How can I protect someone from support scammers?

Narj said:
Last time I had one of these guys call, I let them on to a VM with a script running to keep popping up browser windows with a bit of man-on-man action in them. Heard quite a lot of gasps and cursing down the phone. :p

Kept disconnecting them saying it had crashed too. Drove them mad for an hour or so.
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You just happened to have this script laying around? :D
 
KIA said:
Get a Chrome device.

https://www.google.com/chromebook/
https://www.asus.com/uk/Chrome-Devices/Chromebox/
http://www.lg.com/uk/zero-client/lg-22CV241-B
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Yeah, something like this.

I actually think Microsoft should sell a version of Windows with no desktop and no administrator access possible. Everything via the Windows store.

Many people do not need - and should not have - full control over their devices.

By this I mean children, certainly, and also vulnerable people.

And before anyone objects to this loss of rights... botnets affect us all. It's for their protection and ours.
 
Cut off the land-line and give them a basic mobile phone with a super long battery and easy UI that will only allow calls to friends/family.

Remove internet access, they obviously can't be using it for too much anyway? Why not give them a tablet for any internet usage?
 
Mynight said:
I get these calls on my mobile so I'm not sure removing the landline will so much.
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Get a mobile for them and sign the number up to TPS.

I've had the same mobile number since year 2000, and no tech support calls at all whatsoever. I do get the occasional PPI text message, but TPS can't block those as they come from overseas.
 
pastymuncher said:
The BT call blocking phones would be a good investment in cases such as this. The BT8600 is the latest model. It has truecall built in and has the 200 most common numbers already blocked and is dead simple to add more. You can also block all international calls, witheld numbers etc. Anybody not on the white list has to announce who is calling and should it be a spam caller (it won't be because they can't be bothered with the hassle) you can block them without even speaking to them. We have the previous version, the BT8500 twinset and we used to get between 3 and 5 unwanted calls a day, even sometimes at night. Since buying this phone two years ago we have not had a single nuisance call. You need to have caller display setup as well or the phones won't work.
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You can still get these calls to mobiles so in my mind this is the best idea.

Truecall device we bought for my gran worked a treat as we used a whitelist rather than a blacklist.

Do it now. Never look back.
 
+1 for getting a truecall device and set it up so you access the online bit for managing numbers and have the unit sync every day. this is what i have done for my parents after a similar episode with scammers
 
If any unsolicited calls are received just hang up or in the case of Microsoft "I do not own a computer".

To give some context as many people are aware, telephony scams of this scale are operated by dedicated call centre set ups - multiple storey buildings, 100's of staff. Big business.

Usually these calls are from overseas so when you answer, there is a few second delay when the connection is made - Whenever a call involves a delay just hang up.

If it is urgent regardless of company, a letter or alternative contact would be issued. Even then, do not take correspondence on face value (emails) etc. Always speak to the party via independently sourced contact details.

I am curious, has Microsoft ever provided any warnings of this scam?
 
Mynight said:
Sadly someone I know has been taken by the lovely Microsoft support phone call for the second time.

Last time it happened I just tried to teach them not to trust anyone phoning them but sadly it hasn't worked :(. Now I'm looking for a more techy solution.

So far Ive rebuilt their PC and removed their admin access however this won't stop RDP programs like join.me or them talking the victim through setting up windows RDP. I believe I can remove windows RDP from group policy and could set up firewall blocks on the popular ones like join.me.

I've signed them up to the call blocking feature via talktalk but it seems to do little good.

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to get the money back as they've authorised the payment :(.

Any other advice/ideas?
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What do they use their PC for? Would something like an iPad be usable & do the job?
 
I'll have a look into that BT thing thank you. I believe they may be in the middle of a contract with talktalk at the moment though will have to see.

They use the PC for basic word processing/spreadsheets/news/banking/email/flash games. Bar the flash games this could be achieved on an iPad but I'm hesitant if I can't teach them to put down a phone I'm not convinced I can teach them a new OS.

I've managed to get a chargeback done so at least they'll get the money back.
 
Win10, updated
UAC cranked up
Admin prompt enabled (Local security policy)
Standard user (with you as admin, don't give them password)
Windows FW on
Windows defender on
Hide IE and live tiles
Restricted start menu
Configure edge with proper security settings applied, inc smart screen on
Hosts file as mentioned above
RAS services disabled, locked down settings on remote control tab in system properties
FortiClient, fully locked down in terms of AV web filtering, all 'bad' categories blocked, also lock down changing of settings, so no one without the arming password can turn anything off
Avast AV (Free) running as well if you really want to go to town

That's essentially what I do for all elderly folks after running into issues, that config has kept them safe when people have tried to connect, one even rang back saying that the FIL should get the passwords from me, he called back too and my FIL under advisement from me told him to do one!

Did the same on Win7 too, about 4 years now without any problems. They can happily surf, email, watch things.
 
Mynight said:
Sadly someone I know has been taken by the lovely Microsoft support phone call for the second time.

Last time it happened I just tried to teach them not to trust anyone phoning them but sadly it hasn't worked :(. Now I'm looking for a more techy solution.

So far Ive rebuilt their PC and removed their admin access however this won't stop RDP programs like join.me or them talking the victim through setting up windows RDP. I believe I can remove windows RDP from group policy and could set up firewall blocks on the popular ones like join.me.

I've signed them up to the call blocking feature via talktalk but it seems to do little good.

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to get the money back as they've authorised the payment :(.

Any other advice/ideas?
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install Linux. that is what i had to do for my parents.
 
Mynight said:
Sadly someone I know has been taken by the lovely Microsoft support phone call for the second time.

Last time it happened I just tried to teach them not to trust anyone phoning them but sadly it hasn't worked :(. Now I'm looking for a more techy solution.

So far Ive rebuilt their PC and removed their admin access however this won't stop RDP programs like join.me or them talking the victim through setting up windows RDP. I believe I can remove windows RDP from group policy and could set up firewall blocks on the popular ones like join.me.

I've signed them up to the call blocking feature via talktalk but it seems to do little good.

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to get the money back as they've authorised the payment :(.

Any other advice/ideas?
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Some people just have no clue, it's no wonder that people have their bank accounts 'hacked'.

The person who works opposite me in the office, 3 years my junior, was merrily setting up teamviewer on her PC last week for these scammers, I made her hang up, they had the audacity to call back twice before getting the message. This was less than a month after her email was 'hacked' and invoices sent out to everyone in her mailing list. You shouldn't have to babysit adults but there really is no helping some people.
 
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