New Phone Scam Targets Computer Users
Print
Are we the only ones who ignore telemarketers? Between caller ID, voicemail, and the oh-so-awesome Do Not Call list, it's easier than ever to avoid being hassled about aluminum siding while you're trying to eat your dinner. Apparently, not everybody's gotten the message: Microsoft's reporting that there's a new computer scam making the rounds, only this time you're swindled over the phone rather than via email. Your wallet still gets hit just as hard.
The scammers call computer users out of the blue and claim to be representatives from a major security company, like Microsoft tech support. Rather than screaming "SCAMMER! DO NOT WANT!" into the phone and hanging up, the victims of the scheme then proceed to give the criminals access to their financial information, either by granting the caller remote access, downloading malware programs or flat-out giving the scammers credit card information.
Microsoft contacted 7,000 computer users in several different countries – by phone, ironically enough – and 15 percent claimed to have been targeted by the phone scam in the past. Twenty-two percent of all people who received a call fell for the scam, often to catastrophic financial results: the average victim lost $875. Canadians fared the worst, losing $1,560 on average.
"The average cost of repairing damage caused to computers by the scammers was $1,730 — rising to $4,800 in the U.S," Microsoft's press release reports. $4,800 on average? That seems like a stretch. We'd doubt most people own hardware that they'd be willing to drop $4,800 worth of repairs on.
Remember folks: don't give out bank account info or computer access to a random person who calls you out of the blue. *Cough* Duh *cough* Oh yeah, one more thing: There's no such thing as the Microsoft lottery. The sooner you remember those two things, the sooner you'll stop being swindled.
More like this
8
Comments
Comments are closed on this article
Caboose
June 17, 2011 at 10:38am
I've received this call twice now. The first time I strung the guy along so long, that he ended up hanging up. The second call, the person did their opening speech and was laughing. When I asked what was so funny, they hung up.
I think next time I'll ask if they like fish sticks...
MrHasselblad
June 16, 2011 at 7:09pm
Hate to really state the obvious but please don't rely on caller identification, because it is quite easy to "spoof" it; and almost make one appear that one of the Pioneer satellites is calling from outside of the solar system. Basically one can sppof a number and also any of the other identifying info to make it appear they are literally anyone.
Recidivist
June 16, 2011 at 12:49pm
We have had loads of people in our shop come in asking about this exact thing - it's been happening for the past few months. A majority of the people that came in had actually fallen for it and we'd had to clear their machines of all kinds of viruses and told them to cancel their credit cards, keep an eye out on their bank accounts and change their passwords for pretty much every account they care about, quite a few had told us that they'd actually had a lot of money withdrawn from their account and had to claim it back. I got the call at home about a month ago, and actually decided to play with the guy, asking him all sorts of questions and acting all scared, then I just went nuts and screamed at him. I wanted to have an argument with him, but sadly he just hung up. I hate these kinds of people.
praetor_alpha
June 16, 2011 at 11:37am
You could always not pick up when you do not recognize the caller id and not expecting anyone to call. If it's that important, they will leave a message.
Caboose
June 17, 2011 at 10:37am
Not everyone has caller ID. Most should as it seems to be a service offered by a lot of companies now a days.
Baer
June 16, 2011 at 11:14am
I second what someuid said. I also have not been called in years on my personal phone. When contacted on my business phone I give no information, tell them to Put me on their do not call list and just hang up. If there is ever a real reason to think it is a legit call, hang up and call the company back.
someuid
June 16, 2011 at 10:58am
Between the FTC's Do Not Call List, and the great words "Put me on your do not call list" (which is the only phrase the law protects - "take me off your list" isn't protected), and I haven't been contacted by a telemarketer in YEARS.
Occassionally I'll be over at someone's house and they are still getting telemarketter calls. I tell them all about what I said above, but they seem to just be so used to it, my advice goes in one ear and out the other. Guess they deserve what they get.
Connect with MaximumPC
Featured Content
The gang discusses the GTX 690, Trinity, Ivy Bridge, Amazon, big-box stores, MMOs,...
This month's issue
Feature
Build a PC On Any Budget
Feature
Cloud Services Showdown
How-To
Encrypt Your External Drive
Build It
Upgrade an X58 Rig
Most Commented Articles
Latest Max PC Tweets
- maximumpc: Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus http://t.co/MaH9Sxyy1 day 21 hours ago
- maximumpc: Corsair has decided not to go forward with its $78 million IPO, citing weak equity market conditions http://t.co/A5a4DAzj1 day 21 hours ago
- maximumpc: Want to work at Maximum PC? Our Online Managing Editor, Alex, is moving away, so we need a new one. http://t.co/9Z7JCh0E3 days 19 hours ago
