.
I suppose he wanted me to turn the computer on and was going to talk me through some sort of process.
I said it was very early in the morning and I had other priorities at that time and what had my computer got to do with him.
He bumbled on in his fairly unintelligible accent so much so that I hung up on him.
As I don't get anymore unwanted emails or spam than anyone else, I wondered why this would be of concern to anybody else.
So friends what do you think, has anyone else had a call like this?
Responses (18)
You did the right thing, Lillie.
This particular call may or may not have been a scam, but I believe in 'better safe than sorry' when it comes to unsolicited phone calls or emails.
Lillie - it is a scam - or rather he is trying to sell you something. No one would just call you out of the blue to help you sort out your computer would they? It is related to the calls where an Indian 'gentleman' says that he is from Microsoft and that your computer is showing error messages. He then talks you through a process which does indeed result in the computer showing a string of numbers which he claims is proof of the problem and that you need to buy some software from him to solve it.
Don't believe a word of it.
Phew thank you for that Sidesalad, I thought it sounded fishy. I'm always vague when it comes to such matters but as Feline says 'better be safe than sorry' that's why I hung up.
Always remember where there's a scheme there's a schemer and at the end of the day emails are easily deleted or blocked.
Thanks Noddy, yes you're quite right.
That's what I do and shall carry on doing so.
Just read this from moneywise and which is a SCAM also so will just give a shortened version.
It say's WATCH OUT FOR THE 'SAD NEWS' SCAM
It is supposed to be from an old friend who has been mugged on his holidays leaving him with no money, cards, etc. he starts the letter by asking How are you? etc. etc.
They are having problems paying their hotel bill because they haven't any money.
The letter ends with:-
I really need your financial help.
The recipient of this letter was suspicious and it was found his
account had been hacked into and no friend had asked for help.
Hope this will help someone if they receive the email in the next few week's.
Thanks for that Sabre, honestly some people will go to any lengths just to gain an easy quid.
I don't know those folk sleep at night.
LILLIE, there is very little doubt that the call is a scam. You have not approached anyone for help with unwanted emails so therefore the call was unsolicited. Don not give these callers the time of day, be polite if you like but that could end up taking a long time - hanging up sounds the best option AND never ever tell them ANYTHING (which of course you wouldn't, but some people might inadvertantly give some snippets of personal info away).
The caller was not remotely concerned with your unwanted emails, what he wants to do is to get inside your computer (via the process he will have you do) and then he has access to passwords and all your personal info, in turn he gets access to your identity and your entire life (bank, bills, etc).
Thanks Wendi, yes I was brief and to the point.
I don't like to be rude but when the occasion demands then hold me back...
Wow - thanks for the warning. This is awful.
No but yes it can only be a scam if he wanted to get inside your computer.
Thanks CS, I don't like just anybody getting near my insides, computer that is..:)
Yep, sounds like a scam to me!
Thanks G-Man, awful isn't it.
I almost feel violated, glad I'm not the gullible kind.
Definitely a scam, Lillie, I've had several of these phone calls in the last couple of weeks. If you say 'No, thankyou, because it's obviously a scam and I don't do scams'...they hang up on you pronto!
If I'm in the mood and I've got plenty of time i like to see how long i can keep these people hanging on for..my records just over an hour.............
Thanks Fruity, should they deign to call again then I shall be more than prepared...cheeky wotsits.
Really Sabre? I like to draw it out.. :)
I am ex-directory but still suffer the wraths of canvassing calls, mostly from known companies like British Gas or Halifax banking. Frankly, and while your was clearly an invasion of privacy and security, I have three ways that I deal with these:
(1) I simply put the phone down although there are always repetitive calls thereafter.
(2) Since they rung me and I have no proof of caller origin, I run them through 'security clearance' as formal organisations always do. I ask them for the second letter of their contact password, the middle name of their father and their date of birth. They don't expect that.
(3) When I am truly cautious about the origin of the call, I announce that the call has been intercepted by British Telecom investigation and ask them for their full contact number, full name and the purpose of their call. That normally sends them away.
Frankly I don't pay for my telephone line to receive unauthorised canvassing and view it very much as an intrusion of privacy, even harrassment. But if 'Miss DD' rang me up and asked me how was my day, I might just give her one, or two, minutes ......... :-)
Thank you dear Snoopy, back to your wonderfully informative self I'm pleased to see.
As for Miss DD would one or two minutes be enough??
They don't call me 'Miniature Man' for nothing Lillie ... One minute you're in, one minute you're out .....
'Leave her hanging' .... that could be a heavy experience Lillie!
LOL Snoopy-security details! Like that one and will use it next time!! Welcome back from the wilderness.
It definitely sounds like a scam. I would never give information over the phone.
