Scam Alerts

I've gotten more of those "we're from Microsoft and we've noticed when you get on line something is going on with your computer" ones in the last week or two.

Microsoft says these are ALWAYS a scam and it NEVER calls computer users.

There are also variations where the callers claim to be computer fixers or antivirus people.

What they want is to gain entry into your computer to steal your identity or your passwords, etc.

These make me mad as hell because I know seniors who would probably give them the information they want because they are either too trusting or don't have the internet savvy to realize this stuff is a scam.
 

Yikes! My dad just got one of those computer scams where there's a popup that says that you've got a virus and call this phone number to get help with it. And they freeze your computer to scare you. And there was also a voice over. I've got a few of those over the last few years. One was when I clicked on a cartoon of a deer leaning against a tree with a bulls eye on his chest and another deer telling him that that was an unfortunate birth mark. I thought it was so cute. They covered my desktop with huge bright letters saying how would your employer like to see what you've been doing.

Anyway, thank goodness I passed by and heard my dad talking to someone on the phone in front his computer and I didn't like what I was hearing, saying something like he didn't want to use his credit card. I started yelling for him to get off the phone! They wanted to charge him $999 (and get his credit card number) for a secure firewall. Anyway, he wasn't going to do that, but he thought it was from microsoft that put up the popup.

The only way to get out of it is to unplug the computer and with a laptop to take out the battery.
 
Olivia said:
Yikes! My dad just got one of those computer scams where there's a popup that says that you've got a virus and call this phone number to get help with it. And they freeze your computer to scare you. And there was also a voice over. I've got a few of those over the last few years. One was when I clicked on a cartoon of a deer leaning against a tree with a bulls eye on his chest and another deer telling him that that was an unfortunate birth mark. I thought it was so cute. They covered my desktop with huge bright letters saying how would your employer like to see what you've been doing. ...
...

The only way to get out of it is to unplug the computer and with a laptop to take out the battery.
Click to expand...
If you're using Windows, try opening Task Manager, highlight Internet Explorer (or Chrome, or whatever browser you're using), then click on "End Task." Always worked for me.
 
Okay, I could try that. I'm not sure how fast I could find End Task on my Internet Explorer. It's easier for me to turn off the power strip. The first time this happened to me they allowed access to the internet and I got to Symantic and was advised to use Norton Power Eraser, which I did and it worked and removed any possible virus that the scumbags might have left.

After that time, though, they freeze the computer where you couldn't click on anything. (They want you to call a phone number.) I turned off the computer and when I turned it on again the problem was still there. It only want away when I unplugged the computer.

I'm still upset about what just happened. Such criminals out there. Anyway, I ran the Norton Power Eraser and now I'm running a full scan.
 
I mindlessly answered the phone today, without looking at the Caller ID. Turned out it was someone claiming to be collecting for the Police, which I have already heard we should be suspect of. I just told him, I do not give money to unsolicited callers. Hung up.
 
Don, my sympathies on your MS license having expired. But as bad as that is, at least you don't have the IRS police coming to your house to arrest you for back taxes, as I do. Be grateful for that much! :rolleyes:
 

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