Hi I'm from Windows....

Jay794

Jay794

Jay794

Soldato
Joined
27 Aug 2011
Posts
5,308
Location
Sheffield, UK
You guys in GD will love this....

Had a phone call yesterday from a guy, claiming to be from "Windows", here's how the conversaion started:

Guy from Windows: "Hello Sir, I'm from Windows, our networks have detected that your computer has a virus"

Me: "Oh really, oh, erm.... what should I do?"

Guy from Windows: "Don't worry Sir, I can help you remove it, all you have to do it turn on your PC and I will guide you through the process"

Now, what he failed to realise is,

1) I know what Windows, Microsoft and a computer is
2) Windows isn't a company
3) My PC wasn't even on or plugged in at the time of the phone call
4) I'd already done a virus scan earlier that day

So I played along for a laugh, telling him I was just booting up my computer, told him I'd done a virus scan earlier and nothing came up

Guy from Windows: "But Sir, this virus is hidden deep in the registry"
Me: "So how do I get rid of it"
Guy from Windows: "You need to go to the following website"

This is when I got bored, and decided to end the phone call, but not after having a final laugh

Me: Ok, I've got the internet on, does it matter if I'm running Linux?
Guy from Windows: "You're running what? ok sorry to bother you Sir"

He hangs up and I laugh about it to myself

Funniest part is, this isn't the first time it's happened it's like the third, and it always sounds like it's the same guy.

If you're going to try and scam people into downloading a file that gives you remote access to their system, so you can get bank account details, passwords etc... do your research first,

I mean, Hello I'm from Microsoft would be a start, or even better, Hi I'm from <insert your ISP>
 
SKYNHEDD said:
Why is it everyone who posts these things thinks its only actually happened to them?
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Sorry if thats the impression that came across, I know it happens to everyone, I just find it amusing that they don't do more research, their success rate must be terrible
 
Jay794 said:
Sorry if thats the impression that came across, I know it happens to everyone, I just find it amusing that they don't do more research, their success rate must be terrible
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If their success rate was terrible I doubt they'd still be doing it.

You have to remember half the population of this country will be 40+, not the most computer literate in the world and 1 mention of the word virus will trigger the 'omg my photos will get deleted' reaction. I'm sure their success rate is surprisingly high.
 
Deiwos said:
If their success rate was terrible I doubt they'd still be doing it.

You have to remember half the population of this country will be 40+, not the most computer literate in the world and 1 mention of the word virus will trigger the 'omg my photos will get deleted' reaction. I'm sure their success rate is surprisingly high.
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In this day and age everybody knows someone who is computer literate, whether its a neighbour, relative or work collegue. If I couldn't use a computer, I know plenty of people, excluding computer literate friends who know about my computers.

Its inexcusable for anyone to fall for this kind of thing
 
Last time it happened to me (about a year ago) I asked the woman on the phone "how would my pc be able to contact you" her reply "through your internet connection" I asked how this was possible as I didn't have a connection at the time. She then asked me if I was sure?

It's just a shame this scam can and does work on some people.
 
Jay794 said:
Sorry if thats the impression that came across, I know it happens to everyone, I just find it amusing that they don't do more research, their success rate must be terrible
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are you kidding? for a start most over 60's will be scammed, add to that everyone that doesn't have a real interest in PC's and just checks facebook. I bet they are making an absolute killing.
 
"Our networks have detected your computer"

Well unless you're Plusnet that just isn't true

TommyV said:
Oh Jay794, you've done it again fella.
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Next time I think about starting a thread, I find commical in GD, I'll think twice lol

loltim said:
are you kidding? for a start most over 60's will be scammed, add to that everyone that doesn't have a real interest in PC's and just checks facebook. I bet they are making an absolute killing.
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So you're telling me, most over 60's don't have grandkids that play COD or have facebook, who can actually click "run virus scan". Maybe I'm assuming too much. Everyone must know someone who would look at their computer, anybody who takes computer advice from some idiot over the phone.........

Not going to finish that sentance for fear of flak lol
 
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Jay794 said:
In this day and age everybody knows someone who is computer literate, whether its a neighbour, relative or work collegue. If I couldn't use a computer, I know plenty of people, excluding computer literate friends who know about my computers.

Its inexcusable for anyone to fall for this kind of thing
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really?

i work in IT, my MIL (if we were married) nearly fell for it and got as far as nearly giving them credit card details before bailing out.

you forget the older generation are very trusting to people claiming to be from a company, i mean look at how many elderly fall for fake gas men etc..
 
Jay794 said:
In this day and age everybody knows someone who is computer literate, whether its a neighbour, relative or work collegue. If I couldn't use a computer, I know plenty of people, excluding computer literate friends who know about my computers.

Its inexcusable for anyone to fall for this kind of thing
Click to expand...

Why is it? My grandfather nearly fell for it and it was only when his wife reminded him I lived up the road and could probably sort anything out that he didn't go very far with it. These people prey on the people who will happily follow instructions if it sounds legit. If the person on the phone is convincing enough to have you even think you've got a virus, I can see no reason why people wouldn't just go along with it.

It's not about computer literacy or knowing someone who is literate, it's about how convincing the person calling you is.
 
SKYNHEDD said:
Why is it everyone who posts these things thinks its only actually happened to them?
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It's never happened to me.

The fact is these people could just sell AV software and make as much money without the bad feeling.
 
Jay794 You should have told them their business model is all wrong because everyone has a relative, neighbour or work colleague who is computer literate, they would probably be glad of the valuable market research information.
 
Convincing or not, the only person who's going to tell me if my computer is broken is my fan controller, Device Manager or Windows Security Essentials.

Anybody who willing gives out credit card info over the phone, to someone that calls YOU , urgh, I hope I never become so trusting

Em3bbs said:
Jay794 You should have told them their business model is all wrong because everyone has a relative, neighbour or work colleague who is computer literate, they would probably be glad of the valuable market research information.
Click to expand...

Why waste time, It's much more fun to let them go through everything then tell them my PC doesn't have internet access or something just as comical
 
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