New malware scam - They call you by phone!

[Petef56]

Everyone,
Be on the alert for a new malware scam. I'm in the computer
service business and I just got a call from one of my customers
saying that a man with an Indian accent called telling her that
her computer was running slow, and trying to scare her into
buying "malware protection" for about $55. When he started
asking for her credit card number she got suspicious and told
him she had to call her computer tech first.

The guy on the phone sadi his name was Max Dawson
gave her two phone numbers... 781-452-0714 and
347-289-3770.

I googled both phone numbers and the second number
resulted in people telling a similar story and how it's a scam.

Just be aware of this new scam and don't fall for it.

---pete---

[shadowpr]

Wow.

I can't really see this working too well though.

And that 347 number is from NY.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Wow. I can't really see this working too well though. And that 347 number is from NY.

It's not too much different from the malware on your computer that
performs a bogus scan, detects bogus malware and directs you to a
site to get you to pay with your credit card to remove the bogus
malware it detected.

It might work even better because a human is on the phone trying
to con you. Where it might fail is when a person hears a foreign
accent and becomes suspicious. I know they fooled my customer
becasue she reported to me that they had her doing various things
to check her PC. She followed their directions all the way to the
point of them asking for her credit card info. That's when she
bailed out.

The really odd thing is this. She called me last night saying that her
PC would not shut down. I had her shut it usiing the power button
and it seemed to fix the problem. Then today she calls me with this
phone call issue. I told her it's just a coincidence and that's probably
all it was. I'm mentioning it here just in case the same exact thing
happens to someone else. If that happens it might be a clue that
some new kind of malware is harvesting phone numbers direclty
from the user's PC and then creates a bug to make the PC
malfiunction. That pretty far fetched, but you know that it is
technically possible, so we have to consider it.

---pete---


l

[EzyStvy]

That's not much different from the age old scam: "Hi, this is George for HP...I'm processing your order for new toner catridges...I need to verify your make/model and serial number to your copy machine." Next thing you know - you have a case of cartridges on your doorstep...

[Petef56]

UPDATE:
My customer reported to me that the guy on the phone was
telling her that he's associated with MalwareBytes, so I checked
with the MalwareBytes forum and the folks there told me that
MalwareBytes does not solicit by phone and that
it's probably a scam.

Here is the thread from MalwareBytes Forums
in case you are interested.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/i...79&#entry55479

The call was coming from supportonclick dot com and my
customer told me they kept on calling her for a few days
trying to sell her on their services.

The way I handle telemarketers is to tell them right away that
I have no money, I'm broke, and I have no way to pay. Then I
ask tem politelty to put me on their Do Not Call list.

---pete---

[shadowpr]

To handle telemarketers, listen to tom mabe.

[dani09]

Hey, I got a call from the supportonclick guys yesterday. Asking me if my computer was running slow. Slow it was, so I said yes. the guy was quite helpful and fixed the problem in a few minutes.
Now the computer is quite fast.

Dunno about the others, but I am impressed with the Support On Click service. And I don’t get it, if they offer quality service in lieu of money, how can they be regarded as scammers?

[Sevillian273]

Originally Posted by shadowpr To handle telemarketers, listen to tom mabe.

HAHA I second that!

Originally Posted by dani09 Hey, I got a call from the supportonclick guys yesterday. Asking me if my computer was running slow. Slow it was, so I said yes. the guy was quite helpful and fixed the problem in a few minutes. Now the computer is quite fast. Dunno about the others, but I am impressed with the Support On Click service. And I don’t get it, if they offer quality service in lieu of money, how can they be regarded as scammers?

And interestingly that is your first post on the forum..... Why dont you give me a call, maybe I can interest you in some beautiful ocean-front property in Arizona while you fix my computer over the phone....

[MrDravenX]

I have the best way to handle telemarketers. Don't have a home phone. I do not have one and I haven't had anyone calling my cell phone that I didn't know who it was. But if it did or if it will happen. I will just hang up on them because I just don't care to listen to them.

