Posted on 10/01/2018 5:03:10 AM PDT by alloysteel
I just got a phone call saying that my Microsoft 10 account has been compromised by any of several foreign sources, and that I should contact the phone number they have to set up a firewall against it being taken down or loss of all information they have on the cloud under this account.
I small a rat.
As others have mentioned, this is most definitely a scam. In case you’re curious, here’s what will happen if you call that number:
1. You’ll be told your computer is now unprotected. And “Microsoft” has been receiving messages saying that hackers are attacking your machine. Your computer might crash at any moment!
2. You’ll be directed to a computer-sharing website. Once there, you’ll be prompted to enter a code. When you do that, the scammer will have complete control of your machine. He’ll be able to move your mouse-pointer, change your files, etc.
3. The scammer will disable/freeze your computer. You want it “fixed”? That’ll cost you hundreds of dollars.
Do yourself a favor and don’t answer your phone unless you know who is calling.
Exactly! If you have some free time on your hands it's time to have a little fun with them. Start out acting dumb, pump them subtly for as much information about them as you can get and then identify yourself as an officer of some scary sounding US Government Cyber Law Enforcement Agency and scar the living dog doo out of them. If you can get it on tape and or screen shots then by all means share here. Especially report any web sites they want you to visit. A good time could be had by all.
Why would anyone want to use Windows 10? Everything after 7 sucked, and 7 mostly sucked too.
I remember when phone and email scammers would give an 800 number to call back on. When I was in a local mall which had a whole row of pay telephones I would call them from every phone and leave the phone off the hook. They would have to pay the phone owner’s charge for each call. I figured once that it was between 10 and 20 bucks every time I took the time to do it and it cost me nothing but time.
I tell them to get a new script..This con is old and stale.
I NEVER call the numbers con artists provide ...NEVER.
I tell them I am calling the FBI and reporting them sometimes.
Never give personal info. Sometimes they pose as IRS, etc.
Did the rat have a heavy accent?
Someone with an apparent Indian accent called me a couple days ago about my ‘windows’.
I told him, ‘my windows are very clean thank you very much and have a nice day’. /click
I just got one this morning!
“Hello - we are from the IRS and you are going to have the police come to arrest you for a warrant for noncompliance of tax code for the amount of $3000...blah blah”
I usually tell them I want them to l*ck my b*lls or something even more vile and horrible if I can think of it.
It’s a scam. Microsoft will never call you because they could care less about you.
Therefore it is not Microsoft.
I get those calls about once a week. Sometimes they misidentify mu OS and the accent is usually Indic or Pak. I have a landline with no extras so I can’t block them but they are not much of an annoyance. They are operating out of phone banks and they are not on the phone when your phone rings. They switch to your phone when the one they are calling from lights up so it may be a couple of seconds before you hear a voice. If someone doesn’t say something in two seconds I hang up. I don’t run to the phone from across the house when it rings. It is only the most minimal distraction and these calls are another reason I won’t have a cell phone.
It looks like they already hacked your spell checker.
“What device is this for?”
This for an iPhone.
It was recommended by Microsoft in a page for home computers.
rwood
You are a lot better at the systems than I am. I can only do the basics, like blow their ears out.
rwood
I, in the past, have let them know that I do not have Microsoft, but Apple and their information is incorrect. They get confused at that point and beg off. If they don’t, they get the whistle.
rwood
Does Windows 10 really suck? It’s up and running on my laptop. I no longer need to buy Norton or McAfee for security. Defender has been beefed up and does the job.
The 32-bit programs I created using 7 are still running on a 64-bit machine and I no longer have to reboot my machine once a week for security reasons as I often needed to do with Windows 7.
Nevertheless, I think it’s a bit of a myth to say a Windows 7 or a Windows 10 stands on its own. It’s all backed up by one company and security is almost all that matters anymore since Windows is mature in terms of features.
So that’s another person’s opinion.
I consider that to be one of the most glaring security problems with Windows 10.
I hear what you’re saying. I don’t like eavesdropping either. But consider this: without some form of surveillance, on-line life would be impossible because we’d constantly be sent to fraudster websites and be prey to on-line criminals.
Frankly, what keeps us safe is the fact that the digital giants compete to protect us and also make money on us.
I’m a Diogenes fan by the way.
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