Last week when I clicked on a Google search result it would instead link to a Canadian Pharmacy. Figured virus/malware; ran security software scans (MS Security Essentials, Anti-MalWare-Bytes), but found nothing. figured I had some as-yet-unknown virus/malware, I reported it to Google & Microsoft.
[ this may have no connection to what happened next-- maybe just an evil coincidence... ]
Three days later (10/26) I was online checking email; recieved a call on our home landline. they ask for me by name & said that they were calling about the computer problems I was having -- suspected it was a virus, etc.
because of the reports I had made I totally believed it; thought this was 'follow-up'.
they asked me to go online, to
www.win32.us
which is website of "Windows Solutions" they pointed out features like being "microsoft certified", etc.
I don't really remember much of what they said exactly (in retrospect I now realize how stupid/gulible I was...) Anyway, they lead me through some keystrokes and mouse clicks to open the computer's event logs and showed me all these error messages, etc. and said it proved I had a virus. They told me to right-click on one of the messages and select "delete", and when I said that there was no delete option they said that meant it was worse, and said they needed to see my computer, would that be OK?
All this had happened fast, and I've had customer support take remote control of my computer before, so I went ahead and did what they told me (yes, I'm an idiot) and installed some piece of software and they took control of my computer.
I do not remember how exactly they did this -- what they told me to do, how it was that I downloaded this software..... but I did catch the name
"AmmyyAdmin_10B0"
and the software which installed was (I think)
"AA_v3.exe"
which is apparently software for remote-computer-control.
Fairly quickly after this they told me that they would sell me software which would fix all my problems for $150. On my screen he actually created a document in which he typed out all the things the software would do-- remove viruses, malware, etc. and gave their phone number as 315 - 633 - 4441.
It was at this point that I realized it was a scam, and I said no, and asked them to disconnect from my computer. Somewhere along here a different person got on the phone with me, refused to disconnect, and said that by installing their software I had clicked "accept" and that they now had control of my computer for three years, so I need to pay.
I said this was all a scam, just disconnect from my computer! at this point the guy started getting beligerent, saying stuff like "I have control of your computer", and on my computer he started randomly opening various programs, personal photos, etc. I pulled the plug on my WiFi. The guy on the phone said that I turned off my computer, but that it was too late.... they had access and "I would not be spared."
once he hung up I started to try to fix my computer (now off-line). Run a security scan, try to search out the software they installed.
as I searched my directories, I realized that massive amounts of my software --programs and files-- were vanishing. I had no idea whether it was just being deleted, or the hard-drive was being systematically "wiped" so I figured I need to get profesional help to try and recover what was lost.
I took the laptop to a repair shop, don't yet know the results. At the very least this is costing me for repairs.
thoughts:
how did they get my name/home phone number?
mere coincidence that I had just reported problems, or have these guys actually hacked MS and/or Google's customer support?
they are fairly bold giving out their website and phone #..... and online I have found that these folks have been pulling this scam for at least FOUR YEARS !
I just received a call from "technical dept. of Microsoft" - Thomas Williams (with a very heavy foreign accent) saying they had been alerted the last three days that my computer was infected!!! 315-633-4441
I had quite a little spiel for him and even questioned his accent, told him Bill Gates should be behind bars for treason, and that if my computer goes down I will know who to blame and will find him. Now, my question is, how did he get my phone number, or was it random?
Just called me. Had me going for a while. New my name & address. Once he quoted me pricing on how to fix the viruses, I knew it wasn't real. Asked for phone # & name to call him back. Going to have my techie person check my computer to see if what he was telling me was true. But I doubt it.
It is definitely a scam. First, Microsoft does not cold call computer users and does not contract with anyone to do so. Second, there is no way for them to be receiving reports of errors or viruses on your computer since there is nothing in Windows that sends those out. The ONLY error reports that get sent are those you authorize via a pop up window after a program error. No information that can identify your computer or you is included in those reports, only software diagnostic information to help Microsoft fix bugs in their software. Newer versions of Windows keep track of these errors and periodically check anonymously to see if a fix is available. But again, NOTHING in Windows sends out error messages that can identify you and your computer. Anyone claiming otherwise is just a lying scammer. See the warning about these scams on Microsoft's website:
I just got a call from a guy claiming the same thing. I told him he was crazy if he thought I was going to fall for his scam. I wanted to get more info to report him, so I kept him talking. He said my internet provider gave them my number, but did not know the name of my provider. I played dumb like I didn't know where he wanted me to click, then put me on hold. I hung up. Phone rang and a senior tech guy named Harry said he would help me. I asked for the address and he said 88 Rutland Rd, Brooklyn NY 30764. His number is 315-210-8341. I told him I had to go. A bit later I called back. I asked for Harry. Guy said he'd get Harry. Same guy comes back on the phone. He plays stupid and denies it. I tell him I know who he is and what he does. He got upset. I also said, how do you live with yourself knowing what you are doing to people? Would you like this done to your computer? He got angrier and said I could hang up if I didn't want my computer fixed. He then hung up on me. I called back twice and was disconnected. The zip code doesn't exist in New York.
Hopefully others will take this info and use it as well. Call and say hi to Harry for me!!