Watch out !!!!! New Scam

[Seagull]

Got a call from an Indian from India presumably, today. Apparently my computer is infected with malware and is sending out email or some such garbage. To prove his point he asked me to go into the start menu, click on the run command and type in assoc. When that came in he told me to scroll to the bottom of the list and read a number to me, told me that was my computer number, every computer has an individual number. Them back to run command and type in eventvwr. Double click on the application section to open it, click on type to put it in some sort of order, scroll to the bottom and sure enough I had two warnings and and a bunch of errors, most were computer hangup caused by xara crashing. Then he wanted me to go to a site called teamviewer.com, download their program so he can get into my computer to help me get rid of the infections. He is supposed to call back on Monday.

So, if you would like more, google ".zfsentToTarget=CLSID" and there are plenty of articles on it. WATCH OUT, it is very easy to fall for if your not a computer expert. Remember, this is a call center from India and they are phoning you at your home, telling you your computer is sending out infected mail which starts to get you a bit panicy, then they claim to know it is coming from your machine by having you type in the cmd:assoc file and reading your computer number which they can see (Note, we all have the same number and they can not see you)

Read up on it and beware. I mean, they phoned me. I'm basically a nobody so if they can phone me they can certainly phone you. I just read one or two articles very briefly but I have a feeling this is going international and it is going to get into big bucks and I believe the scam is evolving

[zaphodeist]

Hi Frank Thanks for the heads-up. A similar thing - possibly the same people - to the "we are Microsoft affiliated and your computer is infected" phone scam that was doing the rounds internationally. They just go through the phone book. Lots of publicity for that so they've changed tack slightly perhaps. Common sense informs most of us but there are a lot of people who haven't a clue about their machines and connections and fall for it.

BTW - I've used Teamviewer, don't think it's associated with the scammers they're just using it.

[PhilM]

This scam has been going for at least a couple of years now.

They used to regularly phone me but ever since I told them I was a programmer, and I knew exactly what was on my machine, they're stopped.

The bottom line is this: If a cold caller (someone you don't know personally) asks you to do anything to your computer, DON'T DO IT - EVER. Put the phone down.

If the call gets you worried about your machine, make sure your anti-malware software is up to date and run a full scan.

Phil

[pauland]

I have also been called by these people. The clue is "how do these people know what's going on in my computer?". The answer is - they don't. They just want to get access to your computer and any secrets it holds!

Always be careful with telephone callers - don't just give your details out to anyone who asks for them - you have no idea who they are.

I am regularly called by various scammers - besides this computer scam, be very wary of surveys or questions of any kind, or people wanting to reset your online banking or confirm the password.

Be safe. Thanks for the reminder about this Frank, but do be very much more careful in general.

[Su Lawrence]

Yep it pays to be suspicious about anything like this (ie unsolicited contact). I deal with a fair amount of spam issues (referrer, email, blog comments etc) everyday, so you get to recognising unlegit stuff or scams and so on pretty quick; but even so there are always some that cause you pause and you have to check out (ie Googled) if you can before deleting etc. So you just have to be cautious really.

Mind you the phone ones won't work with me as I never answer the phone.

Thanks for the heads up Frank.

Regards

Su

[masque]

I've had one of these so far, but I just treated them as I did when they rang saying they were Microsoft and that they had had a report that my computer was infected.
I just said that my computer wasn't on, though it was running slowly now they mention it, and if they waited I'd switch it on and let them help me with it as I had some banking stuff to do.
Then it's just a matter of getting on with whatever you're doing, make a cup of tea, mow the lawn, and so often they are still there when you come back, when of course you just hang up.
Invariably they ring back as they are now convinced they have a sucker and you just repeat the whole process as you switched off the computer when you were cut off etc etc.
It might be childish but it keeps me amused for half an hour. Its so sad when you have to rely on scam phone call for much craved human contact.

[renderer]

Got a call from an Indian from India presumably, today. Apparently my computer is infected with malware and is sending out email or some such garbage. To prove his point he asked me to go into the start menu, click on the run command and type in assoc. When that came in he told me to scroll to the bottom of the list and read a number to me, told me that was my computer number, every computer has an individual number. Them back to run command and type in eventvwr. Double click on the application section to open it, click on type to put it in some sort of order, scroll to the bottom and sure enough I had two warnings and and a bunch of errors, most were computer hangup caused by xara crashing. Then he wanted me to go to a site called teamviewer.com, download their program so he can get into my computer to help me get rid of the infections. He is supposed to call back on Monday.

So, if you would like more, google ".zfsentToTarget=CLSID" and there are plenty of articles on it. WATCH OUT, it is very easy to fall for if your not a computer expert. Remember, this is a call center from India and they are phoning you at your home, telling you your computer is sending out infected mail which starts to get you a bit panicy, then they claim to know it is coming from your machine by having you type in the cmd:assoc file and reading your computer number which they can see (Note, we all have the same number and they can not see you)

Read up on it and beware. I mean, they phoned me. I'm basically a nobody so if they can phone me they can certainly phone you. I just read one or two articles very briefly but I have a feeling this is going international and it is going to get into big bucks and I believe the scam is evolving

wow you certainly played along pretty far with them.. It's funny how they can turn from a regular tech guys voice to satan at the drop of a hat tho, check out the Australian news report here http://www.whycall.me/info/techsupportscam.php , they will literally terrorize you if you give them control of your PC

[¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,]

Yes I wish people would NOT fall for these things. They will threaten you if you do not comply!

[steve.ledger]

How do we pronounced your user name?

[charliehearns]

Thanks for the valuable info and I will recommend my friends to get up to speed on the latest scams by signing up here. Again, thank you.