Quote:This is a scam and I am embarrassedI fell for it.
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
• "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. You may have to bring the computer to a local repair shop, and tell them the story.
8. Tell friends what happened, so they can be aware of strange emails from you.
9. Connect to the internet only AFTER all the above have been done.
10. 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
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.
Got a call from this caller in the morning, sounded as if he was calling from a boiler room, had a thick Indian accent, told me they had detected a problem with my computer. Promptly hung up.
Received a similar call today with this name and phone number associated. An Indian man calling himself Kyle told me that my computer was infected with a virus and he could help me remove it. I have received these calls before and thought it would be entertaining to play along. When I asked how he could help me fix my computer, he said that I should pour alcohol on my computer, strike a match, and burn it in order to kill the virus. I told him I did so and that the computer was burning and what I should do next. He told me I should go to Walmart to buy a new computer, and when I told him I couldn't afford a new computer right now, he repeatedly called me a "liar". I asked him what type of computer I had and he guessed Mac, and I told him I had a Dell and he told me that the technology inside of my Dell was made by Apple... I told him I was going to call my father, who I pretended was the District Attorney of New York and he said that I was a good actor and I should join an acting group. I hope he calls back because I had such a good time goosing him for 10+ minutes.
3 calls (12-01-2015) from 856-234-5632. Response lapse >10 seconds. Mid-east accent. I asked "Who are you and what do you want?" Response, "My name is Ray, OK?" I said, "No, not OK. Take my number off your list and do not call again."