Tag Archives: scammers

June 12, 2012 · 2:27 pm

Scamtastic Part 2

As well as writing, reviews and interviews, TrueJDK also likes to bring you random moments from life as well.

In a previous post, Scamtastic (http://truejdk.com/2012/05/09/scamtastic/) I talked about a very dodgy little company which liked to phone up on behalf of Microsystems Tech, and pull off a scam. They’re fairly persistent, and change around a bit. So I play them.

These are the last two dealings, each time with me posing as little doddery old man.

1. They called to speak to the previous homeowner, and I explained they didn’t live there any more. They got pretty rude and aggressive, demanding a contact number. Literally, demanding. I switched back to normal voice, and shouted at the top of my voice for them to **** off, and hung up.

2. They called again this weekend. So, I played along for a bit. Kept them on hold whilst I went for my laptop. Then whilst I switched it on. Not just a little while, as long as I could. They were very polite, but the speech was pretty much the same.
My computer (apparently all of the computers which use the internet in my house) were sending messages to IT Systems IT, a specialist company, to tell them that there were unwanted files on my computer. And I definitely don’t want unwanted files on my computer, as this is bad.
Oh dear.
So, whilst they asked me to do some various IT stuff, I played along. Sorry. Played with them:

  • What’s the “windows” key? I can’t see one that looks like a window.
  • Run? You want me to go for a run?
  • OK, I’m typing in wwwdotaforapplemformary…

The usual fun. To his credit, the scamming wretch at the other end was very polite. In the end, he tried to direct me to www.ammyy.com

This is where I switched tack. When he asked me what I saw, I told him that I now had a screen which warned me about the AMMYY scam. The web is filled with them (http://www.avforums.com/forums/isps-internet/1241546-ammyy-phone-call-scam.html for example).

And so our conversation started to go as:

  • Me – So this is where you want to send me? A site which wants me to download software to allow you to remote access my laptop, allow you access, at which point you charge me an extortionate fee to not delete all my files?
  • Him – We can only do this with your permission, sir.
  • Me – You think I’m going to give you my permission to do that?
  • Him – But you don’t want these unwanted files, sir, and we will get rid of them for you.
  • Me – <Explain his whole scam to him, and that I’m not interested>
  • Him – No, no, sir. We definitely don’t do that.
  • Me – Your company does not exist. Your operation is a scam. Aaaannnddd….
  • Me – <Hang up>

It’s actually quite a fun way to spend half an hour. So, basically:

IF SOMEONE PHONES YOU UP, AND ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING TO YOUR COMPUTER, OR LET THEM DO IT… SAY NO!!!

Check out their name. Check out their company name. Do a Google search – Google is your friend. DO NOT ACCEPT! Offer to call back, if you need time to check.

Genuine companies do NOT call unsolicited.

That is all.

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May 9, 2012 · 9:39 am

Scamtastic

Well, a little off-topic, but I thought I’d write about something a little different today.

Last night I received a phone call on my landline. Nothing too unusual about that. It was an unavailable number. Nothing too unusual about that either.

Since we moved in, two years ago, we still get a constant stream of calls for the previous owners from various advertising companies and suchlike. Each and every one is politely told to remove us from the database and not call again. Quite a few are rude and unpleasant. Such is life.

Last night’s call was a little different, as they asked to speak to “the computer owner” rather than a name. Sometimes I get curious, and like to see how a call is going to go, so I played along, and asked for the name of the person they want to speak to. They don’t have one, just the “computer owner”. Well, we have several computers in the house, of various sorts. Which computer?

The heavily-accented caller reels off an ID number for the computer. I have no idea what this is, but they kindly help me find it on a laptop by executing a couple of commands. My computer literacy is low, but enough to know not to put in dodgy commands. By this time, the ever-so helpful, heavily-accented, unsolicited caller has introduced himself as “Mick”, and explained that he works for Micro Systems Tech and they have received automatic notification from the computer, through the (magical wonders of the) internet telling them that my computer is filled with junk slowing it down, and they were calling to help.

Aw. This is awful nice of them. I’m sure nothing bad can come of this, right?

Hmm… Then again.

I have never heard of this in all my computer-owning/using years, let alone had one of these calls offering support.

I have antivirus and whatnot running constantly since purchasing my shiny new laptop, and have visited no dodgy sites, nor downloaded things I don’t 100% trust.

This is an unsolicited call, at 8pm, from an unavailable number, from a company that can’t quite explain who they are, why they have my details (but not my name), and have a nice generic name.

 

Hmm…

I ask Mick for a number to call back on. Surprisingly they give me a UK number, and I hang up. And instantly hit Google to verify this company. Amongst the various companies with similar names (although none matching this kind of service), I find the following: http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/3156360916

Basically, others who have had the same situation, and have been charged for “services” from this company, persuaded to download dodgy applications to clean up their system, or even allowed the caller to remote access their machine and been blackmailed into paying them to restore files.

Not that I had any interest of trusting this company in the first place, but I’m always interested in finding out a new scam to safeguard myself, my family, and others.

I can easily see how this would work, and I’m sure they make a mint from it.

Incidentally, phoning them back on the UK number they gave me gets no answer. But a few minutes later, a call back from another unavailable number. Sadly, not Mick, but another heavily-accented colleague. I was almost a little surprised that he didn’t introduce himself as a Zimbabwean prince who had managed to secure some funds before being deposed, Or tell me how I could claim my lottery win.

Anyway.

Micro Systems Tech. Dodgy. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!

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