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I just got a call from Microsoft, India division, warning me about my Windows...
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:04 pm
This is the fifth time I've gotten this call over the past month or so. Telling them I know about the scam so stop calling me did no good, so this time I just decided to play along.
For about 5 minutes I pretended to be following his directions about which buttons to push. One of his instructions was to press the "Windows" icon key at the bottom of the keyboard at the same time as I depress the "R" key. (Anybody know what that would do?)
I asked him what would happen and he said he needed me to close Windows so he could help me with the errors Windows is having.
I was getting tired of the charade so at that point I told him "If I close my windows, it's going to get really hot in this room."
He hung up on me.....
For about 5 minutes I pretended to be following his directions about which buttons to push. One of his instructions was to press the "Windows" icon key at the bottom of the keyboard at the same time as I depress the "R" key. (Anybody know what that would do?)
I asked him what would happen and he said he needed me to close Windows so he could help me with the errors Windows is having.
I was getting tired of the charade so at that point I told him "If I close my windows, it's going to get really hot in this room."
He hung up on me.....
2
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:06 pm to LSURussian
quote:Just open the "run" dialog box.
One of his instructions was to press the "Windows" icon key at the bottom of the keyboard at the same time as I depress the "R" key. (Anybody know what that would do?)
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:10 pm to ell_13
Okay...and then what?
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:15 pm to LSURussian
What were his instructions after that? It's just a place where you can run programs without having to navigate through the interface.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:18 pm to LSURussian
quote:
Okay...and then what?
They were probably going to have you launch the event viewer (which invariably has a long list of warnings and errors), and try to scare you into believing that your computer has major problems. Then they would get you to allow them to remotely access your computer and "fix" it for a fee.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:18 pm to LSURussian
Did he ask you to type something after Windows+R? Sounds like he was trying to get you to install something.
Oh and
Oh and
quote:
I was getting tired of the charade so at that point I told him "If I close my windows, it's going to get really hot in this room."
He hung up on me
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:19 pm to LSURussian
windows r is a shortcut to open the run dialog box. from there, if you know the name of an exe file, you can run that file from that window.
So say you want to get to command prompt. instead of clicking start, and looking in accessories for the cmd prompt, you just hit windows r, type cmd and press enter. it's just a shortcut, and useful if your mouse dies.
There's a whole list of keyboard shortcuts
windows r - run box
windows e - windows explorer opens
windows L - locks your computer
windows d - takes you to your desktop
windows break/pause - opens up windows properties
windows tab - kinda does what alt tab does, but gives you tiles instead of icons.
So say you want to get to command prompt. instead of clicking start, and looking in accessories for the cmd prompt, you just hit windows r, type cmd and press enter. it's just a shortcut, and useful if your mouse dies.
There's a whole list of keyboard shortcuts
windows r - run box
windows e - windows explorer opens
windows L - locks your computer
windows d - takes you to your desktop
windows break/pause - opens up windows properties
windows tab - kinda does what alt tab does, but gives you tiles instead of icons.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:20 pm to Korkstand
quote:
They were probably going to have you launch the event viewer (which invariably has a long list of warnings and errors), and try to scare you into believing that your computer has major problems. Then they would get you to allow them to remotely access your computer and "fix" it for a fee.
Ah that sounds like the winner. Wasn't familiar with this particular scam.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:25 pm to ell_13
quote:He never got past that point.
What were his instructions after that?
At first I was telling him I did what he told me to do and the screen went blank.
He'd ask me again what was on the screen and I'd say "nothing, just a blank screen like the computer is hibernating."
He'd hesitate and say do it again. I would push the esc key so he could hear a key being pressed and I'd say "okay, now what?" He'd ask "what's on the screen now?"
I'd tell him it's still blank but I can see an image in the top right corner. I can't make it out what it is....maybe a Windows icon???
This went on for a full 5 minutes, going in circles and not getting past the Win+R key instruction. His voice kept getting higher and louder.
Then I finally asked him what was supposed to happen when I pressed the Win+R key and he said it would shut down Windows so I could see the files with the errors.
That's when I told him "if I shut my windows this room is going to get very hot".......and that's when he hung up on me.
That's the most fun I've had today.....
