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Microsoft Customers Hit With New Wave of Fake Tech Support Calls

Posted by timothy on from the only-do-this-to-your-parents dept.

rjmarvin writes "A new surge of callers posing predominately as Microsoft technicians are attempting and sometimes succeeding in scamming customers, convincing them their PCs are infected and directing them to install malware-ridden software or give the callers remote access to the computer. The fraudsters also solicit payment for the fake services rendered. This comes only a year after the FTC cracked down on fake tech support calls, charging six scam operators last October."

9 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. social engineering by schneidafunk · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd go after the AOL market.

    --
    Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin
    1. Re:social engineering by minstrelmike · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'd go after the AOL market.

      If you're still on AOL, then you definitely _need_ our updates kind sir.
      Click on the Windows 95 start button then bring up Netscape then ...

  2. Re:Another ad posing as a slashdot article by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, well, it's a problem with the slashcode. If you'll just leave your username, password, full name, address, and social security number in a reply below, we'll address this problem as soon as we can.

    Signed,
    A totally legitimate slashdot developer, I promise.

  3. Oh sure... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    NOW they listen to the IT guy's instructions?

  4. After next April .... by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

    .... these folks may be the only ones left willing to support XP. Make sure you get their phone number.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  5. Re:Its never stopped its been going on for 4-5 yea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Too bad about the do not call list. It severely cut down my abilities to mess with telemarketers.

    First one
    "OH thank GOD you called this computer has been a mess for 3 days I can not get rid of this virus" *click*

    second one I was busy putting in a AC unit
    I was going to go with bringing up a linux VM and seeing how far he got. But the AC needed my attention more.
    "its a scam you know it I know it move on" *click*

    Third one is my best work so far
    "That is totally cool how did you do that?"
    "Oh the computer calls in and we reach out to our customers"
    "No I mean how did you do that when I have no computers"
    "well someone in your household must have one"
    "Just me living here"
    "there *must* be a computer"
    "Nope got rid of the blasted things I hate them"
    It was most amusing the guy could not conceive that I did not own a computer.

    So far my record for getting them stay online before they hangup is 7 mins.

  6. Re:Hallo Windows man by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I played along when they called me. Acted like i knew nothing about computers. I could almost hear him drooling over the phone. After 10 minutes of him trying to get me to click start, he asked what version of windows I had. When I told him it was linux, he said "Oh, f*ck you!" and hung up the phone. I was probably more entertained by that then I should have been.

  7. Re:Microsoft by joe_frisch · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, on linux when things don't work, I just search for my problem on google, find some website with a "fix", and then enter that command that I don't understand with root privs......

  8. Re:Its never stopped its been going on for 4-5 yea by g0bshiTe · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd go one better and setup a VM running Windows 3.1

    Come at me bro!

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    I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!