[Sevillian273]

I used to think that cell phones were immune too. Some years back it was absolutely unheard of but not in 2009... I have a pre-paid T mobile phone and I get 2 of the same solicitations per day. I never answer them but they always leave a voicemail - One is trying to get me to buy Nascar merchandise and the other say's that my vehicle warranty is expired!Which I think is hilarious since I am the second owner and the car is 19 years old!

[rjfvillarosa]

https://www.donotcall.gov/

I added my home number to the 'do not call' registry about two years ago, within two months of adding the number the dozens of calls I was getting every week stopped. Since then I have added my wifes and my own last cell phone numbers and recently our new cell phone numbers, niether of us has had an unsoliciited telemarketing call since.
I despise telemarketing cold calls with a passion, I go to bed later at night and get up earlier in the morning so I can despise them longer.......
The 'do not call' registry is the best thing since sliced bread as far as I am concerned.

[MrDravenX]

Originally Posted by rjfvillarosa https://www.donotcall.gov/

I added my home phone to the list I believe when I was living in VA and I still got the calls. We don't really needed the phone either. We just got it because it was cheaper with the package. Now we can't get the telephone service through our cable provider in SC because they don't provide it in our area.

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by MrDravenX I added my home phone to the list and I still got the calls.

Thats naughty. If you read the blurb on the site all self-respecting legitimate telemarketing companies check the registry and remove the numbers from their lists, as this can take a while to implement you are asked to allow up to three months for your number to be removed.

[Panama Red]

I'm on the do-no-call last and have been ever since it became available. Problem is, the non-profit and political organizations are EXEMPT from that list! The credit card companies don't bug us any more but once you give any money to a non-profit, your generosity is broadcast to all the other NP's. And prior to last November's election, I was about to rip the dang phone out of the wall! Seems like we got 5 or 6 calls a day promoting some candidate or policy. Things have been pretty quiet of late. (Bend a little closer rjf so I can knock on your wooden noggin' for a continuation of this good fortune)

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by Panama Red (Bend a little closer rjf so I can knock on your wooden noggin' for a continuation of this good fortune)

Are you suggesting I finally gave you some usefull information for a change? and not just trying to wind you up as usual.......

[glc]

Just for the hell of it, I went to finallyfast.com (aren't those commercials obnoxious?) and got their free scan. Funny thing - I did a thorough cleaning first, but it still allegedly found a crapload of "problems". I uninstalled it, but it left a bunch of spyware behind that was NOT easy to get rid of.

[Sevillian273]

Originally Posted by glc Just for the hell of it, I went to finallyfast.com (aren't those commercials obnoxious?) and got their free scan. Funny thing - I did a thorough cleaning first, but it still allegedly found a crapload of "problems". I uninstalled it, but it left a bunch of spyware behind that was NOT easy to get rid of.

Did you do that on your primary machine? I wouldnt have the guts! Although I cant wait to get that phone call the OP mentioned so I can give the guy the runaround.

[357mag]

When a telemarketer calls bring the phone into the bathroom and hold it in the toilet bowl. Then flush.

[Laura Ashley]

I got a call from support on click. Could not talk though. Once I get to know what is going on will sure post again.

[Laura Ashley]

I called them back. Initially I was of the notion that they ARE scammers. I spoke to the head of the organisation and this is what I came to know.

There were a bunch of employees who, in order to meet sales targets, forced clients and potential customers to pay money in lieu of scam services. When caught on the wrong foot, these buggers were thrown out. Now most of them have been calling up and scamming the clients and extorting money.

Stay on your guard as they are trying to malign the parent company. Nothing else. These people are all scamsters.

[Laura Ashley]

One more call today. I have respectfully asked them to stop using the name of their ex-employer.

Let them stick the service offers wherever they wanted to and cut the call.