844-743-5317

Computer flashed red while looking at sales sites, indicating virus, and instructed me to go to MacKeeper.  Then Safari logo came on with instructions to call this 844 number.  This number didn't respond or connect.  Ran Norton on computer-no virus.  Researched 844 complaints and didn't call back number.

WARNING-BEWARE pop up on safari with both screen and voice message warning of possible virus and to call this number. "Indian" sounding man said would help with virus detection by remotely connecting to my computer. Asked for serial number and name of computer purchaser. Sounded fishy.... i hung up
i called them back blocking my number and asked what the company was (another indian man) said they "support apple" i asked if they were apple support or support apple, he replied he supports apple, with more questions he said they are "technologies" when i pressured him for more information he hung up on me. The number was 844-743-5317

WARNING-BEWARE pop up on safari with both screen and voice message warning of possible virus and to call this number. "Indian" sounding man said would help with virus detection by remotely connecting to my computer. Asked for serial number and name of computer purchaser. Sounded fishy.... i hung up
i called them back blocking my number and asked what the company was (another indian man) said they "support apple" i asked if they were apple support or support apple, he replied he supports apple, with more questions he said they are "technologies" when i pressured him for more information he hung up on me. The number was 844-743-5317

I just had the exact same experience. I kept pressing him  for more information and he hung up on me. So glad I didn't give him any information, but it makes me nervous he somehow can track me by my phone number now. BEWARE!

1-844-743-5317

I was on my computer using pinterest and a pop-up came onto my screen that instructed me to call the number due to a virus picked up on one of the sites I was on. There was also a voice message and then a warning that I should beware of shopping online until I call the number. I called and an Indian man who was difficult to understand came onto the line. I thought it was odd that there was no welcome message and it just dialed directly to this man. When asked, he said he supported apple and something about technologies but otherwise I had a hard time understanding what he was saying. He was trying to get information but I kept pressing him to give me more information about the company he worked for and then I asked for someone who could speak better English because I wasn't able to understand him. He said he would transfer me and then he hung up.

Same exact experience!

It just happened to me too but I was stupid enough to allow him into my computer. I had a very hard time understanding him. He asked about my internet provider and said told him it was ATT, he said someone broke into my network and he wanted to diagnose if the problem was in my computer or of my network. I connected him into my computer he went into my security settings. He turned on my firewall explaining that that will protect my computer and he also told me that he needed to transfer me to smoother company that will take care of the situation depending on how critical it was. Then he say the charge will be $152 or something, I got scared and told him I will call later and he say he will wait online, then I turned of the wiFi. BE AWARE

With thanks to Slim--registered user here:

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 spam/email your soon-to-be ex-friends)
• Copied any financial data or passwords they could find
• Compromised your 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 cables 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, or cause popups from websites to tell them their computers need fixing!

Some scammers even have websites.
Read the info at these links.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cold-Call-Tech ... on-150170.shtml
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams

Lesson:
If your computer needs fixing, bring it to a local repair shop

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.

I had an alert pop up on my mac from internet explorer.  I got an indian guy asking for remote access.  It didn't seem like apple and when I kept asking questions , he got annoyed.  I hung up as I did a search in between with "helpme123" or something - which said it was a scam site -
I'm glad I gave up before the access was given.  The alert had a voice that was telling me to call- seriously, it was scary.

Just received this scam on my Mac Book, called the # spoke with someone with an Indian accent, wanted $199.00 to fix the so called problem. Asked him if I could call Apple to Verify this, he assured me i didn't to do this.  I told told him that I live really close to the Apple store and said I'll just take it there to fix the problem if there is one. He said Apple could not fix this problem and that is why my call was routed to him. This is a scam, make sure you fire wall is turned ON, mine happened to be turned off.

My teenager was scammed by this same stunt. Please warn not just your senior parents; but all of the teenagers you know. They often think they 'know it all'- but still need our guidance. This was quite unbelievable as we have talked about a similar scam hitting a family member.  My point is as a parent; this reminds me that we can't remind them of internet safety often enough...Scary stuff...

Same happened to me. indian guy who would not provide info and then said it would cost me $300 dollars. I told to him to F#*k off and then just went to quit safari. Im an idiot for calling and not thinking.

This popped up on pixshark.com. It came up when googled for a picture of a presidential flag. Pop-ups say virus found. This locked up Safari on husband's computer. He can't get out. He used force quit to end the session. Restarted computer. Opened Safari. It's still there.

Same thing happened to me as everyone mentioned. He became really frustrated when I asked him questions and wouldn't give him any information. Don't call 1(844)743-5317

I was browsing on Pinterest, and got the same pop-up message about Malware. I disconnected my computer, and called this number. I got a very confused man with an Indian accent. Hung up. @ min. later, 661-748-0240 called and left a mumbling message. Has to be connected. The 661- number is a general SKYPE number, and has also been reported as scammer.

It is a multi level scam.

Level 1 is a Trojan that gets installed from just about any social media linked page.  Very common on Pintrest.  The pop up type virus is loaded onto your computer and may shut down your firewall.  It has voice capabilities, and has the *844 number you are instructed to immediately call and scares most users into trying to click any link, to include the fake "X" out, which actually takes it to the next level.  This basically means the virus is giving commands to your PC that change your anti-virus settings.  This further exposes your computer to other random attacks while at the same time the virus is trying to search the net for its owner(the hacker) to allow for a second attempt to gain access.

