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[05omegav6]

Mum had a phonecall yesterday morning, from an indian woman claiming to be from Microsoft. She stated that the computer had logged a significant number of errors.

The woman asked mum to press Windows + R. The woman then told mum what was on the screen, so guessing some hacking involved...

Mum then had go to OpSys to see which files were running and which had stopped. The woman then said the stopped files needed to be fixed because the warranty had expired. This would cost £85 for two years or £104 for four years, so knowing no better, mum paid £104 ($169)

The woman then asked mum to enter a web address along the lines of 'Show my PC' . Message flashed up a warning saying that that site did not fix computers. Mum then lost control of the pc. After a minute or so the computer shut down. Woman gave win27890@hotmail.com as her contact id...

Later that afternoon, an indian man rang to say that Show my PC was no longer in business and she asked him to refund her money. He hung up.

Same man rang again today to ask if everything was running better. This is when I found out about it and gave him no end of shit. He gave the same email contact, inspite of claiming to work for a different company, and got very argumentative when I told him I had searched the address, giving two results (of 2) for www.scambook.com

He hung up when I asked him for his address

Only apparent difference on the computer is that Google chrome has been magically installed...

Mums bank are pursuing the payment she made for a refund. Guess it only takes a moment to harvest everything of a modest family desktop. What else can she do?

[Rog]

I hate to say this, but this is not a "Potential 'Microsoft' scam?" it is a very real one. Unless the  bank does a refund out of goodwill the cash is gone.

I strongly suggest that the computer has a complete scan with some up to date antivirus software and/or get Malwarebytes and run a total scan with that. All of this in case the computer has been infected with something or hijacked. Another scam these days is that they lock the computer and demand payment to free it. Attempting to engage these callers in conversation is a total waste of time.

[MR MISTER]

Old, old scam. I've had numerous phone calls from these leeches. Usually they tell you that you have a virus, ask you to give them remote access, take your money and all of your personal information.
You then have to pay someone to rid your PC of what they've put on it.

[MR MISTER]

I hate to say this, but this is not a "Potential 'Microsoft' scam?" it is a very real one. Unless the  bank does a refund out of goodwill the cash is gone.

I stronlgy suggest that the compuer has a complet scan with some up to dat antivirus sofwtaere and/or get Malwarebytes and run a total scan with that. All of this in case the computer has been infected with something or hijacked. Another scam these days is that they lock the computer and demand payment to free it. Attempting to engage these callers in conversation is a total waste of time.

I find a quick "F*** off" right at the beginning does it.

[05omegav6]

I hate to say this, but this is not a "Potential 'Microsoft' scam?" it is a very real one. Unless the  bank does a refund out of goodwill the cash is gone.

I stronlgy suggest that the compuer has a complet scan with some up to dat antivirus sofwtaere and/or get Malwarebytes and run a total scan with that. All of this in case the computer has been infected with something or hijacked. Another scam these days is that they lock the computer and demand payment to free it. Attempting to engage these callers in conversation is a total waste of time.

I find a quick "F*** off" right at the beginning does it.

Had I answered the phone yesterday that's what would have happened...

[05omegav6]

Currently running a full system scan with uptodate Avast.

Only two obvious programs installed remotely were Google Chrome and CCleaner, both now banished to the ether...

What else to do? Thinking changing passwords etc not really my field of expertise tbh...

[MR MISTER]

Currently running a full system scan with uptodate Avast.

Only two obvious programs installed remotely were Google Chrome and CCleaner, both now banished to the ether...

What else to do? Thinking changing passwords etc not really my field of expertise tbh...

If your mum uses it for banking, get it checked out by someone who knows,.

[05omegav6]

Currently running a full system scan with uptodate Avast.

Only two obvious programs installed remotely were Google Chrome and CCleaner, both now banished to the ether...

What else to do? Thinking changing passwords etc not really my field of expertise tbh...

If your mum uses it for banking, get it checked out by someone who knows,.

Understood

[MR MISTER]

She'll probably be sending messages to everyone in her address book asking them if they wanna buy cialis.

[05omegav6]

She'll probably be sending messages to everyone in her address book asking them if they wanna buy cialis.

You're a wrongun

[zirk]

Run Malwarebytes (Update before hand) in simple Safe Mode (no Network Support) 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Old, old scam. I've had numerous phone calls from these leeches. Usually they tell you that you have a virus, ask you to give them remote access, take your money and all of your personal information.
You then have to pay someone to rid your PC of what they've put on it.

So have I, but when I say I know they are tying to scam me and I work alongside Kent Police they soon ring off!

[Entwood]

Definitely a scam .. but IF .. big IF .. you have some decent computing knowledge you can get a small amount of revenge by playing along with them and costing them time and money ... you NEVER allow remote access, you play really, really dim (easy in my case) and .. my favourite .. is to say you have to boot the computer as its off .. then boot to linux but don't tell them ... they will insist that when you can't find the "start" button its because your system is infected ... you just have to string them along by playing dumb .. my record is 53 minutes before they hung up !! - added bonus is they don't call you back ..

[Sir Tigger KC]

Good idea! What's linux? 

[Kevin Wood]

Frankly, I would disconnect the machine from the internet, archive anything of value and rebuild from the ground up before it connects to the internet again. There is too much potential for something nasty to be on there to do anything else. As to the money, just hope the bank will be sympathetic. if a credit card is used, the provisions of the CCA will provide some protection. If a debit card, you're down to goodwill of your bank.