Microsoft scam help!

[lingmerth]

A couple of hours ago ad I was just about to go to the local dump with a load of rubbish I had a phone call from someone alleging to be Microsoft saying my computer was being hacked. I asked for their phone number and immediately was diverted to another person saying they were a senior supervisor and was that how I was going to verify them. She then gave me a Microsoft licence number saying it was mine. She wanted me to open my screen on my laptop to do something. I said I'd ring back when I got back and had to literally put the phone down on her saying how dangerous it was to leave it. Then a guy rang and said all the same spiel and that if I didn't want to deal with it on my laptop they're have to lock my internet down ad my smart phone and other devices would be affected too. I put the phone down and went out hearing the phone ringing again.
When I came home they have proceeded to keep ringing me maybe 10 times on my landline. The number is the same bar the last 4 digits.
I've reported it to Microsoft as I assume it's a scam. Can't find away to go talk to them. Apologies for long post. Has anyone else had this? I know it probably is a scam but it's really spooked me, especially because I'm expecting a large amount of inheritance money to be transferred into my bank account soon and worried in case it's true. I'm scared to look at my laptop which I very rarely use anyway.
I guess I shouldn't have engaged with them. I'm not usually this gullible !

Absolutely is a scam. Sign up for the TPS and every time you get one of these calls block the number. Sorry it's shaken you so much these people are scum.

If you're genuinely worried about the security of your banking call them on the number on the back of your card or go into the branch in person, but I would put money on your account being secure and these arseholes dialling your number through a robocaller.

Report to 7726 ? Forward the number that was calling you

It's a well-known scam. They want to remote access your computer and are trying to scare you into giving permission.

Thank you both for your comments. I have reported it to ActionFraud. The scammers carried ringing about another 5 times after my post. Seem to have given up or only work till 5pm!

Next time they ring, tell them you've reported them to Action Fraud or the cyber crime team. You won't hear from them again.

Definitely a scam.

Assume all calls like that are scams.

Apologies for long post. Has anyone else had this?

All the time. I like to waste their time and see how angry I can get them.

This morning they phoned 3 times before 9am. I'm afraid dh shouted a load of abuse down the phone after saying we'd reported it. We've unplugged our landline now.

How exactly would Microsoft get your phone number?

I tell them I work for Microsoft too, ask what floor they're on and I'll pop up and see them. They never called back.

@Balloonhearts I asked this. They said it was when I bought the laptop it was registered and my phone number was part of the registration.
I realise the more o explain this the more gullible I look!
Great reply. My mistake was engaging.

I try and keep them engaged as long as possible. Think 42 mins was my record. They swore and hung up on me when they realised I was using a Mac……..😂😂😂

Next time the phone rings answer it with:

"Hello, Fraud Squad, how can we help you?"

How could Microsoft possibly turn off your internet - your home BB (if you have it) and also your mobile BB?

Scummy people.

Then you find that's the one time that it's your gran calling - and she's absolutely terrified!

Highly recommend checking out the "scams" subreddit on Reddit where they have screen shots and explanations for various scams.

I put on my old lady voice:
'Windows? No dear we don't need any windows we had new double glazing last year. Nom we don't have a computer. What's that got to do with our new windows?' etc

I like to go along with it and wind them up. I’ve said I’ve opened my laptop and was following all their Instructions and giving them fake codes all whilst I sat and munched chocolate and watched tv.
The best bit is I don’t have Microsoft on my laptop! When they realised I wasn’t being genuine they swore at me, said I was time wasting and hung up 😂 They didn’t phone me back!

There's a young-ish American guy who seeks out the scammers and uses a voice changer to present as a stereotypical, clueless old lady, taking ages to do or understand anything that 'she' is being told to do by the scammers.

Meanwhile, he has remotely controlled their computer and deleted tens of thousands of their files and left them helpless by the end of it - when he sometimes reverts to his normal voice, sometimes keeps the fake one, and speaks to them in an obviously highly tech-savvy way and tells them exactly what he's done! The bit after that is invariably bleeped out for quite some time!

I just tell them to fuck off and hang up the phone.

Once I did drag it out and pretended I was happy to take out a new phone contract. When they wanted my email I spelt out F-U-C-K-O-F-F @ gmail or whatever it was.

This was 15 minutes into the call. He just responded with “and you” and hung up the phone.

I do not answer my landline. Don’t have it plugged in.

Whoops!

Be aware there's another scam going round where someone pretends to be from Action Fraud. The one that called me had a northern Ireland phone number.
Just be aware it's very rare for action fraud to call you even if you've reported something. So if this happens do not confirm who you are, terminate the call and then recontact action fraud in the normal way. If it's legit then they can email you and if not then you've reported another scam!

Good old “Vivian Rogers” eh? He’s Pierogi aka ScammerPayback on YouTube if anyone wants to have a look - quite an education as to what these lowlifes get up to.

Thank you, I couldn't remember the name, but yes!

They just call mobiles instead; although I'm guessing that they exploit this 'tech window' of time that we're currently in, in which people having/answering a landline are far more likely to be elderly and maybe less cynical and tech savvy.

Even so, it's a huge shame when 'we can't have nice things' and benefit from having useful technology at our disposal, just because so many people out there are seeking to exploit our utilities that we pay for in order to scam us and, in so doing, make them unviable.

You can block numbers on mobiles more easily plus if no caller ID I let it go to voicemail.