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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."

4 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. 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.

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

    NOW they listen to the IT guy's instructions?

  3. 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.

  4. 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.