855-309-0298

I received a message on my computer screen to call this number, and that it was Verizon Tech Support.
See below for complete story.
This company is a SCAM. Their number appeared on my computer screen with a very loud beeping saying I had a serious problem and to call the VERIZON number immediately.  When I called, they said they were tech support contractors with Verizon.  They told me I had a Trojan Horse virus and no anti-virus program.  Apparently, they themselves sent the Trojan Horse through a web site I was visiting.  I was stupid and paid them to fix it ($249.99 plus fees came to almost $300).  They are NOT with Verizon. $300 for 3 years of anti-virus protection is very expensive.  Not to mention, I actually had anti-virus software already. The noise and the message were extremely startling to me, and I became very dumb during this whole call.  (If you believe in Jesus: I am pretty sure this was Satan's handiwork.) The number they gave on the screen to call was 855 309 0298.  The number that the guy called me back on, due to a very poor connection, was 704 253 4050. His name was Robin, and he had a heavy Indian accent.  My IT gentleman checked them out and said their web site is a front. He called them at the 800 number and mentioned fraud.  The man on the line went silent. Then he said there was no supervisor in that day (a Sunday).  I filed a claim with my crefit card company and with the FTC. God blessed me and I got my money back.  I also put a Fraud Alert on my credit.  DO NOT CALL THESE PEOPLE.  Call your provider and ask them for their tech support # and only call that number.  I hope this helps someone avoid the hassle I went through.
Caller: Instamind Tech

Similar to above but claiming to be from Cox.  This is the third time in the last few weeks.  A reboot didn't do anything.  A McAfee quick scan of about 15,000 files didn't show anything.  Task manager was needed to take Chrome down.

July 17, 2016 (Sunday)

Similar experience as reported by CMF on June 16, 2016.

I clicked to go to a website.  Computer froze with warning msg to call 855-309-0298;  VERY LOUD & continuous beeping,  Warned to not shut down; I tried anyway but couldn't; my PC completely frozen. I was suspicious but couldn't stand that loud beeping.  Finally called the '855' number.  Female "Ela" with heavy Indian or Pakistani accent said that they were tech consultants for Microsoft.  She remoted into my PC (DANG ME!!!) and said I had the 'ZEUS' virus and that it was spreading fast....... .... and then came the sales pitch.  I didn't buy anything but am now really concerned about my PC security.

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 on Facebook or other social site(s), and perhaps on shopping sites.
• "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, or otherwise disable it, 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.  Backup non-executable personal, data files to an external storage device.  (Executable files might be infected).
8.  You may have to bring the computer to a local repair shop, and tell them the story.
9.  Tell friends what happened, so they can be aware of strange emails from you.
10.  Connect to the internet only AFTER all the above have been done.
11.  Change the passwords on all online accounts.  Even better - access a "safe", uninfected  computer, and change your online account passwords RIGHT NOW.

NOTE:
If your computer set a "Restore Point" while it was infected, any "System Restore" you make will re-infect your computer.  Suggest you delete any potentially infected restore points and avoid setting such restore points until after your computer has been thoroughly cleaned!

You fell for one scam, and might be susceptible to others mentioned on this site:
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/facts.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, and falsely advertise they are associated with popular software packages or computer companies; so do NOT believe a "we will fix your computer remotely" site, and allow them access to your computer!

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
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/portal/mmpc/shared/ransomware.aspx

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please reply to this post, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable actions to protect yourself.

Thank You, Slim! I    can't believe I was that stupid!  It was that danged LOUD BEEPING that got me.  I'm almost n tears right now.  However, as fortune would have it, I just recently purchased a new computer but just hadn't set it up yet so I'll get busy on that process.

Your advice is excellent!  I was just searching the net for a way to begin the 'clean-up' process.