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:28 pm to Korkstand
quote:Pretty slick. Next time I'll pretend to do what he tells me to do then I'll make up some crap about what I'm seeing on the screen with error messages and warnings. Thanks for the tip!
They were probably going to have you launch the event viewer (which invariably has a long list of warnings and errors), and try to scare you into believing that your computer has major problems. Then they would get you to allow them to remotely access your computer and "fix" it for a fee.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:36 pm to LSURussian
quote:You can actually play along, launch the event viewer and read them your actual errors if you want. I've heard that if you get that far and they think you're a live one, they actually call a supervisor over and you can waste some of his time, too.
Pretty slick. Next time I'll pretend to do what he tells me to do then I'll make up some crap about what I'm seeing on the screen with error messages and warnings.
Just obviously don't give them any numbers (credit card or IP address), and don't let them remotely access your machine. They will probably try to get you to download a program similar to TeamViewer for this part (which is totally legit and useful software).
I got a call from them a couple months ago, and I was able to keep him on the line for a few minutes. I think he told me to press win-R 5 or 6 times before I had to put him on hold for a work-related call, and he hung up.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:39 pm to Korkstand
quote:Good idea!
ou can actually play along, launch the event viewer and read them your actual errors if you want. I've heard that if you get that far and they think you're a live one, they actually call a supervisor over and you can waste some of his time, too.
If it happens, I'll provide a follow-up. I've just been reading a website about "Win+R calls" from India and it's pretty informative. Apparently it's a very widespread scam.
Thanks to everyone here for enlightening me.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:43 pm to LSURussian
Dammit! I never have any fun. I hope they call me.
Indian faker:
Indian faker:
quote:Me:
Now push the Windows button and R button. What do you see?
quote:
It's..... it's.....Auntie Em! Auntie EM! I'm here in Oz, Auntie Em - I'm locked up in the Witch's castle and I'm trying to get home to you, Auntie Em.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 2:56 pm to HubbaBubba
I up voted!
Posted on 9/23/14 at 3:59 pm to LSURussian
I kept one on the phone line but I kept telling him that my wife ran the computer and I didn't know how to turn it on. He was dedicated. Spent like 3 minutes trying to tell me where the power button was.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 6:45 pm to LSURussian
Here's what happens:
LINK
They get you to download TeamViewer and remotely access your computer and then, they make you go to PayPal and pay their "fees". if not, they will delete your personal files and infect your PC with viruses. Sick bastards!
The last couple of times they called me, I was at work and couldn't play along. Just said "fricking scammers" and hung up on them.
LINK
They get you to download TeamViewer and remotely access your computer and then, they make you go to PayPal and pay their "fees". if not, they will delete your personal files and infect your PC with viruses. Sick bastards!
The last couple of times they called me, I was at work and couldn't play along. Just said "fricking scammers" and hung up on them.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 7:15 pm to LSURussian
It's kinda funny when I get that call, I usually hang up when they call, but they say we are calling about your windows it has errors. Clearly a scam my family has no windows machines.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 7:31 pm to Cowbells
quote:Holy hell!
They get you to download TeamViewer and remotely access your computer and then, they make you go to PayPal and pay their "fees". if not, they will delete your personal files and infect your PC with viruses.
How do they know the person they are calling has a PayPal account? I have one but does everyone else in this thread who has gotten one of these calls also have one? Could that be where there is a security breach....at PayPal, and that's how they get our phone numbers and know we have a PayPal account??
That is truly pathetic that they pull that scam on people. Next time I'm going to keep him on the line for an hour if I can. From what I learned in this thread I now know how to play along and make him think he's getting somewhere.
Thanks again to everyone!
Posted on 9/23/14 at 7:52 pm to LSURussian
They've called my parents a few times. My step dad knew it was fishy buy I worry about my mother being fooled.
Posted on 9/24/14 at 12:31 am to TigerMyth36
I got about 10 calls usually at times when I was too busy to talk. Once I stayed on the phone for a while and kept telling the guy I couldn't understand him bc his accent was too heavy. I asked to speak to an American. Allegedly, a supervisor got on the call. I did the same thing. A third person took my call and tried to talk very slowly so I'd understand. I did the same thing and finally I just laughed and called them suckers. They hung up. They called several more times. I finally told them I'd reported them to several law enforcement agencies. Haven't had a call since.
This post was edited on 9/24/14 at 12:33 am
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