Scam Alert!!

Yes, it has finally happened to me!! 

I had been told of this scam by my neighbours already but was surprised to actually have a call telling me that my computer has errors and he is needs me to go to my computer so he can help me fix them.

Bottom line…this is a current scam.  What they are after is your personal information...banking information, it sounds like according to various

Google searches I did, via access to your computer. Though of course they will assure you they are not going to access your computer. They will show you where the errors are so you can see for yourself. Now for the average computer user this will seem frightening and if you follow their steps, they will lead to a list of errors. Thing is according to the research I did this is normal and not a thing to be alarmed about but apparently it does seem to verify them. 

 

Heads up let others know.  When in doubt check them out.  Ask for their info, tell them you’ll call them back.  Call your Internet provider and ask them for information about your computer errors and the Internet.

The reason why scams work is because the average person doesn't stop to ask questions. 

Think about it...

First – How do they even know I have a computer?  They don’t but it’s a good guess as more than 75% of homes do.

Second – Would they really care if my IP actually showed up in their “vast” system as having an error?

Third - Why can't they just tell me what the problem/error is?  Why do I have to listen to them first or go through their steps.  This is also a popular tactic for sales calls.  Let's look at the facts.  They called us...that means we call the shots.

Here are the details from my call:

Supposed company: U R PC Care (which they don’t even tell you right away..I had to ask.  What legit company calls and doesn’t even introduce themselves?)

I pushed for more info and was told he was calling from Canada.  Columbus Canada.  In Toronto.  When I asked what province that was of course he was unable to tell me.  Later he changed his story…he was calling from Columbus, Ohio.  Another clue things were not on the level!

Supposed phone number: 1-614-388-8813  I called it from my cell while they held for me to get my son to help me 'because I just don't know much about computers'.  It went straight to an answering machine..no mention of a business.  Just leave a msg and someone will call you back.  This was in a woman's voice.

Supposed second person's name: James Anderson and his employee number (supposedly) is JAX201

Caller says - Your computer has errors, it’s probably a virus you picked up online while on FB, etc.  I can help you.Then they ask you if you are in front of your computer.

So I played along…I DID NOT actually do anything they told me to but I googled the steps they were trying to walk me through. 

First they wanted me to hit the four flags windows button and the r key at the same time.  (what if I own a Mac?) Apparently doing that opens a run command window.  A part of my computer which I am reluctant to play with at the best of times.  From there they asked what I was seeing...and being that I wasn't seeing anything I had to stall to Google images of the steps they were patiently trying to get me to do. 

I played like I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about, which at times wasn’t hard due to their thick accents, to buy time to research what they were trying to do.

Now anyone who knows me knows I’m not tech savvy person by any means but I do know how to string a stringer.  So I basically played with them (yes I keep saying them because I was actually able to get two of them to ‘help’ me) and kept them on the phone for as long as possible…to waste their time.  In fact at one point I kept complaining that the phone connection was poor and I was having trouble hearing him. They said they'd call me right back.  I did the *69 to retrieve the last number to call me (as I don't have call display) and of course there was no number available.

It’s a frustrating thing to deal with a scammer and unfortunately because they call from all over it is virtually impossible to actually do much about it but report it and spread the word.  Oh ya..and string them along...which I did.  I not only kept them on the line for about 34 minutes, but I repeatedly asked them if they were trying to scam me.  To which they said...no.  Big surprise right?

I was surprised at how willing they were to stay on the line with me.  Especially how sceptical I kept talking.  They were pretty sure they had me I guess. 

I finally had to get on with my afternoon so I told them that I was aware of their scam.  They still tried to get me to "go through the steps so they could show me the errors on my computer".  I told them I called the number they gave and that it went directly to an answering machine...without a business msg.  Still trying to get me to do their next step.  My son had spoke to them on the phone, told them he was looking this up on Google and that it was a scam...still tried to get us to do the next steps.  I finally told them we do have tech savvy people in the family and I knew of this scam yet enjoyed wasting their time...suddenly they hung up.

I just wish there was something I could do to stop this kind of scam.

If you Google some of the above mentioned details you will see that this scam has been around for awhile. 

How do these things keep going?  People don't know about them.  How are they successful?  People don't ask questions...especially when the other person is in a place of authority, even if only is 'knowledge'.  Never let someone rush you when on the phone.  If you do you will be had.  You will either divulge too much information, buy something you don't want or lose money. 

When in doubt check it out and remember if a company, person, etc. is legit:

• they will give you their contact information and let you call them back.

• they will not pressure you

• they will speak knowledgeably and not get tripped up on easy questions

• you can Google them and find valid information

• you can get verification from other sources like businesses, police, etc.

Stay safe!!

p.s. Preview isn't working...so this is not fully edited