Hi all, I hope I can tell you this with out mistakes. Yesterday I received a phone call from a gentleman that said that he was from microsoft and he had noticed that I had a lot of critical errors on my computer and I needed to let him fix it or my computer would become corrupted and my screen would go black and that it was already corrupted. I immediately disconnected my internet. When I told him that I had disconnected he said "why did you do that" I then asked him how I would know if he was really who he claimed to be. Since I had disconnected from the internet I proceeded to do as he said and I did have a lot of corrupted files on my computer but I have nortons which fixed them immediately. I told him that I would let my grandson fix my computer if there was something wrong with it and he asked how old my grandson was "my grandson it 26" but it wasn't any of his business. I hung up the phone and didn't hook back up to the internet until this morning. The point of this conversation is If I hadn't been on my toes and cut the internet when I did he would have corrupted my computer. I think someone is trolling these granny sites looking for our information trying to get our information and corrupt our computers. Please be careful and don't trust anyone that says they are from microsoft and wants to fix your computer. or anyone else that wants to get into your computer........

I usually get really upbeat and say something like: "oh how wonderful! I'm a Microsoft Sales Partner, where are you based? Then I ask them what is their Microsoft Sales Partner number?
They usually hang up faster than greased lightning.

I actually did used to be a Microsoft Sales Partner and as far as I know, everyone has a unique MSP number.

Also beware if you are linked to the internet and your computer starts to open and close windows by itself. Or if the mouse cursor is moving by itself. Someone is trying to hack you! Immediately switch the internet off, they are hacking you remotely via the internet.
I was on our home network when the mouse cursor started to move on the screen, and I wasn't touching my mouse! I first thought my son was playing a joke on me, and accessing and updating my computer via the network. When he said it wasn't him, I got such a scare I just unplugged the power cord! I did not want to take time to log off from the network.
That was a very scary moment.

Everybody I know has received these calls in Australia. The neighbour up the road had the most fun as she played along with it for 20 minutes or so and then told them she doesn't have a computer. The caller was very upset about that.

2 comments

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

That is excellent. I am quite sure she enjoyed that!

by sewist1 11 Apr 2014

She did.

I get these calls all the time...Funny thing is I get right back at them ad tell the off...Not very Christian like. I don't swear at them or anything like that...I just let them know i KNOW WHAT THEY ARE UP TO AND THAT I AM NOT THAT STUPID TO GIVE OUT MY INFO.......then I calmly hang up on them....

That caller was NOT a Gentleman. I can think of a few other words
Bev

My brother-in-law, who does not have a computer has received several of these calls. The third time he received a call, after once again telling the caller he doesn't have a computer, the caller became agitated and yelled, "why you live in America if you have no computer?"

1 comment

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

I am amazed at how many people in this day and age do not have a computer. My Dad was about 50 when computers (home PC's) became affordable, and he immediately bought one and really used it! But most of the other people his age at that time, were just not interested. And a lot of the older people today are still not interested.
I can not imagine a life without my PC...

I had a couple of these calls last wk...hung up first time. Next time he called, saying he was calling about windows errors on my computer, I replied..."I do not have a computer- I know who you are- you are a scammer". He got real angry & said, "Ve are not de scammers- you de scammer! You de scammer!" And he hung up. I don't think that one will call again. I read of a lady who pretended to follow his computer commands, and said "oh, there's a pop up". He asked what did it say, and she replied, "that this is a scam". He hurriedly hung up. I think they are rampant right now because of the XP thingy.

Iv'e also had phone calls as soon as they mention anything like that I put the phone down now I use phone reconission excuse my spelling and if I don't know who is calling I don't answer if they don't leave a message on the answer phone then it's not important for me to speak to them I wouldn't let any one have remote access to your computer they can look at all your information and see what sites you visit and so find out your pass words and private details by pretending to be you

I have had one of those calls also and said a bad word and hung up on them.

Glad to hear you were on the ball, these people are an absolute pain if the ring me I tell them "i'm just dashing off to the bathroom can you hang on" and them let them wait until they give up after all their paying for the call..

