Today [4]

[DocBrown]

Just had a very strange 'phone call. Guy sounded Indian and knew my name. He said that I had had 4 error warnings on my pc and wanted to help. I was immediately suspicious. I don't recall having any errors for ages.
I said "what are you trying to sell?" and he said he wasn't selling anything just trying to help me. He told me that I should press the Windows key on my keyboard if I wanted to avoid BSODs and eventually a black screen and total failure.
Naturally I didn't do anything but kept asking him how he had any knowledge of my pc and why it was any concern of his anyway. He said that "the engineer" had reported the errors and he was my only hope of avoiding disaster.
I continued asking him who "the engineer" was and how he knew anything about me or my pc and he just kept saying to press the Windows key.
I suggested again that he should explain who he was and be honest about what he was trying to sell.
In the end he hung up.
Very weird. Anybody any ideas?

I'd check my door locks and go buy myself a gun...

But maybe thats just me


Maybe it was Dinesh who called you (j/k )

It was probably that Dinesh impersonator that hacked his SF acct many months ago :huh:

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Just had a very strange 'phone call. Guy sounded Indian and knew my name. He said that I had had 4 error warnings on my pc and wanted to help. I was immediately suspicious. I don't recall having any errors for ages.
I said "what are you trying to sell?" and he said he wasn't selling anything just trying to help me. He told me that I should press the Windows key on my keyboard if I wanted to avoid BSODs and eventually a black screen and total failure.
Naturally I didn't do anything but kept asking him how he had any knowledge of my pc and why it was any concern of his anyway. He said that "the engineer" had reported the errors and he was my only hope of avoiding disaster.
I continued asking him who "the engineer" was and how he knew anything about me or my pc and he just kept saying to press the Windows key.
I suggested again that he should explain who he was and be honest about what he was trying to sell.
In the end he hung up.
Very weird. Anybody any ideas?

I'd check my door locks and go buy myself a gun...

But maybe thats just me


Maybe it was Dinesh who called you (j/k )

It was probably that Dinesh impersonator that hacked his SF acct many months ago :huh:

Doc,
Maybe it was Nellie (Post 341) who escaped from the pen!

 

[Dinesh]

Just had a very strange 'phone call. Guy sounded Indian and knew my name. He said that I had had 4 error warnings on my pc and wanted to help. I was immediately suspicious. I don't recall having any errors for ages.
I said "what are you trying to sell?" and he said he wasn't selling anything just trying to help me. He told me that I should press the Windows key on my keyboard if I wanted to avoid BSODs and eventually a black screen and total failure.
Naturally I didn't do anything but kept asking him how he had any knowledge of my pc and why it was any concern of his anyway. He said that "the engineer" had reported the errors and he was my only hope of avoiding disaster.
I continued asking him who "the engineer" was and how he knew anything about me or my pc and he just kept saying to press the Windows key.
I suggested again that he should explain who he was and be honest about what he was trying to sell.
In the end he hung up.
Very weird. Anybody any ideas?

I swear it wasn't me.

 

[Barman58]

I know it wasn't you Dinesh - at no time during the call did the person offer John the "jumbo" Package option

 

[Dinesh]

I know it wasn't you Dinesh - at no time during the call did the person offer John the "jumbo" Package option

:roflmao:

 

[The Howling Wolves]

I know it wasn't you Dinesh - at no time during the call did the person offer John the "jumbo" Package option

Good entry Nigel!
I was thinking of the "Dumbo" package but yours was better.

 

[johnwillyums]

Someone here was posting about the same kind of experience just the other day I think. Too bad I couldn't tell you were the post was.

Something about some software companies calling people and scamming them into installing their rogue software.

Maybe one of the security users here will know where the posts are on it.

Here you go post no 2 by Corrine http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/98111-teamviewer-scam-beware.html

Thanks Aaron and Pebbly
I read Corrine's post regarding this and am reassured that I'm not being targeted specifically.

I never for a moment suspected Dinesh or any kind of elephant involvement.

Actually these guys weren't very good. I kept saying "if your not selling anything why are you concerned about the well being of my computer, are you just nice guys?"
He just kept repeating that "the engineer" had foreseen imminent disaster mantra. He didn't seem able to improvise much.
I imagine this would work on a complete noob with learning difficulties and no common sense.

