Was this guy scamming me?

[Benno]

Just had a call from some Indian guy. He didn't identify himself or who he worked for at first. He told me I had a problem with my computer, and I pretended to play along, following his instructions but not doing anything (except turning off my internet...). I didn't understand his accent the whole way but he appeared to be telling me to type some things into command prompt at the end. I heard "cmd" and "assoc".

When he was done I turned on him and demanded he tell what my IP address was and me who he worked for. After a bit more demanding he told me "BT southwest" at which point I told him I was with virgin (not true, I was just trying to throw him off). He seemed a bit confused and not sure what to say then told me he could prove to me he was genuine by telling me my computer licensing number. I told him I didn't believe him and he got offended and left.


Was I right, was this some kind of scam? His last words are still haunting me: "You could lose your computer sir! This big international virus!"

[Minty]

Yes, he directs you to your windows error logs, points out these 'dangerous' (perfectly normal) error messages and then says you can buy his software for the handsome price of your first born's kidneys.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[Carl_steveo]

There's several of these kicking about at the minute. Generally ring you saying they are from Microsoft and that your computer has send them a message saying it has a problem. They then remote access to fix it and say some bollocks about it having a virus we will remove it for £20. You give your card details over and they remove the "virus" and then you check your statement and they've taken all your money's.

Anything like this happens my recommendation would be to get a mate to have a look or go to a reliable computer company for advice.
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Current: Honda Nsr 125
Live: Sunderland
Luke "cant be arsed to read your post, but suck my balls anyway."

[Andy_Pagin]

Definitely sounds like an attempt to con you into giving him control of your computer.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[DrDonnyBrago]

BT don't care if you lose your computer to a virus.

AVG or Norton might but an ISP couldn't give a fuck.

It's a scam, report it.


EDIT: I am not suggesting AVG or Norton will EVER call you, they won't. If you get a phonecall about your computer from ANYBODY, it is a scam.

[Alpha-9]

[P.addy]

I'm waiting for the day they call me

[tatters]

I,ve had a few +92 numbers from Pakistan trying this, if l can be bothered l will just humour them keeping them on the line to rack up there call charges otherwise they get told to fuck off.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[DrDonnyBrago]

I want a phonecall now too.

I'm going to adopt the persona of an angry old man that still uses an AMSTRAD.

[Alpha-9]

I recommend anyone else who gets a call from them to go through the process and get their details craftily, even the website address so you can report it
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Fzr-600 1999

[Ayrton]

Nobody will ever call you to tell you about a virus. They would also have no way of even knowing that you have the virus on your computer anyway.

[Minty]

I had one of these calls about 18 months ago. He asked if I was at my computer, I asked him to give me a minute and then pretended to walk round the house looking for my computer. Muttering things like 'where the hell has she put it'.

Then remembered I didnt own one. He was not happy.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[Redoko]

Yes.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[Joncrete Cungle]

https://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/13/dec4d5459410d55a5408e2c096aa7dff/l.jpg

[Benno]

Hah, thanks, I was pretty sure it was a scam.

Not to mention he asked for my mother, I told him she wasn't in...and he proceeded to tell me I had a problem with my computer.

Generally I quite like messing with these people.

I'm going back up tomorrow, don't have a landline at my place. I'll miss these kinds of calls. All I get otherwise is emails from the King of the Bank of Nigeria or whatever (whoever he is, he's always from Africa, he's always called Ibrahim, and he is always in some kind of trouble...).

I never reply to those though because that will only encourage them.

[Andy_Pagin]

I'd love to bait one of these tossers, I'd do what OP did, pretend to do whatever they tell me to fix the virus, drag it out for half an hour then tell them I run a Linux box & therefore don't get viruses.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Benno]

[G]

[killa]

I had this some time ago now.
I stumped him straight away.
He says 'There is a problem with your computer sir..."
I said "Which one?"
"Urr ummm, A problem with your computer sir" He says.
"Yeah, laptop, PC or what??"

Puts down the phone.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Benno]

I shut down user account control the other day (apparently a vital security feature of windows vista) because I was getting pissed off with the computer blacking out and a permission box appearing whenever I tried to do things. I'm always worried about viruses now so I was a little bit concerned when he called me!

[Suntan Sid]

[Rogerborg]

[Andy_Pagin]

[MarJay]

[Nope.]