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New Microsoft Phone Scam

by Hopeless Bromantic
13 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
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Yep, another one of these is going around right now.

A woman called me the other day and identified herself as representing Microsoft. She said they had tracked down virus issues with several computers, mine being one of them, and 'offered' to assist me with a 'fix.'

My response was, "Okay, I'm a technical guy, so I want to ask you a technical question about this. If you want to refer my question to someone else on your staff, please go ahead and do that. Anyway, what I want to know is: how did you guys figure out my phone number based on my IP address?"

The woman immediately hung up.

Remember, folks: neither Microsoft nor Apple ever makes calls like these, any more than your bank would call and ask for your PIN.

(This has been a pub-bro-lic service announcement from the Davester.)
  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    That's when I say "one moment please", then just put the phone down and walk away. They really don't like that.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Yes, I had that call once and I just laughed. The caller was from a foreign company and I asked how did they know I had trouble with my computer. They said their system showed that it did.

    When asked how, he started to stumble and not be confident. I then told him to go ring somebody else as I can fix my own computer...and hung up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    If I have the time and I'm in the mood, I like to play mind games with these kinds of unwanted callers. Getting them to hang up on you means you won the game!
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  • Profile picture of the author dougb
    My wife tells them she will get her microsoft technician husband as he knows that stuff and to also have their 17 digit security code ready for him when he gets on the phone.... click.
    They were persistant though and kept calling for a bit.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    These scams often stem from local malware.

    (Fake "Tech Support" Calls)...

    (Investigate the "FBI Virus" and similar scareware/backdoors)...

    Beware.
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    • Profile picture of the author lucillefaust
      The phone number the scammer used was 800-698-9034 and at first, I thought it was a toll free business number. But I found out later on from 800-698-9034 - SCAM that it's associated to this fake Microsoft calls. Phew!
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      • Profile picture of the author Hopeless Bromantic
        Originally Posted by lucillefaust View Post

        The phone number the scammer used was 800-698-9034 and at first, I thought it was a toll free business number. But I found out later on from 800-698-9034 - SCAM that it's associated to this fake Microsoft calls. Phew!
        This may not be the only number they use. Many phone scam operations are notoriously hard to track down. They often call the U.S. from Canada (and vice versa) to slow down law enforcement, and they move their offices around very frequently.
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  • Profile picture of the author lucillefaust
    Thanks for the heads up! I did get a call like that before but I thought it was suspicious so i hung up. He never called again.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Lol, I just got an email suggesting the next time you get a call from a blocked or unknown number....answer it, then whisper....

    "It's done, but there's blood everywhere!"

    ...then hang up. Hahaha
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  • Profile picture of the author ErinWalsh
    Depending on my mood I'll play along, but be completely incompetent. Example: they tell me to open a drop down menu I'll click on something other than what they ask me to, and keep doing it. I will never get to the right place.
    I like listening to them get more and more frustrated with this "non-techie person."

    The kicker? I do know my way around a computer.
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    When I can get them there's always some tell-tale sounds that happen before they actually connect. When I hear that I answer the phone "Hello, Microsoft Fraud Department".

    They hang up pretty rapidly.
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