Computer Hackers Query!

[Valeriea]

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help us. Today my husband took a call from someone who said he was from microsoft. He said someone had hacked into my husbands computer and if he paid £11.00 (I know it is cheap) everything would be okay. If he didnot pay, the computer would be blocked.

He wanted my bank details which was very strange. I have money in mine, but my husband doesn't have money in until next week. Do you think he was a hacker? I say this because someone has excess to my emails (On my computer) and sends me false emails from banks and paypal wanting personal details.
I told my husband to put the phone down, but he didn't. The man said he is going to telephone again next week but only wants my bank card details. I have refused my husband to give my details.


Anyhow is there a way to get my husband computer working again as the man
BLOCKED it? Do you think a computer man can fix it for him? Thanks in advance?

[Old_Geezer]

You have gone from, " Would be blocked", to "as the man blocked it". How ?

In your shoes, if the PC is messed about with in some way, get a friend or local PC shop to check it out.

But I can't help thinking you've not really given details of the present situation.

[fiction-factory]

You and /or your husband have been scammed as I'm sure you realise. Change bank security details. Check the account- I am sure more than £11 will have been taken. Do a full anti virus and malware bytes scan. Change your computer password

[fiction-factory]

Oh, and no-one has access to your emails. We all get lots of emails claimimg t be from payapal. banks we don't use, etc.
You both would benefit from training in avoiding scams and being safe online

[Valeriea]

Thanks for your answers but the computer is completely dead now. Do you think a computer repair man can fix it?

[fiction-factory]

Tell your bank now that your account has been compromised and ask them to freeze it.
May be cheaper to buy an ipad/small laptop for well under £200 than pay for repairs in my opinion, but if you have important docs that aren't backed up and you are not technically able to repair it then you need to pay someone

[rsvp]

It would be sensible to check the computer you are using now for any viruses or malware, change all your passwords, contact the bank and take the (as you say 'dead') computer to a reputable repair shop.

[Togo]

Valeriea when you say completely dead do you mean that you switch it on and although the "on" or power light shows nothing happens. Or do you mean that the power light does not even show? Try switching off wait a minute or so then switch back on. Now when you switch back on repeatedly keep pressing the f8 key on your keyboard and then choose boot up in safe mode. If you get it up and running do the security and antivirus checks. If you are not capable of doing this take it to the repair man or call out a mobile computer technician. Be more careful in future regarding any details you give over the phone or on line.

[fiction-factory]

If the scammer s asked him to press Control WINDOWS R then they had access to the computer and its contents

[Togo]

Surely no one would do that ff whilst on the phone and online? If so they need to get straight onto their bank and change every password for paypal, Amazon, and every other account they use. Valeriea obviously has other means of getting on line or would not be able to post.

[Old_Geezer]

For future reference could you let your husband know that Microsoft would not know who has had their PC compromised, and have no interest in finding out the phone numbers of folk around the world so that they can call them and ask for £11 a time.

[Tuvok]

Did the caller tell your hubby to do anything to the computer?

If caller then took control of the computer then you have been compromised. If you search youtube you will find lots of videos showing what happens when the access computers.

As has been suggested change ALL passwords - preferably from a different computer, notify your banks, if you get hubbys computer running then run malwarebytes and a virus scan. If you are not confident in doing that get somebody computer savy or take it to a repair shop for a checkup.

Worst case (apart from the financial risks) is that you'll have to wipe the computer and reinstall - if your files have been encrypted then they have gone!

[fiction-factory]

You may get another call from 'Microsoft' now offering to repair your computer if you pay some more money

[CrapAtCryptics]

No computer is ever irrecoverable - the only way they can gain access is if you have an inadequate antivirus or you, intentionally or otherwise, give them access.

[Valeriea]

Tuvok, Yes the man did get my husband to do things with the computer and the mouse started moving around on its own. The man was doing things with the mouse.
My husband went to the bank today and changed his bank account number. On monday he will go to a repair shop to see if the computer can be fixed.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably your best bet, having had that clarified.
Well one won't make the same error again.

I suppose it is too much to hope that your PC was backed up regularly elsewhere ? I know I don't back-up as much as I should. But there again my data files are not necessarily saved only on the hard drive.