 

[A Guy]

Just had a very strange 'phone call. Guy sounded Indian and knew my name. He said that I had had 4 error warnings on my pc and wanted to help. I was immediately suspicious. I don't recall having any errors for ages.
I said "what are you trying to sell?" and he said he wasn't selling anything just trying to help me. He told me that I should press the Windows key on my keyboard if I wanted to avoid BSODs and eventually a black screen and total failure.
Naturally I didn't do anything but kept asking him how he had any knowledge of my pc and why it was any concern of his anyway. He said that "the engineer" had reported the errors and he was my only hope of avoiding disaster.
I continued asking him who "the engineer" was and how he knew anything about me or my pc and he just kept saying to press the Windows key.
I suggested again that he should explain who he was and be honest about what he was trying to sell.
In the end he hung up.
Very weird. Anybody any ideas?

Maybe he was a Mac fanatic. If you told him you had no windows key, he'd have taken you off his list! You should have asked him how many bars he had :roflmao:

Got back home from North Carolina late last night. I fired up my computer and discovered my modem and wireless router were toast. My guess is a lightening strike while we were gone. Just finished installing my new router/modem combination and am back on line! After ten days with almost no internet access in North Carolina, I have been suffering severe Seven Forums withdrawal! I had my computer and UPS completely unplugged, so no computer or peripheral damage.

Good to see you are connected again Carl, way to look at it is, could have been much worse!

A Guy

 

[Dave76]

Got back home from North Carolina late last night. I fired up my computer and discovered my modem and wireless router were toast. My guess is a lightening strike while we were gone. Just finished installing my new router/modem combination and am back on line! After ten days with almost no internet access in North Carolina, I have been suffering severe Seven Forums withdrawal! I had my computer and UPS completely unplugged, so no computer or peripheral damage.

Welcome back Carl,

It's always nice to get away for a while, even from the computer :shock:

 

[smarteyeball]

Just had a very strange 'phone call. Guy sounded Indian and knew my name. He said that I had had 4 error warnings on my pc and wanted to help. I was immediately suspicious. I don't recall having any errors for ages.
I said "what are you trying to sell?" and he said he wasn't selling anything just trying to help me. He told me that I should press the Windows key on my keyboard if I wanted to avoid BSODs and eventually a black screen and total failure.
Naturally I didn't do anything but kept asking him how he had any knowledge of my pc and why it was any concern of his anyway. He said that "the engineer" had reported the errors and he was my only hope of avoiding disaster.
I continued asking him who "the engineer" was and how he knew anything about me or my pc and he just kept saying to press the Windows key.
I suggested again that he should explain who he was and be honest about what he was trying to sell.
In the end he hung up.
Very weird. Anybody any ideas?

It's a scam. There's something similar going on in Australia.

They rely on people being naive.

EDIT:
Just noticed it's already been mentioned.

Best thing to do is play along and say "I am doing what you tell me" while doing the exact opposite. it wastes their time and frustrates them in the process.

 

[sergiogarcia9]

Today, i'm going to Sweden for 1 weeks vacation. I will try to get online a bit if i can steal any wireless internet access from the neighbors

Cya all in a week

You can as always, reach me on Email and IM and i will reply when i get online

 

[A Guy]

Today, i'm going to Sweden for 1 weeks vacation. I will try to get online a bit if i can steal any wireless internet access from the neighbors

Cya all in a week

You can as always, reach me on Email and IM and i will reply when i get online

Have fun Sergio, bring me back a Swedish girl

A Guy

 

[mitchell65]

Just had a very strange 'phone call. Guy sounded Indian and knew my name. He said that I had had 4 error warnings on my pc and wanted to help. I was immediately suspicious. I don't recall having any errors for ages.
I said "what are you trying to sell?" and he said he wasn't selling anything just trying to help me. He told me that I should press the Windows key on my keyboard if I wanted to avoid BSODs and eventually a black screen and total failure.
Naturally I didn't do anything but kept asking him how he had any knowledge of my pc and why it was any concern of his anyway. He said that "the engineer" had reported the errors and he was my only hope of avoiding disaster.
I continued asking him who "the engineer" was and how he knew anything about me or my pc and he just kept saying to press the Windows key.
I suggested again that he should explain who he was and be honest about what he was trying to sell.
In the end he hung up.
Very weird. Anybody any ideas?

This is doing the rounds in Cornwall at the moment. I have been in touch with the local Trading Standards office and have given them the telephone number of the caller. Yes the firm is naive enough to allow a 1471 return. I phoned the number and said a friend had received a call from them and they (the friend) didn't even have a computer. I also told them that the local trading standards office were looking into the case. I phoned them from my mobile, of course.

