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question about so call microsoft guy #973816
08/17/14 03:15 PM
08/17/14 03:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
family Offline OP
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family  Offline OP
BAAG Specialist

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
some guy call saying he was from microsoft and we had a virus my husbvand answer the phone and press 2 button before i could stop him could that hurt the computer. cool

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973821
08/17/14 04:08 PM
08/17/14 04:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Sonic Boomer

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Pressed two buttons where? On the phone? That probably wouldn't do anything.

If he clicked where someone told him to on some website on the computer, he probably infected the computer with some sort of malware -- unless you stopped him before the "installation" of the malware was complete.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973823
08/17/14 04:08 PM
08/17/14 04:08 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,983
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
Reviews Editor - Hints/Glitches Mod - Site Support
Draclvr  Offline
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Graduate Boomer

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,983
Near St. Louis, MO
Were the buttons he pressed on the phone or the computer? This is a HUGE scam. If he didn't press any buttons on your computer, then you are OK.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973824
08/17/14 04:09 PM
08/17/14 04:09 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
family Offline OP
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family  Offline OP
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marietta,georgia
2 buttons on the computer something and r at the same time to bring up the desktop.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973825
08/17/14 04:10 PM
08/17/14 04:10 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Sonic Boomer

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Originally Posted By: family
2 buttons on the computer something and r at the same time to bring up the desktop.

If that's as far as he got, you should still be OK.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973830
08/17/14 04:28 PM
08/17/14 04:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
family Offline OP
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family  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
okay thank you very much, and it is. cool

Last edited by family; 08/17/14 04:29 PM.
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973840
08/17/14 06:37 PM
08/17/14 06:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,983
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
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Draclvr  Offline
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Posts: 19,983
Near St. Louis, MO
It was probably CTRL R which opens up a Run command box... if he had typed in what the scammer told him to, your computer might be toast right now!


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973855
08/17/14 09:58 PM
08/17/14 09:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
family Offline OP
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family  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
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marietta,georgia
thank you guys very much, he knows it now, a friend and my sister said microsoft doesn't call people.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973859
08/17/14 10:48 PM
08/17/14 10:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,263
Arizona
InlandAZ Offline
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InlandAZ  Offline
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Arizona
Yep, what Drac said, probably a DOS prompt. Never trust someone claiming to be from Microsoft, they won't call you, you have to call them.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973874
08/17/14 11:57 PM
08/17/14 11:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
family Offline OP
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family  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
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marietta,georgia
thank you guys very much.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973878
08/18/14 01:49 AM
08/18/14 01:49 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
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Homer6  Offline
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Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
family, unless a caller has been granted remote access to your computer, that caller is not going to know what's wrong with your computer. If anything.

I got a call some time ago and was told our computer had reported it contained a virus. I paused a bit, looked at our shut off computer, and told the guy where to go. Now I have called customer services where the tech asked permission for remote access, which I granted. But I'll never grant access to anyone who calls me. I don't know who they are or what they're up to.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973893
08/18/14 05:30 AM
08/18/14 05:30 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,013
Sunny Devon, United Kingdom
Upsydaisy Offline
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Upsydaisy  Offline
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Sunny Devon, United Kingdom
I still get the odd call from 'microsoft guy' hang up straight away. Also PPI claims and 'have you had an accident recently'. Again hang up time. There has also been a steep rise in emails from banks, telephone services, utility companies and paypal, all asking to click on links and update bank details. Threats of cancelling or stopping services are included. What is real and what is fake? luckily if I click on one just for fun my browser displays a huge red notice! 'Don't go there' shame

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973908
08/18/14 08:30 AM
08/18/14 08:30 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 217
The Netherlands
R
RichAlexis Offline
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RichAlexis  Offline
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R

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 217
The Netherlands
Indeed, the calls from Microsoft are a huge scam. I've had a number of them over the years. They originate from call centers all over the world, mostly apparently from Asia, but now also from Africa and South America.

They always pretend your system needs an upgrade, due to a nasty virus attack of some sort. If you comply, they will install spyware or illegal access software on your computer that is likely to steal your personal (financial) data or add your computer to some criminal network.

The calls are often relayed by means of various proxy servers or any other way of obfuscation, making it almost impossible to track down where they come from. The police hardly do anything about them, at least so they told me, also because they are constantly moving targets, and national legislation can hardly tackle shady companies that crisscross the globe, and use servers in one country, legal registration in another etc. Frankly, the whole internet is a mess that way.

By the way, the iffy emails from banks, webshops and the like that ask for re-registration of usernames and passwords are cases of so-called 'phishing'. Never trust a mail from your bank that asks you to change your personal details. Always make a phone call to a trusted number (i.e. shown in a general phone directory or on your bank correspondence) of your bank etc. to ask if they know what this is about.

Also, if you access your trusted company website (type the address, don't click on mail links, because they are fake!), it will often display a note about current scams or frauds. But sometimes, companies aren't that forthcoming, because they feel reporting lots of scams may damage their image ....

