My good friend John Veitch of Open Future, alerted us of the following scam that has been doing the rounds, apparently also in Christchurch. With businesses trying to recover and set up again the last thing you’d want to happen to you. At the same time if there is ever a time when this may sound plausible it is right now, and in all the recovery hectics you may just be a bit less on guard than in your usual state of being. So BE ALERTED AND DO NOT FALL FOR IT.
Microsoft Service Department – Telephone Call Scam
This is the third time I’ve been called. I didn’t hang up early this time, I tried to find out more about what was happening. Here’s the routine.
A Indian sounding voice claims that we are representing the “Microsoft Service Department”
I asked for some way to verify that, ad I was offered this phone number. (09 951 8119)
Then someone tried to explain the purpose of the call. When I asked questions I was passed to someone else (That happened three times.)
Here’s what the want you to do.
Open the Start Menu
Right Click “My Computer”
Right Click “Manage”
Under system tools double click “Event Viewer”Open either
Application
or SystemThey tried to tell me that items marked with the red x were corrupted software.
The yellow triangles were virus infections
The blue I indicated junk files.They asked me to go to
Start and open the RUN command box.
www.support.meThat brings up a page that apparently allows remote online support.
Then they ask me to enter my “6 digit warranty code”.
“Do you remember that code sir?”They tell me it’s the last six digits of the Windows Product number for my machine.
76xxx-OEM-00xxxxxxxx1-51349 for me so they wanted 151349I stopped them at that point.
Later I discover some videos about this scam. This is one of the better ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuCFlR-YNdc&feature=related
For the sake of completeness here is the video.
Do not be fooled and thanks John.
Related Articles
- Police Warn Of Computer Telephone Scam (speak4le4.wordpress.com)
- Ex-Microsoft man charged with scamming Ballmer and Co. (go.theregister.com)
- Consumer Ally Scam Alert: Microsoft Is Not Calling You (walletpop.com)
- 2 scam alerts: One by phone, one online ‘rental ad’ (westseattleblog.com)
- ‘Microsoft support centre’ scam continues, and takes turn for worse (guardian.co.uk)
- ALERT: Photoshop Scam Spreading On Facebook (allfacebook.com)
- PC Online Care Scam (politics.ie)
- Microsoft Impersonation Scam (snopes.com)
- Detecting scams (cyberdefend.wordpress.com)
- Those ‘PC virus’ phone call scams: the unanswered questions (guardian.co.uk)
