Microsoft Support Scam

[timcharmorbien]

So, yeah, I got scammed.  Feeling stupid, because I KNOW better - - Microsoft Support does not call you!  I know this!  But the tech used my ignorance about computers and what I now realize was good old fashioned cold reading to convince me that he already knew important details about my computer.  So inspite of knowing better and despite my

Comments

[hadesgirl]

Ohhhhh, Tim

[timcharmorbien]

Thanks. I appreciate the advice! Have already uninstalled the AVG Business anti-virus, as I had no idea if this was even a legal copy, as well as the defrag and cleanup tools they had uploaded to my desktop. I didn't think about changing the passwords, though - - good idea, just in case.

Mostly I just feel stupid for falling for this. But I guess if that's the worst thing that happens, I should count myself lucky!

[hadesgirl]

Think about a fresh install too, because when they installed that software and did the "scan", it could have installed trojans/malware that you won't clean up with a simple uninstallation of the AVG or even know is there. Run AntimalwareBytes, Spywareblaster and Spybot at the very least.

What happened with our friend is the supposed scan installed nasties in the registry and it started to make the system unstable, making things run slow and freezing up; who knows what the nasties were really doing... but it ended up needing a fresh install.

Mikey also has some good cleaning programs we could burn onto disk and send to you if it comes to that.

*fingers crossed*

[jlsjlsjls]

At least your good sense did kick in, if a little late. Hopefully you'll be able to get any hidden nasties cleared out of your machine quickly/thoroughly.

Seems to be a sudden rash of these calls going on right now ... wonder if that's why my answering machine is suddenly getting so many hangups lately? (love the response given to 'em here)

[anotheranon]

This sort of thing can happen to anyone - that's why they keep doing it. It works.

Do read what Gigi said - change passwords like crazy.

And you've got massive computer street cred now - you're unlikely to ever be fooled again!