Of course, a growing concern is the fact that fewer and fewer companies use telephone numbers for their communication, and there are even fewer physical offices you can approach in person. As it is, we have to live with an extremely buggy and unreliable internet and can only be as wary as we can of what it has to offer.

Rich


Last edited by RichAlexis; 08/18/14 09:37 AM.
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973956
08/18/14 02:02 PM
08/18/14 02:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,525
oldmariner Offline
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Adding to what Rich said, here is a useful tool to verify secure sites. Ever wonder if you are really connected to a legit bank site? This is one way to verify where you think you are.


Security Fingerprint

The website has instructions for various web browsers, they provide the info in different ways.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #973965
08/18/14 03:37 PM
08/18/14 03:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
family Offline OP
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family  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,397
marietta,georgia
thank you guys very much for the info we will do that next time.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #974026
08/19/14 02:31 AM
08/19/14 02:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
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Homer6  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Glad to help you keep your computer safe.

One more thing to add about banks and such businesses. Any official documents from a bank or other type business will come to you through the mail. That way they have a record that you have been notified about whatever you are contacted about.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: Homer6] #974049
08/19/14 07:42 AM
08/19/14 07:42 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 217
The Netherlands
R
RichAlexis Offline
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RichAlexis  Offline
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R

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 217
The Netherlands
Originally Posted By: Homer6
One more thing to add about banks and such businesses. Any official documents from a bank or other type business will come to you through the mail. That way they have a record that you have been notified about whatever you are contacted about.

Yes, thanks for mentioning this. This has been the case so far. But I'm not too sure if banks will continue to do so.

For instance, I used to set up my standing orders (banker's orders) by surface mail, because it involves authorizing a company to automatically withdraw money from your account at regular intervals, and it obviously needs a signature and full personal details. So it felt safer for me to use a paper form and stick this in an envelope. Or sometimes go to an office and identify myself and vice versa to make sure.

But now my bank has put an end to this possibility, and allows only online banking to deal with this. So what's next?

I actually get lots of mails from companies that urge me to do everything online. That way, they can fully automate their procedures and 'cut out the middleman', that is lay off more of their employees.

I realize this is sidetracking the issue a bit, but I just wanted to address the general dilemma behind it wink

Rich

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #974054
08/19/14 09:31 AM
08/19/14 09:31 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,013
Sunny Devon, United Kingdom
Upsydaisy Offline
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Sunny Devon, United Kingdom
If I want to pay anyone or set up any payments, I need to log onto my bank's website, set up any payments etc., but before this can be confirmed I have to put my debit card in a card reader (supplied by my bank)this issues
a random code which I enter on the website. Do they have this system in place in the US?.

Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: Upsydaisy] #974072
08/19/14 11:33 AM
08/19/14 11:33 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 217
The Netherlands
R
RichAlexis Offline
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RichAlexis  Offline
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R

Joined: Jun 2013
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The Netherlands
Originally Posted By: Upsydaisy
If I want to pay anyone or set up any payments, I need to log onto my bank's website, set up any payments etc., but before this can be confirmed I have to put my debit card in a card reader (supplied by my bank)this issues
a random code which I enter on the website. Do they have this system in place in the US?.
I don't know about the US - I live in Europe, but I know some banks work that way with a card reader, but not mine. Just username and password, sometimes adding an extra 'super-secret' (ha!) verification code, which is static though. Sounds safer the way you do it!

Actually, I just read a note from my bank that says: "We are digitizing our communication. This means you will be receiving more and more banking information digitally instead of by mail. Because digital communication isn't always possible, for instance when we send you a new bank card, you may occasionally receive mail from us".

That pretty much sums it up. I guess I'll have to switch! shocked

Rich

Last edited by RichAlexis; 08/19/14 11:38 AM.
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: RichAlexis] #974166
08/20/14 02:17 AM
08/20/14 02:17 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
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Homer6  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Oklahoma, USA
There are such devices called Secure IDs which generate a random string of numbers that have to be entered in order for a user to do something that has to be secure. It's a key fob or credit card size device which is initially synchronized with the issuing institution so that the numbers generated by the user's device are the same ones at the issuing institution end. And because the numbers change every 2 minutes, and are random, they are about as secure as you can get.

Every time a scam makes the rounds in my area, several businesses place notices in the newspaper telling customers how they actually handle the business the scams are trying to exploit. One such is the power company. A few times a year some article will tell of a person who has been called by someone claiming to be from the power company. The caller gives the person a pitch saying they own so much and if they don't pay immediately the power will be shut off. And the power company will post a notice in the newspaper telling this is NOT how they handle delinquent accounts.

As has been said many times before, both by those in the know and businesses, if you have doubts about someone claiming to be from this or that business, hang up and call a number you KNOW belongs to the business the caller claims to represent.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: question about so call microsoft guy [Re: family] #974427
08/22/14 07:43 AM
08/22/14 07:43 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
Cathy1 Offline
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Cathy1  Offline
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Joined: May 2003
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Calgary Alberta Canada
I've had that computer guy call. I just tell him I don't own a computer,and the silence on the other end makes me smile a little.

Cathy thumbsup


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