Microsoft Warns of Internet Phone Scam
Internet phishers have turned to making actual phone calls to potential victims in order to steal hard-earned cash.
Thursday Microsoft said that there's an emerging form of Internet fraud that is costing victims an average of $875 USD. But unlike the typical phishing hooks that arrive via email and lead to identity-stealing malware, these scammers are making it personal by contacting consumers directly by phone, posing as computer security engineers.
"The scam works by criminals posing as computer security engineers and calling people at home to tell them they are at risk of a computer security threat," Microsoft said Thursday. "The scammers tell their victims they are providing free security checks and add authenticity by claiming to represent legitimate companies and using telephone directories to refer to their victims by name."
Microsoft said that once these phone-calling sharks have tricked their prey into believing they have a problem and that the caller can help, the scammers supposedly run through a range of "deception techniques" designed to steal money.
After surveying 7,000 computer users in the U.K., Ireland, U.S. and Canada, Microsoft discovered that 15-percent of the participants actually received a call from the scammers. Out of that group alone, 22-percent actually fell for the phone scam and followed the hackers' instructions which ranged from permitting remote access to their computer, downloading the hackers' software code, providing credit card information and making a purchase.
"The vast majority (79-percent) of people deceived in this way suffered some sort of financial loss," Microsoft said. "17-percent said they had money taken from their accounts, 19-percent reported compromised passwords and 17-percent were victims of identity fraud. More than half (53-percent) said they suffered subsequent computer problems."
The lowest amount of money stolen from victims was $82 in Ireland, and the highest spiked to a hefty $1,560 in Canada. The cost to repair the damage caused by the hackers have ranged from $1,730 to $4,300 so far.
"The security of software is improving all the time, but at the same time we are seeing cybercriminals increasingly turn to tactics of deception to trick people in order to steal from them," said Richard Saunders, director of International Public and Analyst Relations at Microsoft. "Criminals have proved once again that their ability to innovate new scams is matched by their ruthless pursuit of our money."
To read more, check out Microsoft's survey results here.
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If you're stupid enough to fall for this you deserve everything you get.
I'm in the UK, and received a call from "Thomas" who worked for microsoft, apparently, which had detected a virus emanating from my PC. They knew my name, and clearly had my (ex-directory) phone number. Apart from the incredibly crackly line and Indian accent, they sound /very/ convincing. Their MO. is to start off by offering to work with you to identify the virus. A friend's parents were caught out by this. The 'support engineer', talked the user through navigating to the IE Cookie folder and demonstrated that there was personal information in that folder. He then got them to download a 'cleaner' (i.e. trojan). When he asked for payment of £435, my friend's dad had presence of mind to say "Invoice me", to which the 'engineer' hung up.
I've called TPS, OfCom, BT and written to our local MP (recieving a reply from Ed Vasey, no less), assuring me that there's nothing anyone can do, because these scams originate abroad.
Until someone in some power leans on BT to actually chase up these scam calls, it'll just continue, and these criminals will continue to operate with impunity.
BT's best offer was to 'block all international calls'. I suggest that everyone call BT and ask for this feature, if you can.
There is a sucker born every minute, and if you don't realize this, then you probably already are, or are about to become one.
im hopeing for a call like this now...
i dont get the chance to really f with people sense telemarketers stopped calling. the last one called while i was... well lets say it involved porn and my right hand... and i put the phone close and on speaker so they could hear the sound... i miss telemarketers.
I have been getting calls like this on and off for over a year (in Australia)...
If you're stupid enough to fall for this you deserve everything you get.
I'm inclined to agree. After a certain point, we just can't help stupid people. I understand we must teach you how to tie your shoe and etc, but past that point, you really need to start critically thinking for yourself.
We can't baby walk everyone through life. If they're that dumb, then chances are they're likely candidates to be run over by buses.