Luckily I don't receive unwanted phone calls but i do seem to get a barrage of text messages offering me ways to clear my debt or how to receive 100 free Euromillions tickets! I always just ignore them as I'm worried that even if I text 'STOP' to the number that they provide to opt out, that it will cost me something!
Thank you Summer, infuriating isn't it?
I think it pays for us to be cynical these days. I know as I've grown older that I trust very few people or flaky situations.
It is infuriating and also a great shame that we have grown so suspicious. I suppose in the current climate it is even more important to be alert of possible money making schemes that we may fall victim to.
It seems most people on this forum are fairly savvy about these sorts of scams but unfortunately there are so many vulnerable people who are at risk of falling prey to these situations. Especially awful if someone loses money during the run up to Christmas.
Yes you're quite right, I think most of us here recognise when something dodgy is afoot.
We also look out for each other and report when we see or hear of anything vaguely disturbing, it's yet another reason why I like this site. It's full of fiscal facts (try saying that at speed) interesting banter and witticisms.
In fact after awhile I became slightly addicted to the forum as a whole and often check in on a daily basis, well I suppose there are worse things to be addicted to...
In the last 15 mins, despite being ex-directory, I've had 2 phone calls (recorded message type) about the PPI I haven't got, and 1 text about the accident I haven't had!
Oh, fruits, I'm so tired of the PPI calls!
Snap i'm getting so many ppi calls!!
Dont forget the spam PPI emails!
Just to update you. I was called again by an Asian woman at 7.55 this morning from 'someone' calling herself Jennifer from Microsoft.
She started with the same spiel as before saying she noticed I was getting a lot of spam emails etc etc.
Well I haven't been getting an unusual amount so I said 'no I wasn't' and promptly hung up.
Honestly these people are relentless.
I have subsequently found this article in the Guardian from a year ago which explains in more detail what they're up to.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres
The bottom line is, yes this is most definitely a scam as Microsoft are emphatic that they 'don't' contact people in this way and to just hang up on them.
What I found unnerving (apart from the ridiculously early call) is that they know both my phone number and my name..ugh.
Well done, Lillie! :-)
I just tell them that I find that very strange as I don't have a computor - they have no answer for that. Alternatively if I want a bit of fun I ask them to tell me the make and code number for my computor as I have several and I want to know which one is causing the (so-called) problem. I like to see if I can make them hang up first!
Lol, Sidesalad! I've done similar things myself! :-)
yes ,this is often boring ,sometimes you have to tell a lie !
That's brilliant, Sidesalad!
Well done sidesalad. I'm writing all these hints down so when and if the 'phone rings I shall have them to hand. One of my friends said to press the hash button!
Yes a good tactic thanks Sidesalad.
Today 25/11 no call thus far but I'm ready for them this time.
I'm tempted to just keep saying 'scam, scam, scam' over and over again at them until they hang up.
Sabre what would happen when pressing the hash key, do you happen to know?
I wonder who thinks up some of these scams? They do not appear to be overly intelligent persons, who ever they are!
In the last six weeks I have had at least eight e-mails, mostly from the far East claiming to be from bank managers, they all run along lines such as;-"Bountiful lady, three years ago your relative deposited five million dollars at my bank, sadly I have to-day been informed that he has `passed on ` So if you send me your full details and account number, we will split the dollars fifty/fifty.."......
Are these people FOR REAL does anyone ever really believe them?
If some of the victims stories that we hear were not so tragic, I would die laughing at the stupidity and lack of intelligence, shown by these "bank managers" !
Horrendous aren't they! I haven't had that particular one but I'm ready to be equally as scathing if and when I do.
I've had a batch of these too
Yes spelling and grammar are a sure sign its a scam.
Problem comes when our ill educated people cant read them either and reply to them!
Catch-22 I believe - some of the Africans who perpetrate most of the email scams can speak and write better English than most of our yoof!
Sad really!
Hi Lillie i've just come across this posting today and its been brought to my attention, my daughter's school has issued warning letters to parents regarding microsoft hacking into the children's emails and telling them to follow links etc!! School has liased with microsoft which have confirmed it is a scam and microsoft will investigate this further as its using their name!!
I just think us as adults can be naive but children are so trusting and gullible and isn't it the pitts to scam children!!!
Words fail, Serena! How low can these scammers go...
That's just awful, serena.
This must be the 21st Century equivalent of never taking sweets from strangers.
These scammers are indeed the lowest of the low, quite dreadful. As yet I personally haven't had anymore calls since the 24th.
nice one snoopy 48
They dont call it 'Crook'fur for nothing!
>;o)
I do love my FUR coat it does keep me warm...
Just a brief update for you.
This scam is still ongoing as my daughter in law was approached with a similar scenario by 'Peter' another Asian caller this morning.
