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Computer Centre bogus call?

collinsc

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Posted August 20, 2011 at 12:47PM

Hi My parents have been getting calls from an indian call centre telling them they have a virus on their PC, and as they are affiliates of microsoft they will talk as through clearing the virus.

Sounded unlikely, so i told my parents to ignore it, i had an interesting conversation with the "call centre" when they happened to ring when i was there earlier and i asked what microsoft OS we were running and what our address was and they said "i dont understand what you are saying, speak to my supervisor" - then i hang up.

has anyone else had similar calls to this?

thanks

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collinsc

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Posted August 20, 2011 at 12:48PM

thanks

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northumbria61

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Posted August 20, 2011 at 12:56PM

There have been several Posts on here about these type of scams. Microsoft or anyone else associated with Microsoft would never ring you. They are nearly always from an Indian Call Centre or a person with an Indian Accent.

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northumbria61

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Posted August 20, 2011 at 1:00PM

If you type Microsoft Telephone Scams into the PC Advisor search box you will see several examples there.

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ams4127

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Posted August 20, 2011 at 2:12PM

I just ask why Microsoft would be phoning about Ubuntu.

Silence, and they hang up!

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onthelimit1

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Posted August 20, 2011 at 6:02PM

An example

link text

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st-clares

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Posted August 21, 2011 at 10:14AM

When I get a cold call, I say "Oh hang on a minute there is someone at the door". I put the phone near the radio or TV and leave it there for 10 mins. or so. By that time they usually have got fed up and cleared the call.

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collinsc

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Posted August 21, 2011 at 11:29AM

thanks for responses. so, what are they actually trying to do? get money out of us for carrying out their instructions to "clear the virus"?!?!

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Nontek

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Posted August 21, 2011 at 12:07PM

In a word, Yes - plus they are probably looking for any bank details they can find for further robbery, or identity theft.

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Nontek

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Posted August 21, 2011 at 12:10PM

PS - and in any case - there is no virus to get rid of! Though after such a call, it is always advisable to run Virus and Anti-Malware scans.

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