Dell owners beware scam caller

[flyer22]

Hi all

I had a suspected scam call on my mobile today. Caller gave no name and didn't know mine but claimed to be from Dell and said they'd been monitoring our computer for a month and there were errors that needed fixing and they would go into our computer and show us how to fix them. Mobile number displayed was for Australia +61 243 691 369. When Dell have called me (because I called them first) they normally call on a withheld number.

Anyway I explained to the very enthusiastic lady that I was concerned about computer scams and would contact Dell myself to see if there was an issue. I have and there isn't. I've reported the scam to Dell here http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topics/survey.aspx/ss?ssid=fm8lnRnnMOE~&dgc=SM&cid=279852&lid=5635328.

Bit concerned as to how the scammers know my mobile and that we have a Dell computer. Either my email is less secure than I thought or Dell have a problem they haven't mentioned.

Anyways, don't fall for this one

All the best

Flyer

[Penguin68]

Bit concerned as to how the scammers know my mobile and that we have a Dell computer.

I'm afraid the mobile number could have come from anywhere, unless you never give out your mobile number to e.g. commercial sites. They may very well not have known you had a Dell computer - but they are very common and, if you're a scammer it's a good bet to try with that. What's interesting is that they did come in on a mobile, more normally you would want to use a landline to make contact, as then you could access the computer over that. Unless you use your mobile as a hub for your Dell? I suppose if you were using mobile WiFi from an open site and your phone as a hub, then they could have hacked the WiFi (these are very often not secure) and then back traced from that. But I suspect that to do so requires some sophistication.

[JohnL]

Good to you for actually answering.

Anything foreign goes stright to voice along with others if I'm not feeling like answering.

[flyer22]

Thanks Penguin68. Fingers crossed indeed that it was just a coincidence.

Re coming in on the mobile, I suspect if I'd stayed on the call they'd have asked me to download some sort of application to my computer to give them access. At least that's how other people seem to have been scammed according to a few blog postings I've just read.

To be honest they blew it with the visible number from Australia. I was suspicious from the start. Had they come through on a number withheld, I'd have been less sure it was a scam and more curious. Also that number is now blown for them as I've reported it all over the web.

My policy on these unsolicited calls whether it's a bank, a utility company or whatever, is to just tell them I'll call them back and then find the correct number myself and call them.

[flyer22]

Thanks JohnL

I like your approach. If it is someone genuine they'll leave a voicemail right

[fruityloops]

Poor you.

For owning a Dell that is..

[DulwichFox]

This is the same as The Microsoft Scam..

They ask you to bring up 'eventvwr' Event Viewer . All perfectly safe.. Here you will see Errors which they

will tell you are Viruses.. They are not.. They are normal messages and you do not need to be concerned.

http://www.trustedit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/eventvwr3.png

They then tell you to download from a link they will give you. If you do.. They have complete control of your P.C.

and can steal your data. They will instruct you not to close down you P.C. until they have 'cleaned ' ypur P.C

They will also ask for Credit card details to make a payment for the service..

Its a SCAM..

DulwichFox

[ianr]

http://www.trustedit.co.uk/blog/telephone-scam/

Runners of Linux, etc systems have sometimes reported stringing the scammers along for ages before telling them that they are not actually using Windows.

[DulwichFox]

ianr Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> http://www.trustedit.co.uk/blog/telephone-scam/

>

> Runners of Linux, etc systems have sometimes

> reported stringing the scammers along for ages

> before telling them that they are not actually

> using Windows.

I use Windows and when I have the time I string them along.. saying Yeahh I can see loads of errors. That's terrible

When they say 'Click Start button, what can you see? ' I act dumb..

Then Type. 'e-ewent woooer'

What?

'e-ewent woooer' E --- V --- E

Sorry someone at the door ----------- ------ Sorry what was that ??

'e-ewent woooer' E --- V --- E

Get my drift..

It happens 2-3 times a week and I'm bored with it all now..

As soon as they say ' I'm calling from the Technical Dept. of Windows.. I say ' No you're not..

And clear down..

Foxy

[Ondine]

I had one this week. Told him I was recording the call for training purposes and assumed he was doing the same. He put the phone down.

[Penguin68]

The general rule of thumb about all inbound calls which are apparently about your computer (or your finances) is not to trust them unless you are expecting them (i.e. a requested call-back) - always call back (for finance) on a different line (i.e. use your mobile if called on land-line) and use a number you know is the institution's, rather than any given to you by the caller, and never give out security details on an in-bound call. Often people will try to panic you by suggesting that unless you take immediate action you are at financial risk - remember that (for banks) if they are alerting you to risk (such as a compromised card) then they are the ones who can block etc. accounts in case of fraud, and that if they are aware of the risk then they take liability for circumventing it. Despite all the publicity about hackers breaching commercial site security (which does happen) most frauds are still people based cons requiring the punter to make an elementary error (including, often, not having the simplest - and often free - security products enabled on their systems).

[se22cat]

Regarding those unfortunate enough to own a Hell, I was sorting out a friends deck today [she's too lazy to build her own] and after running Malware Bytes, Hijack This, CC Cleaner and Avira, the Windows Malicious Software tool helpfully found an exploit unique to Hell machines related to actual vulnerabilities so thought I may as well post it here.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/threat/encyclopedia/entry.aspx?name=Program%3aWin32%2fCompromisedCert.D&product=13