I hope she told him in no uncertain terms where to go, Lillie.
Too right Feline, she was forewarned that this has been going on for sometime now and to tell them to go for a long walk off a short pier.
Honestly there's no let up with these people.
Good for her, Lillie!
I've been getting emails saying my flight ticket is ready for collection and there is something with a zip on to open but I've deleted it. I've one for a outgoing flight and another for an incoming flight but unless I ordered them in my sleep I don't have any idea what they are about.
You brought memories back of my childhood when we used to shout "take a long walk off a short pier and drop dead". Charming children weren't we ?
That's indeed a strange one Sabre...
I despair of things like this, again it's not a very sophisticated sounding scam.
Lol yes and 'go and play on the motorway',ha.
I also keep getting ones for viagra and all other suggestive items. How on earth do they get your details??
Just thought this would bring a smile to some of your faces. Whilst I was at hospital yesterday the Specialist asked me if I was pregnant since I was last there which was a week ago. I said it would be a blooming miracle as a. I was far too old and b. My husband bless him is on hormone treatment after his illness.
After the Specialist had gone I said to the nurse "fancy asking if I was pregnant she could see my age". She replied "you look such a lot younger that she must have thought it might be possible". I was dead pleased with that and it made my day. Plenty of life in the old dog yet eh !!!
sabre I get the viagra ones too!! I remember being asked if I was pregnant at the doctors and being flattered he thought I could still pull!! Nice ego boost, and we can all do with that. Not sure you should be referring to yourself as a dog tho............lol
I get the Viagra ones too, Sabre.
I just delete them, along with the ones for fake Rolex watches, penis enlargement, and offers to remortgage my house in US dollars.
Thanks everyone, yes the penis enlarger is a frequent post. As I don't have one why do they keep insisting I should have it enlarged!! Quite baffling. Also someone called Rex wants to 'show me the way'....What, where, how ??? No none of them get a reply.
It's actually quite reassuring that everyone else gets this constant spam email and as such we are not being 'picked out' in some way.
Personally I get around five to ten payday loan adverts a day and the usual drift of viagra, scam inheritances, cute Russian hotties waiting for me and of course the odd penile development plan.
I even got one for those new Viagra eyedrops .... apparently they make you 'look hard'.
On dearest Lillie, why you may not possess a manhood, there are many women who may wish to have their own man 'tweaked' in some way and may well respond on the basis of encouraging GDP growth ... Gross Domestic Penis.
Lol, 'Viagra eye drops for that hard look' Oh my word I thought all you had to do was wear a pair of sunglasses and swagger around in an overcoat like Vinny Jones.
Oh I get the penis enlargement as well as I cannot unsubscribe any of them.
I've got lots of viagra in the cupboard - no use to hubby as it blows his head off - almost !!!
Whatever you do, Sabre, don't try to unsubscribe as that just alerts them to the fact that the have contacted a genuine email address.
Just delete them!
One hour to go.....
A lorry, containing 5000 packets of viagra, was hijacked on the M6 today .... police are looking for hardened criminals.
Hardened criminals Snoopy? If they come near me and my wrath they'll have nothing left to harden !!!
now when they phone i tell them excuse me there is some one at the door leave the phone off the hook and carry on eating my tea
Terrible Snoops I hope they receive a very STIFF sentence.
And the judge doesnt go SOFT on them.
BANG em up I say!
Yesterday I had viagra pills at 50% off. Penis enlargements and another which a lady wouldn't mention on here. !!!!
Our Sabre claiming to be a lady now......? What happened to the sisterhood?? lol
Yes penis enlargements, I keep getting those emails, I wonder why 'they' would think I would need one, cheeky wotsits!!
Omen, i do hope they let them DOWN GENTLY...
You don't get any samples Serena !!!! to give to your clients.
I could share them out I've been brought up to share...I'll not be greedy...
Sadly most of the stuff coming from India Pakistan and the Phillipnes is as bent as a two bob note!
Never reply to phone calls from anyone you dont know - banks etc will never phone you and ask for personal info nor will they email you! Boiler house scams are all to prevalent and you should never buy shares over the phone from a cold caller - Ive had a few and they were pretty plausible - One test - tell them you are an officer with the serious fraud office or C.I.D. - They soon hang up pretty quick let me tell you!
Good test - speak in a similar accent and wind them up - ask them questions that are way out of order - anyone on the fiddle will usually hang up pretty quickly when they realise you are taking the jimmy riddle!
Turn it from an annoyance to a bit of a laugh in the morning.
Thanks Omend yes I suppose rather laugh than cry at these persistent 'perps' ( I sound like CID there).
I haven't personally heard from them for awhile but I'm ready should there be another call.
I wondered OD if you have heard of the one where they say a parcel will be arriving, then give a date and then I get another one and usually there are about three and then the date passes and nothing arrives. I don't open the information piece and just delete the rest.