There's no way they would get your phone number by trolling this site. They might get e-mail addresses from those who are so careless to post them in an open forum and that's exactly why we ask to remove those.
Too bad there are always scams like this, but I can't fathom why anyone would be so gullible as to give the information they ask for over the phone. Or click on those ads that say your computer is corrupted - and those look genuine when you are visited a trusted site.

1 comment

by sewist1 10 Apr 2014

Unfortunately I get the "Your computer performance is poor" ad on this site.

There is no way Microsoft would ring you, It's a scam and they are looking to relieve you of your money that's all they are interested in and your name and phone number probably was got from the telephone book, just hang up or if you have a whistle blow it in their ear they can not get into your computer unless you give them remote access. I normally say hang on a minute I just have to put this down and then I leave them hanging there.....................

1 comment

by sewfrenzie 10 Apr 2014

Or you could do what my father did....
Put the phone down in front of the radio and turn it all the way up on old time music and walk away. LOL!

Last year when I bought my new computer ,it came with 1yr free support.I was amazed when I rang them for help ,that they were able to see what I was doing ,while I was carrying out their instructions to solve the problem.
I usually let the phone ring until the answering machine picks up & someone starts to speak before I answer it.It is amazing how many hang ups there are.Husband usually rushes to answer it & then gets annoyed when somebody we do not knowis on the other end.

Great to see you being alert to such scams - as so many here have said, microsoft don't make these kind of calls - just another reason I usually answer with "Who's calling please and who do you wish to speak to?"
- if they don't even know who they are calling then you can be pretty sure its a hoax.
Another scam you should all be cautious of is one commonly used to get your personal details for identity theft purposes _ people knock on your door claiming to be representatives from power companies or solar power salespeople and ask to see your latest power bill so they can tell you how they can give you a better deal - (as you probably know its easy to procure what look like writing pens but which actually have micro cameras built into them) so these people then, without your knowledge, can get a "happy snap" of you and of your power bill and are well on their way to stealing your I.D.). If you say that you don't have any of your bills handy and would like to think about it and call their company's office if further interested, they usually say they have just ran out of brochures or business cards or they are so tired from door-knocking that they have suddenly forgotten their own boss's contact details.
One such rogue even had the audacity to ask me for my neighbour's details - not just who they were but who they were employed by, etc. Always hesitate if asked by someone for that kind of information - you are not doing your neighbours any favours if you give their details to strangers.

Yup, this is happening in Arizona also. As stated earlier these are robo dialers and when a live person answers they go into their song and dance. Depending on my mood and or stage of aggravation I either hang up immediately or pepper them with a bunch of nonsensical questions ending with a couple lies. Oh honey I cant help you I'm blind. Let me record your number and have my son call you back when he gets off duty from the police department. ;-)

1 comment

by joyce500 10 Apr 2014

That's a good one. I'll have to remember this for the next time they call.

In Australia they have been phoning all the time using different lines of conversation and my answer to them is what are you talking about I don't have a computer and they hang up quick smart...if you have a caller id on you phone it usually says overseas caller...this is one callers reply when I told him I did not have a computer "you should be ashamed of yourself in this day and age not to have a computer...and I replied you should be ashamed of yourself trying to rip people off and his phone was banged down.......lol...soozie

2 comments

by kezza2sew 10 Apr 2014

good one Soozie,,,I'll remember this one.

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

The nerve of them! Good for you.

Actually they do not say they are from Microsoft. They say they are from Windows and are Microsoft certified. They call me all the time. I tell them to take me off the list. I yell at them not to call. and they still will not. They want to trick you. Beware!

1 comment

by sewist1 10 Apr 2014

They used to say they were from Microsoft but have now changed it to Windows.

