8557766916

scammer called at home.  Scary -- what WILL I do?   (Report top FCC probably - bunch of comedians)

Left message claiming my Microsoft will expire and no longer will be able to use it. 4th call in 2 days. Scammers!

Yep another scam. And yes lots of fake YouTube videos and websites to support the scam.

Answered but no one spoke. Hung up. Repeat!

They controlled my computer, wanted $300 for 3 year renewal of windows 7 or $500 for lifetime renewal. Don't know how they did it but they actually controlled my computer and mouse.! Told the foreign voiced guy I was'nt gonna pay that.

>> They controlled 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 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

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.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.

Same recording as above.  Run away, run away!

Scam. I Googled this number (1-855-776-6916)  and saw that it belonged to AT&T Email Cusonter Service. However, the website spells AT&T as ATT or Att. Not the real deal.

Call saying "Windows" on my computer had been locked. These are scammers in India, using the same female voice sounding caucasian American, possibly a shill or actress, that promotes fake IRS calls, or fake Microsoft calls for purposes of scamming, ransomware insertion, credit card fraud or ID theft. The callback number segues to scammers speaking Indian-accented "Inglish". I had heard last year that a large ring had been busted by law enforcement in India, but was apparently not this.

Thanks to Slim above. I got w/microsoft/scams and filed a report w/them. They checked out my computer and found no defects from my dealings w/scammers. They said the scammers were phishing for my card # and it did'nt go that far. If you receive calls from this # please file a report,with a real person, so they know this is going on. They don't know this is going on if it's not reported.

Robocall Microsoft license key scam

Windows license scammers.

Called "emergency " windows expired

The voicemail says: "It's an emergency call from Microsoft ... to notify you that ... your  Windows license key has been expired. All services on your Microsoft Windows will be stopped.  To re-install that call on our toll free number 855-776-6916."  I called the number back and an auto message wanted to confirm the 855# I just called.  I hung up before any real person came on.

Said Windows license is expired. It's a scam. Blocked the number

Robo call of female, message left on answering machine.  Notifying us that our microsoft software has expired and to call their toll free number 855-776-6916 to have it reinstated! Scam!

Same as above. No called back to the scammer and blocked this number forever.

All unknown numbers with no message I block. Thanks for this website. A lot of crooked people out here plus the holidays are coming so BEWARE   of these AZZHOLES !

If you have the time, please try and keep these people on the phone.  If they are "trying to help you with your computer problem", Act like you are doing what they are asking and keep telling them the screen went blank.  They will ask you to reboot the computer.  Just tell them anything to keep them on the line.  If they don't hang up and you get tired of "playing" with them, tell them someone is at your door .. to just hold on and set the receiver down.  As long as you are playing with them, they are unable to scam anybody else that is more gullible.  Waist their time like they are wasting ours!

I kept one going for 45 minutes with a scratch Windows VM I keep around for such purposes.  Same guy called back about a week later and realized it was me again after about 30 minutes. He was less than pleased (understatement), but I hadn't laughed that hard for a while.

In the ones I've had, they tell you all kinds of things that are "wrong" with your computer that are actually 100% normal and nothing to worry about. It took them much longer than I expect to get to try to "Close" the deal, and then it was only about $250/$500 in order to "fix" my computer.