Well *that's* a new virus delivery angle...

I just got a (very static-y) phone call from someone with an Indian accent saying that he was calling with respect to my Microsoft Windows installation, because there has been an uptick in virus infections in the last couple of months.

I almost wish the connection had been better so I could have stood to play along long enough to find out what was going on... I'm guessing they do something like get you to go to a site which runs an exploit on the browser, but I really don't know.

Just bummed that if nothing else my land line is confirmed as having a human at the end of it to one more useless entity.

A friend of the family (who is 89 years old) got bit by that. They send you to some website and have you install a program which allows them complete remote access to your computer. Then they raid your HDD looking for bank account info, credit card numbers, passwords, etc (you would be amazed at what someone can fish out of your browser history alone!) Nasty, nasty scam by nasty, nasty people. BTW the group that got him originated in Florida.

You ever wonder who falls for these scams? Well, for one: retirees living month to month off their pensions...

I got one of those calls the other day claiming they were from Google or something.

I told him to pound sand.

Some people really would improve the world by leaving it.

I always enjoy seeing reverse hackers do their thing. I've known some programmers to get some pretty sweet revenge.

I just got an email from Yahoo saying that if I didn't confirm some email information all my Yahoo accounts would be frozen and I'd never be able to get or use a Yahoo account again.

My only yahoo accounts are a couple of forums.

I'm betting had I followed their link I'm sure I'd have ended up some place like that.

They've been running scams like this for over a year now, amazing that people fall for it.

When you get these emails:

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

I can't say they do anything about it, but at least you're reporting it to someone.

EDIT: Actually, that was not what I thought it was...

Basically, I forward everything like that to spam@uce.gov, which is the Federal Trade Commission, or to the spam complaint email for the service the scammer is trying to use (paypal, yahoo, etc)

I got a text saying I had won a $1000 Best Buy gift card. Since I have gone to BB and bought stuff recently, I thought it was possibly legit and I am VERY careful. AVG grabbed it immediately saying it was an exploit. Whew.

The Microsoft call is getting very popular. We've done stories about it. Most recently I worked on a piece with the AARP. They said they target older folks and it's been very sucessful for them. They're vicious with this stuff. Once they get an easy mark, they often follow up with several more scams. I heard one story of a man who got hit by several and ultimately lost his home over it.

ShadowSix wrote: When you get these emails: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx I can't say they do anything about it, but at least you're reporting it to someone. EDIT: Actually, that was not what I thought it was... Basically, I forward everything like that to spam@uce.gov, which is the Federal Trade Commission, or to the spam complaint email for the service the scammer is trying to use (paypal, yahoo, etc)

I also forward it to spam@ whoever is my server for that email account to attempt to get them blocked.

For instance spam@godaddy.com

carguy123 wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: When you get these emails: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx I can't say they do anything about it, but at least you're reporting it to someone. EDIT: Actually, that was not what I thought it was... Basically, I forward everything like that to spam@uce.gov, which is the Federal Trade Commission, or to the spam complaint email for the service the scammer is trying to use (paypal, yahoo, etc)

I also forward it to spam@ whoever is my server for that email account to attempt to get them blocked. For instance spam@godaddy.com

Good call, I'll remember that, thanks.

I got a similar call about my windows os. I told him what makes you think I run windows? What do you run? Mac and Linux... Oh we can't help you then. Exactly.

Funny thing is that I run windows. It's my new thing against telemarketers, lying. Same gig for the credit card machines. Do you take credit cards? Nope. Saves me from a lot of repeated "No thank you but I'm happy with what we have"

later, matt

In reply to xFactor:

I tried that with a terminal vendor once. He threatened physical violence, then decided it would be a primo idea drive over to "hard sell" a system. Guy didn't make it to the DOOR before he was arrested by the officer that was waiting for him.

I really try to avoid answering the phone, but you can't leave a business line unattended.

Once in a while I get emails to confirm online bank transactions or to complete an online account or my bank account will be frozen. Yeah right, don't do online banking and not interested in having an online account and I know this is spam because my back wouldn't ask that. Also have even got a couple snail mail spam about my account will be frozen if I don't confirm a transaction. Issue is, never heard of the bank and there is no office for that back local. Recycle bin.

Used to get phone calls trying to sell me life insurance. Used to play along sometimes but they would hang up when I told them what I did for a living at that time. Was active duty army and performed frequent aerial flight as a crewmember on helicopters. The flight crewmember would get them every time. Especially when I told them I did aircraft recovery and test flights.

I tell the local JW's that I'm the Grand Wizard.

In reply to Trans_Maro:

lulz

Curmudgeon wrote: I got a text saying I had won a $1000 Best Buy gift card. Since I have gone to BB and bought stuff recently, I thought it was possibly legit and I am VERY careful. AVG grabbed it immediately saying it was an exploit. Whew.

I get the same one. Also, used to get 3 regular phone calls a day from "Number blocked." Never answered, never left a voice mail. I'm more stubborn than them...they gave up.