That sucks as my kid says !!Thanks for telling us .Can you tell me why or how you shut your computer ??Do u mean u un-pluded it and shut it off .I am not bright at computers hugs and many thanks:):)

2 comments

by mumzyfarm 10 Apr 2014

All I did was disconnect the internet at the modem, I have dsl. I told him that i did that and he said "why did you do that" I knew he was a phony at that time and just played along for a while. I am 67 years old and I know some people think they can take advantage of me but I try to not let them, that is why I thought I would share this I was totally unaware that this sort of thing has been going on for this long. Hugs Mumzyfarm

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

My son put our internet on a home network, so I have wireless internet. But you have a function to connect or disconnect from the network and so from the internet. So I just disconnect from the network.

My daughter got this call and unfortunately she believed them and she's lucky she didn't have any info of any value on her computer. She made the man so mad when she said she had 2 children to support and she hadn't started her new job yet, he totally wiped her computer and killed it. He did not get any money out of her but he did kill her computer. Microsoft does not call us. Remember that.

1 comment

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

What a total nasty idiot! I hope she had backups.

That's bad! We haven't gotten that call yet but we often get calls to fix our credit cards and we don't have credit cards! They don't care and keep calling no matter how many times we tell them to take our names off their lists. We're also on the national do not call list but some of them don't care. Thank you for making us aware of this. I'll know it's fake if they ever do call!
Meri

1 comment

by gerryb 10 Apr 2014

My goodness, the credit card calls! "This is Rachel" but yesterday "Ann" called!! Guess there are still people falling for all that!

I get that phone call too ,I usually say I dont have a computer

I had received the same call in the past, luckily I refused the offer, it was a lady....

My grandson is 3 and loves to chat on the phone. He enjoys himself and they give up

2 comments

by gerryb 10 Apr 2014

Now THAT is funny! Love it!!

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

Hold on, my grandson deals with all that. Here's Noah, talk to him. Oh, that's funny!

Thanks for the warning about the computer, but you have cut me to the core calling Cute a granny site. WHAT ABOUT DENNIS? And, I'm pretty sure there are a few of us who don't have grandkids yet. P.S. Everybody - Microsoft doesn't have time to initiate calls!

2 comments

by mumzyfarm 10 Apr 2014

Sorry Dennis, I could probably be your granny and would be proud to be, so you can be our knight in shinning Armour wielding your shinning scissors. Hugs Mumzyfarm

by anssmile 11 Apr 2014

And I might be a senior person (I'm over 50) but I still feel 33! And my son doesn't even have a permanent girlfriend yet....

this is happening in New Zealand as well told them I don't have a computer . They still insisted that they were getting errors from it .

I have gotten calls like that to .I just hang up on them.
Lenamae

I got that twice . After the first one I got suspicious and hung up. Called my server and he said They wouldn't call you about that. It was a scam.

I have received one of these calls also, left the guy tell me what he wanted...then when it was my turn, told him that was really funny since I didn't own a computer. Also told them if they called back I would report them to the attorney general in our state. They have never called back. Any call that comes in asking for personnel information always gets the opposite answer they expect.

Thanks for sharing. It is always good to be warned to be on our toes!

The same thing is happening to me....it seems like some sort of scam to hack into your ...whatever it is they want...I thought this was only happening in South Africa..I just tell them I do not have a computer.and on one occasion that I have reported these calls to the police

My friend gets calls like this and she doesn't even have a computer. There is always a new scam (although this one has been round for a while.)

Please be careful!
They cannot get your information from Cute -- unless you post it in the open forum. They are calling random numbers hoping for someone to scam. Microsoft will NEVER call you. They do not monitor your computer.
It was very good for you to disconnect from the internet. DO NOT give these scammers any information. If you give out your email address or your credit card information you will lose a lot more than data to them.
It would be wise to have your computer checked and your passwords changed. If you did give out credit card information please contact your bank as soon as possible.

I think that you certainly did the right thing. I would let Microsoft know of this. Thank you for the warning. Sarah

1 comment

by rescuer 09 Apr 2014

This is an ongoing scam. Microsoft states they do not monitor computers and they will never call you like that.

this is a world wide scam, Well done, you didn't fall for his tricks, I am in South Africa and we regularly hear of this going on here too.