Microsoft

[nannakath]

Has anybody else received a telephone call stating they were from the World wide web and saying that our computer would in possibly crash soon? My husband took the call and got a phone number after the call as the call no. was not withheld. Should we report this no. and who to?
I read about `heartbleed` a few days ago-perhaps is what it was.

[bert_h]

It's a scam. Who could both know enough about your computer, AND know your phone number?

[Old_Geezer]

Microsoft aren't not going to be phoning around their millions of purchasers. The only ones who are will be after something.

I'm not sure who you report it to, in your shoes I'd just be glad I didn't allow them access to any of my information or had given them control of my PC.

[wiltsman]

This has been going on way before the 'Heartbleed' problem. So many people have been contacted by these con merchants, that I don't think it's even worth trying to report it.

I think the best way to deal with this type of scam, is to say that you don't have a computer, then immediately put the phone down on them!

[SeaJayPea]

These people are leeches. They will tell you that your computer will crash, but they don't even know that you have one. A neighbour of mine who has no computer gets these calls all the time.

If you're registered with the Telephone Preference Service and this call came from within the UK, then they are committing an offence. The TPS might be interested.

Ignore it, but please put the number on here.

[nannakath]

Thank you all. It`s a comfort to have AB friends. The no.:002394765353
They mentioned Massachusetts and said our computer was being blacklisted. we are on the TPL and I usually advise strange alls at it is illegal to call and that usually works.

[SeaJayPea]

Well 00239 is the code for Sao Tomé and Principe, but I'd bet the call originates from somewhere other than there and is just routed via that country.

I've been known to tell them that their call is really interesting as I am somebody who is head of security for Microsoft for southern England. The phone goes down pretty quickly after that.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Just to add, the world wide web is not an organisation with an office. It's the internet.

[HansUrbancka]

It's a scam which has been around for a long while.

If you get another such call, try the following response.

"Can you tell me which computer it is ?. The four children all have laptops and so do I have one. My husband has two desktops and I think he has a laptop which is playing up. Well it was when he took it on holidays last year and I don't think he's used it since."

I reckon the phone will soon be put down by the caller.

Hans.

[venator]

If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck.....