Someone who thought I was an idiot just called

[httpwebwitch]

So this guy calls saying that my Windows Operating System is in terrible danger, and they are going to help me right now!

They got my phone number from Microsoft! Because their systems detected that my computer was downloading dangerous materials from the internet!

And he is going to help me!

As we talked, he helpfully guided me through the steps of going to <snip>, going to the bottom and clicking "download", installing Ammyy Admin, clicking "Run"...

So I did... tell him that I was doing it. Uh huh, OK now I says to him, it says "Save" or "Run" Should I run the program? "Run" he says, choose the option to Run the program.

I have to admit I had a little too much fun listening to his spiel, and regretfully I ended the phone call with some harsh words which were not fit for young ears.

"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"No sir you are not putting my words into the right meaning. I am going to help you by cleaning your computer and remove the viruses that are damaging to your Windows Operating System".

The nerve!

Makes me glad that I'm not an idiot!

[edited by: lawman at 1:14 am (utc) on Mar 2, 2011]

[Samizdata]

I had one of these last week, claiming to be from "Windows Support Centre".

He kindly advised me that my Windows computer had problems so I let him explain what was needed to fix them, and how much it would cost me - I didn't have the heart to tell him I was looking at two Mac OSX screens.

Apparently (in my case at least) this is a well-known scam running from Calcutta:

[guardian.co.uk...]

I do feel sorry for the victims, but it does seem odd that they are prepared to hand over more cash than it costs to buy a new computer.

...

[piatkow]

but it does seem odd that they are prepared to hand over more cash than it costs to buy a new computer.

Depends what the data on the machine is worth to them.

As I filter all my calls through the answerphone I have never had to deal with one of these. I suppose they could be responsible for some of the many "international" calls listed on caller id.

[Samizdata]

Depends what the data on the machine is worth to them

Apparently not worth enough to ever back it up.

But then this scam is aimed at the average (clueless) computer user, I suppose.

...

[Rugles]

There is a certain company that claims to be a "Search Engine" that used to call up companies. They tell you that they are going to demo their SE and give you a URL to go to. When you get their it will download a "toolbar". This "toolbar" is dubious.