Call from "Microsoft Maintenance Department" - Warning: Scam
A few minutes ago I received an out of area call from a man with a heavy Asian accent named "Jacob" claiming to be part of Microsoft maintenance department who are responding to an error report I had allegedly sent.
He proceed to inform me that I apparently have a dormant and newly developed virus on my computer which would destroy the hard drive in 20 days which, at the moment no anti-virus software can eliminate other than 3 new programs by Avast. He then explained that I could get the software at a reduced price compared to the market's £300.
I asked him where he was based, his registered company number and employee number - he replied that he was based in Luton and then gave me a phone number... before he gave me his employee number he hung up the phone.
In my opinion this is most likely some sort of scam using scare tactics - after the call I done a quick google and found similar comments from people who had the same experience.
http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/supportonclick-systemrecure-scam
Site above links a MSE thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1613667
From an Australian site: http://ctaspley.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/update-on-support-on-click-police-alert-to-scam/
Thought I'd share mine here and use it as a sort of warning to fellow members.
Regards
Scar
All Comments (10)
Jump to unreadLockedthere are asians who are christians and have christian names.
there are asians who are christians and have christian names.
...Okay thanks for taking your time to point that out, would you like me to take away the speech marks to make you feel better? Do you think criminals go about giving their real name when trying to scam their victims?
Frankly I couldn't care about the relation between the person's name to his accent and consequently his possible background or religion but more to the fact of this new means of scamming people. I don't know anything about scams but receiving a call from someone/group who managed to get a hold of my surname and phone number is quite a concern.
Cheers for seeing the actual point of this thread.
http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/supportonclick-systemrecure-scam
Since then, I've had 24,000 views, 261 comments and a sudden resurgence in people Googling for info on this scam. It appears Supportonclick have stepped up a gear. I've just added loads of links and more info to the site. I'd love it if someone could get the BBC interested in this story too (link on the site).
Stay vigilant!
there are asians who are christians and have christian names.
honestly some people make such pointless posts.
The fact is this member has gone out of their way to give people a head sup about a possible scam.
Show some respect, its not hard.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=ACD9A8922BBBFE4C