If this is all you did, running your anti-virus program that was already installed should quarantine the Trojan.  Changer all of your passwords.    You also must run antivirus software on any, and all, external equipment you have used or ever connected to your computer, before using them again.  Thumb drives, cell phones, including those that connect by wireless or blue tooth.  If you don't, they may hold a program that will have your computer searching for the virus on its own once they get reconnected.

At this point change all your passwords a second time and run your antivirus software on all devices again, just to be safe.  In most cases, you are good to good from this point on.  Or at least until the next accidental click on the wrong link anyway.  Make sure you have quality, up to date, antivirus software that is working.  Run your regular scans.

Level 2 happens when you call the number.  Just dialing has now made you susceptible to further harassment and scam attempts.  Blocking your number does not work.  Like when you call 911, there is software that still gives the receiver your phone number regardless of any block attempt on your end.  In days you will probably find out that you have won the lottery or have earned $100 off of your phone bill.  All these scams, including those through text message, are intended to glean whatever personal information they think they can get from you and that will allow them to get into your bank account.  The same numbers you give, when they say they are going to make a deposit are the exact same numbers they need to make a withdraw, or even better, make bogus checks out that eventually drain your account.

Level 3 happens when they actually are allowed to remote into your computer.  This pretty much is the point of no return.  If you are lucky, you might be able to have your computer restored to the factory settings without needing to buy a new hard drive.  If you did this, immediately disconnect your computer from the internet, shut it down and remove the battery.  Take it to an authorized repair facility and say a little prayer that your warranty kicks in or that you don't have to buy a new one.

All of your information probably has been copied. Your contacts will soon be the targets of similar attacks.  Your computer will still appear to work, but behind the scenes it will be used by the hacker.  Your key strokes will be captured for any password changes and account information you use.  Many people throughout the world will also think you are the biggest spammer alive.  A good sign that this is going on will be that your computer is running extra slow or stalling.  It will take extra time for web pages to load.  Remember that anything ever connected to your computer can and will store the virus, or the commands needed to go look for it again should the virus be successfully  removed.

Level 4 occurs when they charge you for letting them install their virus.  They get the $300.00 immediately and whatever else they can get out of your bank account or credit card before you realize it.  Eventually they get enough of your personal information, that they also steal your identity.

Level 5  Theeeeeeeeen one day a 844-743-5317 type number appears in a pop up on someone's page with a Trojan hidden in it.  After being scammed, that person calls the FBI and notifies the state AG and any other law enforcement agency they can. Law enforcement officers eventually get assigned to investigate the case, and track down their suspect(s).  We all know that internet service providers, computer IP addresses, phone numbers and any other accounts involving money typically have real people attached to them.   To make withdraws from a bank or to get money sent through western union require some kind of ID and in most cases are traceable.   But guess what?  The entire scam is tied to you and several other victims just like you, all because the scammer signed up for everything under your name, using your stolen identity.  And in many cases, you or someone like you, willingly paid $300.00 directly to them for the privilege of ripping you off.

It only took a few minutes to start all of this that day you were searching for a healthy recipe or that funny meme you just had to pass on to your FB friends.  Sad truth, It will take months and even years for you to get your credit history back to normal.  And just when you think your in the clear and finally are able to get a decent mortgage rate, it all starts again.  Your name and SSN and whatever else was compromised were stored on some unsuspecting person's computer in Alaska, just waiting for the day you got your credit score back above 800, just so they can max you out again.

Because of how the legal process works and the time it takes to actually discover the theft, most of these criminals have a 90 to 180 day head start to cover their tracks, before the crime is even reported.

The credit card companies rarely will do anything but delete the charges from your account.  They make way more off of higher interest rates and $35.00 late fees, then they would if they spent money to really try and stop it.  They count on the fact that once you are a victim of fraud, you will need a credit card to help get your credit score back up.  It is mathematically cheaper to pass the cost of fraud back on to the honest people who pay their bills, then to spend money on finding the thief, and to get nothing from them because they are in prison.  And statically speaking, the majority of thieves walking free on our streets, will also have a high interest credit card in their name.  The credit card companies don't make any money or usage fees from prison inmates.  Plus the tax write off on the losses is out of this world.  There is way more money to be made by NOT stopping it.

That's my pedestal.  Be careful of what you look at, and what you click on.  If you think you were infected, get off the net and run your virus protection.  Shut it down before it shuts you down.

Also be aware, some of the links that you can search to learn more about scams are actually links to a virus themselves.  Security Mentor is a company (I don't have any affiliation) that provides some pretty good training in this area.  They have a secure SSL certificate at www.securitymentor.com, meaning it is a safe link to click.

DO NOT FOLLOW ANY LINK POSTED ON THIS PAGE!
My name is Gunnar. Am I posting a link? Google me. Who do you want to believe?
Be Safe. Be Aware.
Gunnar

My computer locked up and told me to call that number, I did as was told to pay $300 and they will unlock my computer.  I called local PD and was told it's a well known scam and gave me a website for the FBI to report it.