advice on strange phone call

[drmax]

I've recently been called on my cell phone from a magic jack number from TX. When I had called back, "mj customers has not yet set up mail box" message. This person finally called when I could pick up. He said (indian accent) "did you know your pc was currently unable to download updates to your pc"? I said WHAT?
He said it again and I said "don't call here again". I am currently updating pc as I type. What should I make of this? Should I send a report to this forum, through the virus section? I don't want to waste your time, but I'm a bit wierded out. I don't think I got a bug, but it would appear someone may access to my machine...or I'm taking it too far and it is just someone trying to get money outta me. I use MSE. Again, I only posted this for your advice. I will follow your instruction. Thx, DM
Oh, and somehow got this shaded desktop.ini file on my desktop. Was not going to delete this until further instructed to do so.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You aren't wasting our time. The call you received is a common scam floating around. Some lowlifes, frequently with an Indian accent, use a random or sequential dialer to call people claiming to be from M$ to try to get into your computer to plant malware or extort money from you.

It's highly doubtful the jerk did anything to your computer but, to be on the safe side, what kind of Antivirus and Anti-Malware programs are you using?

 

[drmax]

MSE. Then I manually run malware bites and super anti spyware. Spyware blaster runs in the background. I scan once a week and keep things up to snuff. Thx for the advice and helping. DM (will ck back here later...off to work)

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I personally feel MSE is inadequate but it is much better than nothing and you are also running MBAM, SAS, and Spywareblaster so you are probably fine. Just to be sure, I suggest you run all your scans again just to be sure. As long as your scans come up clean, you should be fine.

 

[drmax]

wut would you suggest? i've used avast and didn't care for it too much. thx

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Ouch! Avast is what I would recommend. Maybe someone else can chime in.

 

[drmax]

not saying it is not good, more like....I've used it before and sorta a toss up. Just decided to go with MSE and leave it alone. Thinking it is also a smaller install as well. Thx, DM

 

[COMPUTIAC]

wut would you suggest? i've used avast and didn't care for it too much. thx

When was the last time you tried Avast ?

I, like many others here have used Avast for a number of years with no problems at all.
Also I use the same security programs you have and the combination makes for a killer defense system.

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

In the meantime, do NOT delete or change the desktop.ini file on your desktop!! I think you've managed to "view hidden files" in Windows Explorer. If you applied that setting to all folders, those .ini files show up on your desktop. They've always been part of your desktop, but they were hidden in explorer.

 

[Jacee]

drmax, you hung up, so no one got into your computer... this is a telephone scam that tons of people get!

If you're satisfied with MSE, and your 'layered protection' with malware bites, super anti spyware and Spyware blaster, then you should have no problems!

 

[chenchen]

That call was indeed an obvious scam. Good thing you hung up. The caller was not able to do anything with your computer. Be aware that they gain access only with the use of a computer-sharing tool such as Teamviewer and if you downloaded it on your PC.

And that strange file you found on your dekstop, you probably got that from somewhere else. If your not familiar about what the file was for, do not delete it. Refer the issue to a local technician instead so you get the most accurate response.

 

[chenchen]

The next time you get a call like that, hang up and report it to Callercenter.com to share a warning.

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

Refer the issue to a local technician instead so you get the most accurate response.

Gee, don't I feel useless.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I another one of those calls today. I just kept saying, "I don't have a computer. Why are you calling me?" until the guy with the Indian accent on the other end finally hung up. Methinks the next time I get one of those calls, I'll ask the little jerk on the other end why M$ is interested in my Mac. It's kind of fun to jerk the jerks around.

 

[drmax]

In the meantime, do NOT delete or change the desktop.ini file on your desktop!! I think you've managed to "view hidden files" in Windows Explorer. If you applied that setting to all folders, those .ini files show up on your desktop. They've always been part of your desktop, but they were hidden in explorer.

u r correct. I "undid" that....thank you

 

[drmax]

I another one of those calls today. I just kept saying, "I don't have a computer. Why are you calling me?" until the guy with the Indian accent on the other end finally hung up. Methinks the next time I get one of those calls, I'll ask the little jerk on the other end why M$ is interested in my Mac. It's kind of fun to jerk the jerks around.

dorks. but older folks may fall for it. spread the warning as I did

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

I another one of those calls today. I just kept saying, "I don't have a computer. Why are you calling me?" until the guy with the Indian accent on the other end finally hung up. Methinks the next time I get one of those calls, I'll ask the little jerk on the other end why M$ is interested in my Mac. It's kind of fun to jerk the jerks around.

There's never a "like" button around when you want one.

 

[robinb9]

rule of thumb: tell them you do not own a computer and do not plan to get one
You will be removed from their list and hopefully they will not call you again

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

rule of thumb: tell them you do not own a computer and do not plan to get one
You will be removed from their list and hopefully they will not call you again

Unfortunately, these beings of questionable parentage impersonating humans do not call from a list; they use autodialers that just call all possible phone number permutations.