General Discussion

TexasTowelie

(127,401 posts)

4. It's a scam for companies to gain control of your computer via remote access.

Fri Jun 13, 2014, 02:00 PM

Jun 2014

They can obtain all of your login credentials, passwords and other personal information to commit fraud.

The only time you should relinquish control of your computer is with a trusted source that you have contacted. When you relinquish control of your computer you must also watch to verify that person is not accessing confidential information. If during that process you have any doubts including completely cold-booting the computer by turning it off or interrupting its power supply.

I had those calls coming in for me when I lived in my father's house and they would call on his land line. Since I never used that phone number at all on my computer I immediately knew it was a scam. They wanted me to sign on to my computer which I couldn't do since it was in a different room from where the phone was located.

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I've just got an unsolicited call about my computer... [View all] MrScorpio Jun 2014 OP

Yeah, they tried this, or a similar phishing attempt on me. I just hung up on them! LongTomH Jun 2014 #1

Useful information abelenkpe Jun 2014 #2

When they call me, I shriek " OMG, let me look!!" elfin Jun 2014 #3

That's the best way to deal with it. Warpy Jun 2014 #21

It's a scam for companies to gain control of your computer via remote access. TexasTowelie Jun 2014 #4

I usually play along with these scam artists, feigning great agitation and fear. . . Journeyman Jun 2014 #5

I build PCs. After market technical support is one of the biggest scams known to man. Initech Jun 2014 #11

I got one claiming to be from a compensation dept MattBaggins Jun 2014 #6

I heard from them too, rather recently Hekate Jun 2014 #35

If I don't know who's calling I don't pick up. Initech Jun 2014 #7

Last time I played along until they told me to download "logmein rescue" Nye Bevan Jun 2014 #8

Well, I've got an iMac... MrScorpio Jun 2014 #9

Thanks MrScorpio... nenagh Jun 2014 #10

I had a similar call yesterday.. about my "computer running windows" jimlup Jun 2014 #12

I've received at least a dozen of those calls tularetom Jun 2014 #13

I had one of those calls recently. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #14

I tell them I'm a computer fraud investigator dickthegrouch Jun 2014 #15

This type of scam I enjoy the heck out of........ wandy Jun 2014 #16

I'm enjoying this thread but your post went over my head (not all that hard to do). Jim Lane Jun 2014 #24

Yes I was! Windows is controlled by the register (simply put).............. wandy Jun 2014 #26

Thanks. I agree that you have no reason to feel bad. Jim Lane Jun 2014 #29

Some are, some arent................ wandy Jun 2014 #30

I had the same call about two days ago, and hung up pretty quickly. boston bean Jun 2014 #17

It's useful to interpret the area code as a country code sometimes dickthegrouch Jun 2014 #18

I was getting several a week wanting to fix my "microsoft" computer for awhile. arikara Jun 2014 #19

That's what I do too. I figure if I waste their time it's a good deed for the day... Violet_Crumble Jun 2014 #36

I got the same call. Jane Austin Jun 2014 #20

Link to 800 Notes: lovemydog Jun 2014 #22

a friend of mine got a call like this--only the caller said he was from microsoft--ended up costing niyad Jun 2014 #23

Imagine if all of this energy was expended doing something useful Cresent City Kid Jun 2014 #25

I mumble, mumble "AARP" and "scamming Senior citizens" Lifelong Protester Jun 2014 #33

Mr. Scorpio ... CountAllVotes Jun 2014 #27

I got one of those calls maybe a year ago. SheilaT Jun 2014 #28

I've gotten several once I tell them this is a government computer... Historic NY Jun 2014 #31

My call was about offering me a lower credit card rate Lifelong Protester Jun 2014 #32

One evening I got a call from someone claiming to be the organisation I work for... Violet_Crumble Jun 2014 #37

The Technical Department of The Windows Operating System... uriel1972 Jun 2014 #34

Yeah, It's a scam. Warren DeMontague Jun 2014 #38

I don't usually answer calls from numbers I don't recognize. zonkers Jun 2014 #39

"There is a problem with your windows." Heywood J Jun 2014 #40