Comments on: Microsoft calling? Mind the tech support scammer! https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/ Straight-talking security advice from the Malware Experts Fri, 18 Nov 2022 12:22:55 +0000 hourly 1 By: Blake Baker https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-785095 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 11:55:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-785095 What if you allow them to connect in your virtual gadget? and once they end their evil deeds inform them that the laptop is pleasant and thank them with the aid of restoring it through snapshots and allow them to do it over and over again?

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By: Shirley Kirouac https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782153 Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:56:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782153 I have had this happen twice. The first time I called the number and the guy said he could fix it but he would have to charge for it. I told him I would try and fix it myself, and if I could not, I would call him back. I shut down my computer, then started it up and ran the scan twice.
A couple of weeks ago I got the same thing. Did not call the number, but shut it down, etc., like before. These guys are real scumbags! So glad I didn’t fall for it.

Thanks for all you do in getting the word out to those of us who are not gurus.

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By: Wolf https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782145 Mon, 21 Nov 2016 13:54:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782145 What if you let them connect in your Virtual Machine? and after they finish their evil deeds tell them that the computer is fine and thank them by restoring it by snapshots and let them do it over and over again?

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By: Kim Richter https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782089 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 18:32:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782089 For whatever reasons I seem to be their preferred target: 4 times in 5 months, of which the last 2 times happened during the last 2 months. First a “Microsoft” pop up blocks the computer, unless one knows what keys to use to delete the pop up and unlock it again. In all 4 cases a male with a South Asian Indian accent answers the 800 number, introduces himself as a MS certified support engineer and offers to “Repair” my computer. Since all parties involved on the other side always speak English with an Indian accents, I can assume that it is a South Asian scam. When you tell them that you go to an MS office and seek help there, they hang up.

One of the reasons that this scam has increased so badly in Canada is because our police forces practically ignore complaints about such scams. Their excuse is that “it’s international!” And this seems to involve more police work than national fraud, although it is a very lucrative fraud that leaves damages for victims in the multi-million dollar range.

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By: Christina Z https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782086 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 16:46:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782086 I have to laugh at these guys, they’ve called me twice claiming to be from HP. Not sure exactly how they got my info but it’s a similar scam. “Hi,I’m form H and your laptop is infected with a virus.” Really and know know this how? “Well we have been noticing your computer has downloaded this virus infected files” Really? WOW! Hahaha, I play along and waste of of there time for a few minutes, then tell them I know they are scammers. “Oh no, I’m not a scammer, I from HP. How would I have your information otherwise” Ugh,getting sick of these calls, it’s getting old.

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By: makinamotze https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782083 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 05:08:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782083 In reply to Ruth Van Horne.

I pretend to be a hard of hearing Alzheimers patient, and waste lots of their time by saying “can you repeat that” or “mishearing what they say? At the end, when I sense they are going to bail, I ask about their mother’s sexual activity status.

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By: Jerry Del Vecchio https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782078 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 14:56:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782078 When my computer locked up and the popup tried to get me to call the 800 number, I unplugged the power and removed the battery. After the battery was removed, I pressed the power key to drain residual power. Then I reinserted battery and plugged in power cord. Popup was gone, computer unlocked. I did a scan with anti-malware and cleaned out files. No problems since doing that.

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By: Jaklo https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782076 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 06:20:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782076 If I got a call from M/soft about my computer’s problem.
My reply, “Oh good, I’m glad you can fix it, can you swim, it fell in the pool today still plugged in to the power supply .”

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By: Innula Zenovka https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782075 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 03:38:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782075 In reply to Kenneth Volz.

Good one! Thanks. I’ll try that if they call again.

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By: Yemto https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782074 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 01:52:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782074 In reply to Kenneth Volz.

Well, if they are wasting time one me, then that scammer isn’t scamming someone else.

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By: Kenneth Volz https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782072 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 01:36:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782072 In reply to Yemto.

Kind of having fun on their time. Time is money???

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By: Kenneth Volz https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/24269/microsoft-calling-mind-the-tech-support-scammer/#comment-782073 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 01:36:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=24269#comment-782073 In reply to Innula Zenovka.

Much more fun to say “” You are on the air””

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