Thread: Suspected Scam

Hi Guys,
I'm a keen follower of TD living in Sydney, but a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to IT stuff.
Last evening I had a call on the home landline from an indianian sounding gentleman who purported to be with Windows Product Support in california advising me that my computer had been hacked by persons in the netherlands and Windows nweeded access to my computer to clean out the hacklers.
He quoted a product code and asked me to confirm this number to him - I told him that I was nowhere near my computer and would not oblige.
He was very insistent and advised that they would contact me again in 24 hours to do their thing.
I'm guessing this is a scam, but can they really shut my computer down / disable windows or similar ?
What is the significance of the product /egistration code - where would this come from ?
Is it a situation where they can take control and engage in a bit of extortion to "repair" the problem
I wouldn't think Microsoft would work this way
I would appreciate any feed back on this

All the Best

Kel

Its a scam.

Welcome Kel

Sorry mate not a IT man but a user, don't do it it has scam all over it.
Some one will be along to help you.

It's a scam, when he calls back engage him in an hour long and in the end when he has finally talked you through the steps required to get the information tell him you use a Mac.

Originally Posted by Kel

What is the significance of the product /egistration code

Possibly he just wants a working code to get his illegal copy of Windows working.
Anyway it has scam written all over it.

I would concentrate on where he got your home phone number from.
You need to plug that hole before you get dozens of them calling you.

If the fella has an indian or african voice, we will all think it was a scam. I wonder how many of us would div up information if Chet from Idaho the all american boy called us up with the same ruse? I would give him longer to prove he is who he says he is before telling him to do one.

Err, whitepages?

Call any random number in Oz and the chances they have a windows pc is pretty high..

Originally Posted by Necron99

It's a scam, when he calls back engage him in an hour long and in the end when he has finally talked you through the steps required to get the information tell him you use a Mac.

I like the cut of your jib and wish to subscribe to your newsletter!

Interesting. I had a missed call from Lichtenstein last night on a number that only a couple of people know.

I wonder what sort of scam that was?

Thanks for all the quick input guys
If the " support person " calls back I've got some interesting tactics from the TD fellas.
BTW, I'm not racist (well maybe a little bit) , but this has brought home to me (again) the fact that you never know who you are talking to.
Not a day goes by here where you dont get some unsolicited phone call with a foreign accent (usually Indian) wanting something - flavour of the last six months have been telcom and energy suppliers. There must be some huge call centres in India and Phillippines.
Call your bank - simple enquiry - yep, call centre overseas.
Lodge a fault with your ISP - sure enough Mumbai on the line (to be fair their service is pretty good )
Anyway, sorry for the rant - if I get a call back tonight, I'll let you know the outcome
All the best
Kel

This is a common scam and has been widely reported in the Media here in Perth.

Best course of action is to keep a whistle handy and blow his ear drum out next time he calls.

I'm serious on that.

eh ?

Of course you could tell him to hold on a moment as you have a hot inside tip from your stockbroker, and he is never wrong. Then see if he'll pay you to share the tip.

Originally Posted by terry57

This is a common scam and has been widely reported in the Media here in Perth.

Best course of action is to keep a whistle handy and blow his ear drum out next time he calls.

I'm serious on that.

But talk quietly first so he presses the phone against his ear.

A : Scam

no reputable organisation either Gov or Private will contact you in that way requesting personal identification .

and , what Thetyim has written below is definitely good advise .

Originally Posted by Thetyim

I would concentrate on where he got your home phone number from. You need to plug that hole before you get dozens of them calling you.

interesting angle, but what's the scam exactly ? getting your Windows Serial Number ? seems a bit of a stretch when you can generate one easily

maybe they ask you to download some silly software and pay for it,

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I wonder what sort of scam that was?

Maybe you won the Lottery.

Harry that call was no scam that was your lichtenstein bank that you use for tax evasion.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Interesting. I had a missed call from Lichtenstein last night on a number that only a couple of people know.

I wonder what sort of scam that was?

That was a scam call indeed. That scam's been prevalent recently and it's alarming how easy it is for them to call people. The authorities should start treating scam calls a crime.