I'm in the UK, and received a call from "Thomas" who worked for microsoft, apparently, which had detected a virus emanating from my PC. They knew my name, and clearly had my (ex-directory) phone number. Apart from the incredibly crackly line and Indian accent, they sound /very/ convincing. Their MO. is to start off by offering to work with you to identify the virus. A friend's parents were caught out by this. The 'support engineer', talked the user through navigating to the IE Cookie folder and demonstrated that there was personal information in that folder. He then got them to download a 'cleaner' (i.e. trojan). When he asked for payment of £435, my friend's dad had presence of mind to say "Invoice me", to which the 'engineer' hung up. I've called TPS, OfCom, BT and written to our local MP (recieving a reply from Ed Vasey, no less), assuring me that there's nothing anyone can do, because these scams originate abroad. Until someone in some power leans on BT to actually chase up these scam calls, it'll just continue, and these criminals will continue to operate with impunity. BT's best offer was to 'block all international calls'. I suggest that everyone call BT and ask for this feature, if you can.
Here's a lesson to teach people.
NO ONE IS GOING TO CALL YOU. E-MAIL YOU OR OTHERWISE NOTIFY YOU THAT YOU HAVE A VIRUS. YOU DOWNLOAD A LEGIT PROGRAM, UPDATE IT, AND LET IT DO IT'S JOB. IF IT ASKS FOR MONEY OR DIRECTS YOU TO SOME SHADY ASS WEBSITE, YOU NOW KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TRICKED AND NEED TO GET RID OF IT OR REFORMAT.
Seriously, how stupid are people? If you know and understand the basics, you CANNOT get tricked. These aren't CIA operatives....they're morons in Nigeria that feed on people's greed and stupidity.
My friend from Australia got one of these a few weeks ago. He asked to talk to their manager lol. Funny how these scams are going around the world.
I love getting people like this on the phone, especially sales people. Nothing funner then letting them do there rant, and then I say "I'm sorry, could you please repeat that"? then they do, when they are done, I ask a few questions, then I say "i'm sorry, could you please explain it to my wife"? then after they explain, I have her ask them some questions, and then wait for them to ask for the credit card number, then just hang up.. LOL, i've actually had a few of them hang up on me. Hey, time is money, nothing you can do better then waste there time.
Oh man I want to get that phone call and frustrate them... "how do I turn on my computer?" "where's the start button?" "drag what? I don't have rodents in my house, sir." "Drag this across my desktop? Won't that throw everything to the floor? Who will clean that, you??"
Seriously, you really think I'll trust that?
Oh man I want to get that phone call and frustrate them... "how do I turn on my computer?" "where's the start button?" "drag what? I don't have rodents in my house, sir." "Drag this across my desktop? Won't that throw everything to the floor? Who will clean that, you??"
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
I've heard of people giving people complex questions ("What OS does this run?") just to baffle Best Buy employees. I'll bet it works too.
Had one of these a few weeks ago. Played along for quite a while - the Indian guy on the other end got me to run services.msc and said that all the processes with "stopped" next to them were responsible for the "viruses emanating from your PC, sir, at danger to yourself and your neighbours sir." ?!?
Got as far as him trying to get me to download some remote access software before I asked him if the tables were turned would he click on an exe file if someone phoned him up from England. He said he wouldn't, sounded mightily pissed off with me and hung up... Hehe. That's 20 minutes of his time that won't be spent confusing people like my grandmother who may not be tech savvy enough to appreciate what would seem to most of us an obvious scam...
Ohh man I wish would get a call like that so I could have some fun running them through the ringer as I have several machines running 24/7.that would keep them busy until I got a trace on them!he,he
Thes best way to get back at them is to ship them something with a high declared value (like a laptop) but send them some rocks and newpapers, dogcrap in a bag etc. They will have to pay the import tax on the declared value in whatever 3rd world country they are in. Nothing better than a nigerian scammer paying $500 for a bag of dog crap.
If you're stupid enough to fall for this you deserve everything you get.
It's not stupid. Not many people have such in dept knowledge about computers, especially the elderly. These scams work on those who have either 1) no interests in computers 2) Have little or no knowledge about computers other than basic windows operations.
They call me often and try to get me to "run" a program. They try to make you navigate to a registry string that is identical on every system to validate there claims of personal info. Unfortunately I know many people who would fall for this. They are relentless and desperate. I strung one along for 25 minutes the other nite even though I first started off by saying I had no internet connection!. The girl said "there are other ways for spyware to connect". No matter how stupid I acted they kept at it.
The anonymous phone providers should take some responsibility here. I am not saying "sue them" but rather they could shut down there accounts.
