219-254-6315

Crooks who claim they are Microsoft.  

Scammer that that claims they are Microsoft and that "my computer is infected".  For goodness sakes hand up on them immediately or they'll get you to remote in and actually INFECT your system.  They'll claim that your machine is infected and to prove it direct you to look a folder on your system that's completely normal, don't beleive anything they say...

219-254-6315 also calls from number 979-764-2811.
Who should I talk to about these people?... they called from a wireless number then landline. The [***] had the nerve to threaten me over the phone. We here call that a terroristic threat.

* File a complaint with the FBI on their Internet Crime webpage     http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

But there isn't much that can be done.  The scammers are located in India.

The phony sounding scum calling from this number says your computer was detected as needing fixing. I play along and ask so many questions he finally just yells at me and calls me names. I told him his stupid trick is old and does not work and hang up on him. You do the same.

Some individual who called himself Alex, called stating he was from Windows. Alex attempted to tell me something was wrong
with my operating system.  I hung up on him and his difficult to understand self.

called and said I was the registered Microsoft user and that they had been getting messages that I had a problem with my operating system.  this was the second guy, first guy I could hardly even understand, second wasn't much better.  asked him which one was sending him the messages, we have 3 on the same wireless network.  he didn't know, must be all of them, but just wanted me to get on one of them and give him access I assume.  ya, whatever.........

Same windows security center scam.

Tell you your computer is reporting that it downloaded malware.  

I tell them no, it isn't and hang up.

This time she sounded oriental.

Just received a call from this number, who claimed to be from Microsoft. They wanted to "remote" into my computer after telling me my system was infected, and the only way to save my files and photos was to let them in to "fix" it. After questioning this man further, he became increasingly irate and then cursed me. I told him this sounded like a scam, and he told me I was full of bullsh--. THIS IS A SCAM. BEWARE!

I wish I had read these messages earlier...a man claiming to be Aaron Foster called today around 6 p.m. and kept me on the phone for 45 min.  I couldn't hardly understand him.  He told me my computer was infected and directed me to do some things and before I knew it he was in my computer showing me all the things that were infected.  Told me I had to buy Microsoft license--that my was dead--to be able to use my computers.  I questioned him a lot but it didn't bother him.  He was nice the entire time.  Told me it would be $249 for 5 yrs. or $349 for lifetime license.  He didn't ask for card no but wanted to know which card I would be using when they mailed me the info and license.  I told him I didn't have any charge cards and finally hung up on him but he locked me out of my desktop computer. Thankfully I can still use my laptop.  CAUTION:  Do not talk to any of these people you can't understand.  I have had to cancel my credit cards and get new ones and put a freeze on my checking and savings accounts.

>> before I knew it he was in my computer <<

Since the scammers accessed the computer, they probably did one or more of the following:
• Disabled the anti-virus software
• Added nasty malware to the computer
• Copied the Contact List (so they can email your soon-to-be ex-friends)
• Copied any financial data or passwords they could find
• Compromised the ID
• "Zombied" the computer, so it would respond to THEIR commands sent via internet
• Deleted some important files
• Asked for money to repair the damage they caused

What can you do immediately after such an attack?
1.  Pull the cables on the computer, so it cannot access the internet.
2.  Change ALL  passwords stored on the computer
3.  Run FULL malware scans on the computer, in "SAFE" mode!
4.  Change the passwords again, particularly if the malware scans showed anything
5.  Inform your bank and credit card companies
6.  Sign up for credit monitoring, and check the status frequently
7.  You may have to bring the computer to a local repair shop, and tell them the story.
8.  Tell friends what happened, so they can be aware of strange emails from you
9.  Plug in the computer only AFTER all the above have been done
10.  Change the passwords on all online accounts.  Even better - access a "safe", uninfected  computer, and chance your online account passwords RIGHT NOW.

You fell for one scam, and might be susceptible to others mentioned on this site:
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/facts_rev.html
Read that info to educate and help protect yourself!

Honest computer companies do NOT cold-call people to tell them their computers need fixing!
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cold-Call-Tech ... on-150170.shtml
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams

Remember to return here, to 800notes.com, after you look at any of the information at the above sites, either to post more information, or to let us know you avoided the scam or fixed the computer correctly.

To Slim:  Thanks for the info...my son-in-law called right after I hung up from this slime  and he came by and unplugged everything.  I called my credit union and put a freeze on my account.  Spent rest of the evening calling credit cards getting new card nos. and changing passwords on my computer.  He locked me out of my computer and I have to have a password that he said he would have to give me to be able to get in.  I haven't plugged computer back up yet.  Trying to find my windows recovery disk.

It might be wise to take your computer to a local computer repair place.  They can get the computer unlocked for you and clean out the malware the scammer installed.

Sandy -

Glad you were able to stop or limit the damage.  So far, so good.
If you have the original "install disk", you should be able to reformat the affected drive, and reinstall the operating system.  Unfortunately, if your data was on the same drive as was the system, you will lose the data and any installed programs.

Do you know how to change your computer's BIOS, so it boots to a CD drive or USB drive?  (Look up those terms, if necessary).
If you can boot to an alternate device / drive, try this:
1) Have your son-in-law download the latest version of malwarebytes (or similar, good anti-malware software, that can be accessed from a CD or USB device)
2) Try starting your computer in "Safe Mode (NO network)" (see your documentation to learn how to do that)
3) If the computer starts, access the CD or USB device, and run the anti-malware software.  It MIGHT clear out the nasty stuff, but not delete your old data and programs.

However, as notMichael suggested, it might be easier just to bring your computer to a local fix-it place.

[***] have been calling my home at 12AM, 2am and everyday for the past week. Told them to go to hell and they call right back under a different number! If our govt can locate Saddam Hussein in a freakin hole, why can't they do something about these A**HOLES! I refuse to change my number, I have call block but all they do is spoof a new number! So frustrating. It's called HARRASSMENT!

Just so you know.  They are known as Asian not Oriental.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orient

I continually was getting calls from this number. I made the mistake of answering and telling them to stop calling I literally do not even own a personal computer. I happened to be a fair where police where directing traffic. I warned the guy if he called again I would report him. Of course he called again and the police officer answered as the FBI and he quickly hung up and haven't heard from him since!