I was just called by a gentleman with a strong East Indian accent who said that he was calling from Windows about a series of error messages they were receiving from my computer. I asked him which computer and he said the one with Windows 7. I said, which one running Windows 7, please identify it. He said that all the computers at our house linked to the internet through the same router, so any of them running Windows 7.
I then asked for the name of his company and he said Windows. I said no, Windows isn't a company, what's the name of your company? The answer: Campaign Developers (I think that's what he said), located in Alabama, a licensed support contractor for Microsoft Windows. I then asked for his name: Michael George. I said fine, I'll phone you back, what's your number? He gave 1-760-283-1718.
I then said, splendid, now what's my name? He sounded confused, so I explained that if he was getting error messages from my computer and was authorized to do Windows Support, my computer is registered in my name, so he knows my name - so what is my name?
He gave the name under which our phone number is listed in the phone book . . . which isn't my name. He missed the rather obvious clue that the phone listing is under a male name and I am not a male and don't sound like one.
Terribly sorry, said I, you have made a mistake . . . goodbye . . . then I hung up.
I echo what previous posters have said: Microsoft does not phone you about computer problems. Anyone who phones you and claims to be doing so because of something your computer is or isn't doing is a scammer until proven otherwise.
760-283-1718 called several times and stated that my computer was "Highly Infected" with a new virus. I said we had an IT guy and he stated they do not know anything about this virus. Stupidly, he gave me the above call back number, and said to ask for Frank. I called back asking for "Mary Clark" and in the background I could hear many conversations, a real boiler room operation. DO NOT GIVE THESE CLOWNS ANY INFO. FROM YOUR COMPUTER!
I just got the same call. Guy called himself Alan and stated he was calling from windows operating system. Asked me to immediately go to my computer and he will give me instructions on how to remove the malicious virus that might be affecting my computer. I told him to call back tomorrow in order to buy me some time to find out what this is about. He spoke in such an urgent manner.
@ Ralph- thank you. The guy left me the same number. I asked for an 800 number to confirm this but ofcoarse there isn't one.
I have gotten this call periodically over the last year. They gave me the number too. I told him (Mr.Patrick) that I would call the Sheriff's department and then get right back to them.
Same thing except the man goes by Mark Watson. When you call back they try to get you in front of your computer. They seem to be attacking the elderly and gullible by making them believe your computer is sending out spam mail and then they threatened to "break my computer" if I failed to comply. LOL I don't have a computer. I just have a phone with a data plan.
Following up on last post. I forgot to tell you they also use 213-457-3299. When they call from this number a lady says her name is Ellen and then puts a man on the phone who's a real jerk and threatens bodily harm and uses a lot of profanity to make you go to your computer. Although they claim to be with the windows operating system, Windows Customer Service denies anything to do with the matter.