Supposed to be w/ Microsoft! Were going to help me w/ a Microsoft e-mail problem on my cell phone that AT&T does not support. Were going to charge me $69 (for 6 mos coverage) to remove all "viruses" fm my cell phone! And then told me the name of the company...not Microsoft! I told him no; I didn't trust them. I hung up; he called back three times and I blocked the number.
Was there any further complications with this? I had received a pop up on my computer and tried to find a number to contact Microsoft with. I ended up calling an 877 number and when I didn't like what the lady was saying I hung up. After allowing her into my computer. I ended everything and supposedly cutting her off. However, I just received a call from this number. Furthermore, it is not the number I originally called and I never gave them my number. Should I be worried? What was your experience?
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