 

[Kari]

Whole Germany mourns today the 19 death and over 100 wounded young people last night after a panic developed in the entrance tunnel to the main party of the Love Parade, the world's biggest techno music festival in the city of Duisburg. The festival area could accommodate 250-300K people, about 1.4 million attended, entrance got crowded and young people died.

19 dead at Love Parade - The Local
Number of dead, injured at German music festival rises - CNN.com

Horrible news. Duisburg is only about 50 kilometers, 30 miles from our second home town, I had to call all those friends there having teenage kids, just to check everything is OK. Only one friend told their daughter was attending but had already called home to tell she's OK. Thank God for that.

Kari

 

[Dinesh]

Whole Germany mourns today the 19 death and over 100 wounded young people last night after a panic developed in the entrance tunnel to the main party of the Love Parade, the world's biggest techno music festival in the city of Duisburg. The festival area could accommodate 250-300K people, about 1.4 million attended, entrance got crowded and young people died.

19 dead at Love Parade - The Local
Number of dead, injured at German music festival rises - CNN.com

Horrible news. Duisburg is only about 50 kilometers, 30 miles from our second home town, I had to call all those friends there having teenage kids, just to check everything is OK. Only one friend told their daughter was attending but had already called home to tell she's OK. Thank God for that.

Kari

Thats a really bad news Kari. Good to know that everyone's fine from your side. BTW, today im going to meet my girlfriend after 3 days. We generally meet everyday but due to my work and her ill health, we could not meet. So finally I going to meet her in the next 1 hour. See you guys later.

 

[Dinesh]

Today, i'm going to Sweden for 1 weeks vacation. I will try to get online a bit if i can steal any wireless internet access from the neighbors

Cya all in a week

You can as always, reach me on Email and IM and i will reply when i get online

Enjoy the trip Sergio.

P.S.; Plan to meet my girlfriend is cancelled.
Due to some guests, she could not meet me. So I m here with my laptop. Will leave for office in the next 2 hrs.

 

[CarlTR6]

Got back home from North Carolina late last night. I fired up my computer and discovered my modem and wireless router were toast. My guess is a lightening strike while we were gone. Just finished installing my new router/modem combination and am back on line! After ten days with almost no internet access in North Carolina, I have been suffering severe Seven Forums withdrawal! I had my computer and UPS completely unplugged, so no computer or peripheral damage.

Good to see you are connected again Carl, way to look at it is, could have been much worse!

A Guy

Thanks, Bill. It certainly could have been worse.

Got back home from North Carolina late last night. I fired up my computer and discovered my modem and wireless router were toast. My guess is a lightening strike while we were gone. Just finished installing my new router/modem combination and am back on line! After ten days with almost no internet access in North Carolina, I have been suffering severe Seven Forums withdrawal! I had my computer and UPS completely unplugged, so no computer or peripheral damage.

Welcome back Carl,

It's always nice to get away for a while, even from the computer :shock:

Thank you, Dave. It is good to be home; but I enjoyed the time away.

Today, i'm going to Sweden for 1 weeks vacation. I will try to get online a bit if i can steal any wireless internet access from the neighbors

Cya all in a week

You can as always, reach me on Email and IM and i will reply when i get online

Sergio, have a good time and a safe trip.

 

[CarlTR6]

Whole Germany mourns today the 19 death and over 100 wounded young people last night after a panic developed in the entrance tunnel to the main party of the Love Parade, the world's biggest techno music festival in the city of Duisburg. The festival area could accommodate 250-300K people, about 1.4 million attended, entrance got crowded and young people died.

19 dead at Love Parade - The Local
Number of dead, injured at German music festival rises - CNN.com

Horrible news. Duisburg is only about 50 kilometers, 30 miles from our second home town, I had to call all those friends there having teenage kids, just to check everything is OK. Only one friend told their daughter was attending but had already called home to tell she's OK. Thank God for that.

Kari

Not good news at all. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were killed. Losing a child is a terrible loss.

 

[Carl Lawrence]

I have been walking the dog as usual.

BTW, I had one of those strange phone calls:

The guy knew my name and was saying there was something wrong with my hard-drive. My computer was turned off that the time and I said I think you have the wrong Mr. Lawrence and he hung up.

 

[Tews]

Good decision... Sounds like a scam..