You've only gotta be someone who's not that computer savy, and there's your money. How many times have you been asked by your parents or someone you know about how to do something on their computer. Or why does it say I have 600 trojans on my computer and why do I need to download this software.
this has been going on for months here in Australia - at first we thought a major retailer was leaking information but as we asked everyone where they got there pc, its wasnt anywhere specific
my old man last week got a call from "microsoft" saying he had a virus and they tried him but without luck, but many people come into my work because they fell for it
THIS IS A COMMON THING NOW
we get atleast 10 calls a week where they fell for it
It's not stupid. Not many people have such in dept knowledge about computers, especially the elderly. These scams work on those who have either 1) no interests in computers 2) Have little or no knowledge about computers other than basic windows operations.
Yeah, and I'm no banking or financial pro (especially when It comes down to the fine art of scamming people out of money by using fine print and trick-ster type of math that is purposely used to deceive), but If I have someone who calls me and tells me yadda yadda, I don't go blabbing about my account number and SS#. I instead go to the institution.
Even if I don't understand something, I know how to handle the problem.
We need to stop this "No child left behind" mentality crap in this country. If you're a retard, you're getting left behind. Sorry, but the other 50% of halfway intelligent people want to move FORWARD. I'm sick of window lickers keeping us in the stone age with their lack thereof intelligence, dumb and superstitious beliefs and complete and willful ignorance.
Grandma and Grandpa had a MUCH better opportunity to learn and master computers - cell phones too for that matter. They have disposable income and work in careers that adopted a lot of these technologies from the very start. They made the decision to ignore these fancy doohickeys, and disregarded them as being fads. Well look who's the wise ass now.
Never, and I mean NEVER, as a human being, regardless of my age, will I ever reject technology and consciously decide that I'm okay with how things are and no longer desire to progress and stay current with times.
That's seriously what these old idiots did. They figured that writing letters and using landlines was sufficient enough, and saw no use for these extra gadgets. They're the ones who made that choice, and now we accommodate to them?! For REAL? They're grown ass adults with brains and educations. It's not like we all of a sudden have Droids and iPhones and they have no hope of learning....they in fact had WAY better opportunities than this generation or last generation had. They were there since the beginning and had the chance to REALLY grow with it, but they decided not to.
WWII gen and baby boomer gen were full of willfully and proud ignoramuses. When things kept moving forward, they choose to stay in their fairy tale bubble of Beaver Cleaver, the white house with a picket fence and a Cadillac in the driveway. Speaking of cars, that's also exactly the reason GM got run into the ground. The willfully ignorant white man choose to ignore the rest of the world and thought their product was superior because It's American, and really, how could anything they build and imagine NOT be the best?! Right?! Say hello to your 401k's ....that don't exist anymore
The US seems to be late in being affected by phone scams. In my country, phone scamming is so common that people are very aware of and sensitive about it. Unfortunately, there are still people falling for it regularly. I wish LulzSec will hack those scam originators!
I have DSL and it comes with a phone line. Never use it (for real) since I have my cell. It still get about two calls a day from telemarketers (shows the phone company has my best interests at heart). But, boy is that line fun. It is like Jerky Boys, except that they come to me!! I love telling the women marketers, "Well, I'll answer your survey, if you answer me this, How big are your hoohahs?" Can't get me for harassment, especially since they called me.
""The cost to repair the damage caused by the hackers have ranged from $1,730 to $4,300 so far.""
Who is the real thieves here? lol 4300?! wtf!
One of many, I get calls saying, "Your credit card is safe for now but you need to call...."
Too bad the world is full of scumbag thieves, lying power hungry politicians who are basically thieves too and so on.