Yep, I get those too..and the lottery winner ones even though I haven't bought a ticket..amazing really
I just act really weird...that usually gets rid of them! ;-)
Thanks Fruity, yes I can do weird, no problem with that. I shall start wailing like a Banshee, what do you think?
Brilliant, Lillie, that should work! When I got one the other week, I just let the guy prattle on and each time he stopped and waited for me to say something, I just said 'Hmm...very interesting...' in a weird voice, he hung up on me! ;-)
Just thought...might be worth investing in a very loud whistle! A policeman once recommended that to me for 'heavy breather' calls... :-)
yes omendata there seem to be a lot of scammers in those parts of the world
I had real trouble many year's ago Fruity and was advised to get a whistle. Hopefully it blew his eardrums out as I blew it as hard as I could. Never did hear from the prat again.
hi lillie , i have had the same guy phoneing me and asking me to turn the computer on, he said he was from microsoft and i had some problems, and if i turn the computer on he would fix them for me
Whatever you do, bluej, don't turn your pc on or follow any of their instructions, or you're likely to get your personal info (bank details etc) stolen from your computer!
No don't respond to them bluej. These plonkers certainly are doing the rounds.
Hang up bluej, don't get sucked in!!
no way fruitcake thanks
This scam bluej was reported last year in our local paper. Unfortunately the man did put on his computer and he ended up losing quite a large amount of money
Oh no Jazzj!! you didn't say SUCK- just waiting for the next gag...
Wonder how Snoopy missed that Serena lol! G-Man was asking if he could call bluej BJ yesterday......
Omg! Seriously??? Only our G-Man could get away with that as long as he's not asking for one that's all i'm saying!!!! Lol!!!
Hi there Serena great to see you back.
Ah yes the menfolk on here have certainly taught me a thing or two in more ways than one....I'm quite open mouthed at some of the things I've read and learned...cue Snoopy....
You naughty lot. I've just realised about G-man wanting to call bluej BJ. What vulgar minds you have hee hee. I was off colour so a bit slow.
Lovely to see you back Serena and especially as you lower the tone !!!!!!. Can't wait to see some of your replies to other postings and give us a good laugh. We need it at the moment. Mind you Omen has been brilliant with all his postings and I could sit for ages reading them (no wonder I have bags under my eyes).
Not sure the tone could get much lower at times....
Now now Sabre i can't accept complete responsibility to lowering the tone!! Lol! I must just bring out the real you in you all shall we say...
I have bags under my eyes today thanks to omen up till 3.30am with the posts lol hilarious what fun!
Just as well we're not on Skype is all I'm saying!!!
Oh my did someone say we have new members i do hope we don't frighten them away!!!
What Serena Omen up until late this morning - whatever next!!!!! I told you the tone had lowered since your return you naughty sister. x
I feel honoured that i was missed-be it for lowering the tone if you want me to bring out the bad in you that is fine no harm done sister!! x
I have to drag myself away i must work!! All this carry on i'll be all over the place!!!
Ladies, forgive me if I've got this wrong as I'm off colour too, but I thought it was Omen who asked if he could call Bluej 'BJ'.
Oh no, have I got muddled again?? I do apologise
Don't worry, Jazz, I got G-Man and Parchy mixed up earlier this week but I've lived to tell the tale!
Sorry G-Man, didn't mean to besmirch your good character! Or maybe its a compliment as it was very funny......?
Needless to say this is a scam if you plug in 'microsoft engineer scam email it should bring something up just add it to your phishing list there's also a website called reports@banksafeonline.org.uk where you can report bank They did actually get me to switch on my computer it didn't take long to work out it was hooky. There is another site where you can send all potential phishing/scamming emails athttp://www.actionfraud.org.uk once you've registered you can just forward the offending email and that's it they will take it from there. I've noticed that I get quite a few less phishing emails from my bank since I started reporting them.
Thank you very much for that Liddle sound advice there. Glad you didn't get caught out.
Yes thanks for the information very useful.
Posts within the money.co.uk community represent the views, experiences and opinions of members only. They should not be taken as financial advice and should not be followed without further research.
More Discussions for Laptops & Netbooks
Get fast answers to your money questions, Expert insight, top tips & much more...
Thanks Feline. I just don't know what to think.
I would like to know if anyone else has had a call like that though
I have heard of this scam Lillie so just put the phone down always when anyone like that rings you. As you say you don't normally get scams and I don't trust anyone that rings "out of the blue". I just say "not today thank you" and put the 'phone down.
Thanks Sabre, I have to laugh though as to why they feel they have to call themselves George,Mark, Phillip etc.. when they are so obviously Asian callers.
Yes you're right as are the others here just hang up on them.