Thank you so much,

Kate

I got had , received the loud beeping sound couldn't  shut it off called number it said .Windstream security systems and they ran a whole bunch of sh*t showing me that it was hacked, then came up with offer that I give them 199.99 and the would remove virus and clean it, at that time I advised that I was a retired federal agent, a female voice in the background said to get off. ,today  I took it to a friend retired LEO, he cleaned it for me. NUFF SAID, stay away from these people all sound very foreign and after your accounts.

Wow! Brand new computer. I was looking at something really quick last night on how to play a WII game. (they were the hackers) Monster Mistake!!! This morning a B-E-E-P would not let me do ANYTHING on the internet. I freaked out! It said Bright House error... it even gave IP Address and special phone number to help!  ME NOT THINKING and ME NOT very familiar with computers, called the number and 15 minutes in with a foreign Indian male voice telling me I have major viruses. They even did the inside computer access by doing a remote thing. They said I had 156 viruses on my computer and action needed to be done IMMEDIATELY. (i TOLD THEM that I was working on computer for homework for online classes) they said it would be $129 to fix for one time and $199 for yearly updates .  Told them that I had Geek Squad - the said Geek Squad was useless and would not do the things they would.  I told them I would have to call my mom for the money. I looked up the phone number and boom--- SCAM!   The keep calling.   Remember everyone to do a malware! and do not look at weird stuff on computer.

This number called my home phone about one hour before the pop up took over my computer. Call at 12:51 PM on 9/2/2016 listed as TOLL FREE CALL on caller ID so I did not answer and caller left no message. Computer was hit a few minutes before 2 PM. Used task manager to close window restarted browser and was hit a second time. Used task manager to close again and third time all went back to normal. These crooks need to be stopped as soon as possible! You need to include SCAM in the call type.

CID: "800 Service"

No message left on land line answering machine.

Also no pop-up on my laptop screen like others have reported. Nor was there any information in my Norton Security History log.

They called my phone. I wasn't home, no message was left.

To stop the beeping on your computer, hold the power button down until the computer shuts down.  It shouldn't take more than ten seconds.  Then disconnect the internet connection, boot in safe mode, and run a virus scan.

Called. Left no message. Number now blocked.

Got a call on cell phone, left no message. No pop up, nothing on phone, haven't even turned on computer yet today.

Caller id showed this number. I answered out of curiosity. They hung up. Number added to call block.

NOT too worry.  Just have a reliable virus program and I would also suggest the FREE Malware bytes program too.  (you can download it off the internet form their website)   Malwarebytes  Malwarebytes Corporation
https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Scammers like these want to log into your system so they can download a virus onto your system and then they want to charge you to remove it.  Best bet is to never answer these calls.   Hopefully you have a caller ID unit too ?!

NOT too worry.  Just have a reliable virus program and I would also suggest the FREE Malware bytes program too.  (you can download it off the internet from their website)   Malwarebytes  Malwarebytes Corporation
https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Scammers like these want to log into your system so they can download a virus onto your system and then they want to charge you to remove it.  Best bet is to never answer these calls.   Hopefully you have a caller ID unit too ?!

Their message is like so many scammers that say they represent the Microsoft Corp. but are really scammers out of India.  What they really want to do is take over control of your computer and then they download a virus to it and then charge you to remove it !   Do NOT answer any call you do not recognize.  Hopefully you all have a caller ID unit !?  When you DO answer their calls all you do is to confirm that your number is a viable working number and they WILL call you back.   Oh yeah, if they tell you  to press #1 to remove your number, that too is a scam.  Good luck.

Looks like the pop-up warnings are not getting enough business so this group of scammers had moved on to the direct approach (or it is another scammer spoofing the pop-up number). Fortunately the antirobocall service disconnected them after one ring

I agree with Mike. Just got a call at 5 PM. Nobody on the line. Now blocked.

Years ago I opted for a free computer scan and received a message on my screen that I had viruses and to pay for them to remove them. I decided not to pay. After that every time my screen was idle, bugs would eat the screen and disappear when it was busy. I was lucky. It was just annoying. McAfee could not find it. When I removed McAfee in favor of Norton it disappeared. I guess it was attached to a McAfee file.