Received 2 calls on landline 14 minutes apart with Nevada as name. No message left. We don't answer numbers we do not recognize or names we do not know.
Received 2 calls on landline 14 minutes apart with Nevada as name. No message left. We don't answer numbers we do not recognize or names we do not know.
I received a phone called from 775-426-8728 in 12 Aug. 2016, 12:05pm. A man said he is calling from Microsoft tech supports. Since my computer reported too many errors to Microsoft so he needs guide me to fix my laptop computer. I told him if free fix is ok and my computer works well with error right now. He dose not respond my money issue but guided me type to see "even viewer" which showed lot of error signs. Then he guided me typed 6 or may be 9 digits ID# to fix my computer. Then he asked me pay more than $100. I told him I will not pay single penny to him and asked him leave my computer alone and handed off the phone. Then he called me back on 12:50 and 12:55pm told me if I don't pay money my computer will not work. Now my laptop computer was blocked by a password (may be is he cheat me typed in numbers; but I don't remember what number he told me keyed in). And I can not use my laptop computer any more. The man has Indian accent. And he is a online cheater. Dose any person can help let me to decode the password or log into my Laptop?
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
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/portal/mmpc/shared/ransomware.aspx
Lesson:
If your computer needs fixing, bring it to a local repair shop
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Please reply to this post, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable actions to protect yourself.