Microsoft: There is something wrong with your computer...

Letting strangers or even people claiming to be friends access to your computer isn't a smart thing to do as well.

I love these guys. I love wasing their time and I love annoying them. This is both mine and my families strategy for dealing with them.

When they ring, our strategy is to waste as much of their time as possible. We do this by pretending to be at our computers. We start by saying the computer is off, then making them wait for ages for it to load (because, like they said, it's broken). After about 15 mins, the computer is loaded but is running so badly that everything is taking ages to open. I find that they often will ask for you to restart the computer, which the cycle of waiting repeats itself.

Other things to add in to make them wait are, Oops I accidentally bumped the reset button, Internet Explorer says the page cannot be displayed (can lead to a fake excuse of loss of internet connection or you didn't understand the address s/he gave you), The computer says I have an IP address conflict (when trying to go online) and many more.

Think of how your computer operates, what errors you have seen in the past and be creative. After all, they're supposedly ringing because your computer is broken. Also, sit and watch some TV to distract you and help make you look REALLY stupid.

You can also divert the conversation and ask them personal questions about things like what toothpaste they use. My dad and I (now my entire family) use this approach to these scammers as well as telemarketers. After all, time is money and we'll waste as much of their time as possible. Our record with one guy is just over 100 hours over about 8 weeks. It ended with him asking straight out for payment for his time and me saying that not only didn't he fix anything but that I don't believe in credit cards, so I don't own one (which is a lie).

you  have  seriously  got  to  get a  life !!!!

Sounds like he has a life. He has discovered a windmill to tilt at. I approve his message.

I approve, too. Today "Jeffrey" called from Microsoft Windows, 59150062813 on Caller ID, saying he'd detectecd a problem on my computer. Which one? No response.

91 = country code for India, I've never seen a 5 before the 91.

   Then he said the one w/ Windows 7. I responded that I'm old fashioned, haven't graduated to W-7.

I asked him for his street address. He said he is calling from San Antonio TX.
What's your street address in San Antonio? Why do you need that? So I know who's fixing my computer.

Finally, I hope a Texas Longhorn prong finds its way up your an*s.

I have had two of these calls, I was very wary of what they were saying. At first I thought maybe it was right after checking manage on My computer, there were numerous errors (are they there anyway because of pop up blocking?). Anyway I wasn't convinced by their pushyness. I am in the Uk and was able to obtain the phone number
004259981533, the call was from asian sounding agents.
Hope this helps.

Hi - I have also had numerous calls (and up until today always missed calls as I was out) from the same number you indicate: 004259981533. Note that it would appear no country code 0042 or 00425 exists (only +420, +421 or +423). The guy told me the same stuff you have all posted, I asked him to call back later as I was "not in front of my computer", and in the meantime researched the number as I was wary of these supposed messages my computer was meant to have been sending out.
I have now reported this fraudulent number to Swiss authorities, though I have no idea what the outcome (if any) will be. I urge that anyone receiving such fraudulent calls (and able to jot down the number) do the same in their country, not that I have any illusions about this necessarily ending up making any difference - it is still worth the try.

I receive the same call with the same number ! I live in Switzerland too.

I got the call last night and I'm in Toronto, Canada. Unfortunately, I fell for it and did not follow my gut instinct and allowed them remote access into my laptop.. dummy that I am.

They claimed they are with Star PC Solutions(801-477-5566) and they provide Windows support on behalf of Microsoft and there is a virus on my laptop.

I did not give them my credit card information, they said it would cost $49.00. So I said I did not have a credit card and they said I could send the funds by Western Union in the next few days.

I did give them remote access, the technician's name was Damien Walters and his supervisors name was Justin. I don't know what havoc has been reeked because of my stupidity. I uninstalled the program (AVG Anti Virus) and I had it checked by Microsoft Support who I called and they ran a full scan of the system. My son is going to look at the laptop too. I also have notified my banks  of what has happened.

Does anyone have any other suggestions, as to what other steps, I may need to take.

Thanks

I knew this service call was suspect, but I did not heed... So, please be careful

Did Microsoft Support find anything?     You may want to notify AVG (AVG - Antivirus and Internet Security | Virus Protection at www.avg.com/ or www.facebook.com/avgfree.)   The fact that these characters are using AVG (usually a free download) in some scam may be of interest to them.  They may be merely using AVG's free software to scan your system then charge you, or  possibly loaded AVG software (or a fake version) with malware.    Getting another scan from a couple of trusted virus scanners Symantec, Norton)   may not be a bad idea.   You need to be sure any garbage is out of there, especially any changes in your file registry, or the next time you log on to the net, the stuff will just reload automatically.   Good luck.

These guys are not the brightest bulb in the box. My son works for MS so I knew immediately it was a scam and chatted happily for 15 minutes or so. In that time I managed to persaude them to explain the difference between a 'Windows PC' and Windows operating system and why have Microsoft recommended their firewall if it allows malicious programs to attack my PC. The best bit was when they asked me to open IE when I told them the telephone line was down (i.e. the line they were speaking to me on!!!).
They referred me to a legitimate website (www.gitt.com.au) and I am advising that company of the fraululent use of their name.
The caller display was 004259981533 - not a recognised number - but one which lead me to this site so it may help others who search before being conned.

LOve you dear....hahah but i seriously can't tak ethem up. its so hard to fight with them for me. I'm quite amazed u can. hahhhaha..wow love to hear to piss them off....hahaha I would love to try doing that too once in a while maybe when he calls me back next week i will i suppose...ahaha

Just got a call from a rubber-lipped foreigner telling me he was from Microsoft, and they'd discovered malware on my computer. He wanted me to go to a certain webpage so he could have access to my computer to fix it. Because I couldn't understand what he said his name was, I asked him again. I still couldn't understand his response, so I asked him what MY name was. The name he gave me wasn't even out of the right end of the phone book. 100% scam attempt. I hung up and reported the call to the OPP.

No number displayed.

I just had the same people calling me today. I live in Sweden and the number calling was 004259981533. It was a person who spoke bad english and wanted me to start my computer since it was something wrong with it. Of course I didn´t and hang up.

Microsoft also supplies a free antivirus called Microsoft Essentials.  It works as good as any of them.

I love Renege's ploy.  Add to the fun by stringing them along for an hour, and then say... "oops... I know what's wrong now... This is an Apple computer, and doesn't have windows."