Anyone got this computer related call... SCAM???

Got a phone call tonite from a person with an extreme foreign accent. Said my computer was causing interference in New York. Asked if (wife took call) she was in front of the computer - wanted to show her something. At that point she hung up. Anything to this? Is this a scam? Where do they lead you if you don"t hang up the call? (This is the second time for this type of call.)

Consulted my son who has a degree in computer science, and set up this syestm. His response was something along the lines of cleaning certain barns used to house male cattle!

So you're the reason my computer is running slow!! There are a bunch of scams going around with computers, some claiming to be from Microsoft. They are trying to get into your computer remotely to steal your personal information.

I got them a lot at one time. They are persistent and will call back. I've never actually done what they told me to do but have read online that they will take you to a system prompt and show you some sort of log Windows keeps with all kinds of funny looking messages. They then claim these are errors and that your computer is infected. They will either then want you to load software to allow them to remotely access your computer to "fix it". They will require payment for this "fix". They might also send you to a web site where again it will claim you have problems and ask for a credit card number and they'll "fix" it. Doing what they ask can result in them gaining access to your pc and any data on it but probably will only result in them hard selling you on giving them your credit card number.

Best way to get them off your case--when they ask about your pc say, "You mean my Macintosh?" Claim you only use Apple products. They'll hang up and that group will not bother you again. Seriously it worked for me. They keep calling if they think they have any shot at getting you but they can't do anything with a Mac. And of course they don't know what kind of computer you have or even if you have a computer. They got your name and number if they even have your name from public info like the phone book.

I got them a lot at one time. They are persistent and will call back. I've never actually done what they told me to do but have read online that they will take you to a system prompt and show you some sort of log Windows keeps with all kinds of funny looking messages. They then claim these are errors and that your computer is infected. They will either then want you to load software to allow them to remotely access your computer to "fix it". They will require payment for this "fix". They might also send you to a web site where again it will claim you have problems and ask for a credit card number and they'll "fix" it. Doing what they ask can result in them gaining access to your pc and any data on it but probably will only result in them hard selling you on giving them your credit card number.

Best way to get them off your case--when they ask about your pc say, "You mean my Macintosh?" Claim you only use Apple products. They'll hang up and that group will not bother you again. Seriously it worked for me. They keep calling if they think they have any shot at getting you but they can't do anything with a Mac. And of course they don't know what kind of computer you have or even if you have a computer. They got your name and number if they even have your name from public info like the phone book.

we have all apple products and we have never had a single issue...

Got a call like that about a week ago. After stringing the guy along for about 15 minutes, he said somebody was trying to install malware on my computer. Told him yes, and I know who it is. It's you! Haven't heard from him since.

Had one last week, foreigner said he was with microsoft and my computer is sending messages to them about a problem - I said oh ya - what number can I call you at - he hung up!

I got a call something like that about a year ago. I pretended I was the local police department. They hung up in a hurry.

See, and if PC people claimed to have Macs they wouldn't have many either. Of course you could well get one of these calls too. Like I said they don't know what you have. It's just fairly likely that a random call will result in a PC owner and that's what they count on.

There is a reason that PCs have 95% of the market and Apple has only 5%. Price leads the way.

There is also credence to you get what you pay for. But, I use a pc--I'm cheap.

Say you use Linux!

A side note: This was posted this evening, "Adobe has pushed out another emergency update for Flash Player — the second in a month. The update is meant to thwart a new zero-day exploit attacking Flash Player on Windows, [b:de330c0817]Mac OS X[/b:de330c0817], Linux and Android machines." source is:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/adobe-flash-player-patch,news-18346.html

Sorry about the thread highjack.

I'm cheap. Not a nerd.

Always. And I mean ALWAYS. The only two things I say to unsolicited calls. "May I ask who is calling please" and 2nd, "Would you please put this number on your do not call list" Then I hang up. I get very few of those calls. Don't play with them. They will call back.

Full blown SCAM.

I used to get them. Until I said FBI Houston office. Haven't heard from them since.

(quoted from post at 18:33:40 02/20/14) Said my computer was causing interference in New York.

Click to expand...

Yes, I know.....I was hacking

I have no internet

I don't own one of those demon mind control computer things

Son works for a web hosting company - they're having a serious issue right now on a bunch of their computers - infected with some sort of a virus. Customers renting space on their computers not amused. Happens to all operating systems!

Had a similar call a few months ago, I wasn't busy at the time so I figured if you can waste my time I can waste yours.
The caller was claiming there was a problem with my windows and they wanted to fix it for me.
I told him I was glad he called as there was a hole in the screen and the darn flies were getting in, please fix this for me as I have not had the time to do it myself.
When he asked for some information about my windows version I told him they were classic view vintage 1970.
This went back and forth for about 5 minutes with all of his stupid questions getting stupid answers, he finally hung up on me.
If nothing else I wasted 5 minutes of his time that could have been spent trying to scam someone else.

got it today.