Yeah, and I'm no banking or financial pro (especially when It comes down to the fine art of scamming people out of money by using fine print and trick-ster type of math that is purposely used to deceive), but If I have someone who calls me and tells me yadda yadda, I don't go blabbing about my account number and SS#. I instead go to the institution. Even if I don't understand something, I know how to handle the problem. We need to stop this "No child left behind" mentality crap in this country. If you're a retard, you're getting left behind. Sorry, but the other 50% of halfway intelligent people want to move FORWARD. I'm sick of window lickers keeping us in the stone age with their lack thereof intelligence, dumb and superstitious beliefs and complete and willful ignorance. Grandma and Grandpa had a MUCH better opportunity to learn and master computers - cell phones too for that matter. They have disposable income and work in careers that adopted a lot of these technologies from the very start. They made the decision to ignore these fancy doohickeys, and disregarded them as being fads. Well look who's the wise ass now. Never, and I mean NEVER, as a human being, regardless of my age, will I ever reject technology and consciously decide that I'm okay with how things are and no longer desire to progress and stay current with times. That's seriously what these old idiots did. They figured that writing letters and using landlines was sufficient enough, and saw no use for these extra gadgets. They're the ones who made that choice, and now we accommodate to them?! For REAL? They're grown ass adults with brains and educations. It's not like we all of a sudden have Droids and iPhones and they have no hope of learning....they in fact had WAY better opportunities than this generation or last generation had. They were there since the beginning and had the chance to REALLY grow with it, but they decided not to. WWII gen and baby boomer gen were full of willfully and proud ignoramuses. When things kept moving forward, they choose to stay in their fairy tale bubble of Beaver Cleaver, the white house with a picket fence and a Cadillac in the driveway. Speaking of cars, that's also exactly the reason GM got run into the ground. The willfully ignorant white man choose to ignore the rest of the world and thought their product was superior because It's American, and really, how could anything they build and imagine NOT be the best?! Right?! Say hello to your 401k's ....that don't exist anymore
I strongly disagree with this and here's why:
My grandpa is 88 years old. He hasn't been "avoiding" technology like you describe. He has a brand new HDTV, HDPVR, the fastest internet he can get, digital phone, and a lot more. He also has a doctorate in Math/education and is literally the smartest guy I know. He watches jeopardy on a regular basis and knows the answers to EVERY question. I can GUARANTEE you that he is smarter than you will ever be...and smarter than 99.9% of the people on these forums.
I'm not going to say that he would definitely fall for something like this, because I have no doubt that if he was asked to fork out his credit card number, he wouldn't. However, he doesn't follow "tech news sites" like this one and likely wouldn't know about this sort of scam. He knows enough about how to control his computer so that if this person called him, he wouldn't need me to show him what the person on the other end of the phone is asking him to do. What he doesn't know, though, is enough about malware (keyloggers, spyware) to know that this person on the phone is asking him to install something that will hurt him.
It has nothing to do with his IQ, or his interest in technology. It's more to do with how old he is getting since he's at the stage where he's starting to forget stuff. To go around saying that these "old people" are stupid is absurd, because compared to my grandpa's IQ, you're a complete retard (I don't need to know you to know that either).
I'm saying they're stupid for ignoring this technology when it emerged decades ago. It doesn't surprise me that your grandpa is up-to-date, he's educated and belongs to certain standards that will not allow him to drag his feet and stay where he more feels comfortable. A lot of the older generation has a hardcore case of nostalgia. Never said it was 100% the case, just the majority.
I'm saying they're stupid for ignoring this technology when it emerged decades ago. It doesn't surprise me that your grandpa is up-to-date, he's educated and belongs to certain standards that will not allow him to drag his feet and stay where he more feels comfortable. A lot of the older generation has a hardcore case of nostalgia. Never said it was 100% the case, just the majority.
Agreed, a lot of the older generation tries to ignore technology. Also to be clear, I wasn't calling you a retard. I'm quite smart as well and am dumb compared to my grandpa as well
I can’t believe scammers have become this rude.
I just got one of these calls; heavy Hispanic accent. She called me by name and went through the virus/malware spiel. I kept telling her I couldn't hear her. She was from LogIn4Speed (they have a website LogIn4Speed.com with NOTHING on it). I asked if I could call her back...she gave me the number! 877-623-9180. I waited an hour, called back, and the Indian gentleman answered, "Global Tech". I explained I was told to call "Maria" at this number and said she had a heavy accent. He went through some names and I said none of them sounded right. I asked if this was 877-623-9180 and he said yes. I was Googling "Global Tech" at the time and asked if he was in Seattle, WA. He said no, he was in the Virgin Islands and that he'd call me back later. I reported the calls to our state government "Do Not Call List" complaint department and if you receive one, I suggest you do the same.