Received a call from The Computer Company

[AtomSmasher]

I had no idea phone scams were going on to access your computer, but I just received a call from The Computer Company and I thought I'd share.  Heres essentially a transcript of the phone call:

Phone rings
Me - "Hello?"
TCC - "Hello, is this Mr. Adam?"  (they had my first name, but not my last for some reason)
"Yes it is"
"Hi, I'm calling from The Computer Company.  Do you own a computer or laptop?"
"Yes...several."
"Is it turned on right now?"
"A couple of them are, yes."
"Good, what do you see on the screen?"
  *I'm no where near a computer, but figured I'd play along for the moment
Me - "Just the desktop."
TCC - "Okay, on the bottom left, you'll see the word Start, I want you to click on that."
  *I decide to get some more information
Me - "What company are you from again?"
TCC - "The Computer Company"
"The Computer Company?"
"Yes, we're located in the Virgin Islands."
"... Okay... and what is this call regarding?"
"Our records show that your IP address has been blinking red, so we wanted to correct this problem."
"My IP is blinking red?"
"Yes"
"So... what is my IP address?"
"It's 192.168.0.124"
"That's could be my IP address for my internal network, but whats my external IP address?"
*They immediately hung up. 

I really wish I didn't get so blunt with my questions and acted stupid so that I could string him along for a while.  It would of been a lot of fun to act like a complete idiot and just frustrate the guy with my apparent stupidity.  Oh well, maybe next time.

[SNAAKE]

the computer company

[DaOld Man]

This bothers me because they knew your name, even if it was only your first name.
Did you read my post about the pinball machine in EE?
I am wondering if they are getting information from this site? (Not suggesting anything except maybe we have some info grazers or bots dropping in here.)
Adam =Atom???
I guess if they downloaded any of the programs I wrote and linked to on here they could get my email address because I put that in all my programs as a support option for the users, but how could they have got your phone number?
Maybe Im just being paranoid again, now where is my Tylenol PM? Did someone steal it?

[Well Fed Games]

Thank goodness they called, having a blinking red IP address sounds terrifying. 

I do wonder what they would have had you do past the start button, though.

[vcoleiro1]

I along with most of the people I know in Melbourne have had these calls.  They have called me several times over the last few years.  I just hang up or say nice scam and then hang up.  I wish I was as clever as Tom Mabe, check out his work with a telemarketer here: 

[TopJimmyCooks]

I always try to work the Jerry Seinfeld "sales call during dinner" bit, I've gotten it done a couple of times. 

Scammer:  Ring
Me as Jerry:  Hello
Scammer:  Starts to pitch scam
Me, interrupting:  Hey, can I get your number and give you a call back, because I'm eating dinner?
Scammer:  Uh, no . . .
Me:  What, you don't like being called during dinner?  Me either.  Click.

[boardjunkie]

Tom Mabe rules.....

[Well Fed Games]

Tom Mabe rules.....

Seriously, listening to that made my day.

[TheChairmanH2K]

tom mabe is now my hero.  that was  hilarious

[RayB]

thats just bizarre. just what could they want/get from your computer? seems like  lot of effort when they could get somehting like a credit card number off people much more easily. I keep getting automated calls that claim to be "in regards to your credit card" or "your automobile warranty"

[vcoleiro1]

thats just bizarre. just what could they want/get from your computer? seems like  lot of effort when they could get somehting like a credit card number off people much more easily. I keep getting automated calls that claim to be "in regards to your credit card" or "your automobile warranty"

Credit Card # is exactly what these guys are after, basically they say you have a virus on your PC which is affecting them and others, however, they can remove it online for a cost. You give them your credit card number they say , hey we fixed it . Later you discover your fleeced. This scam has now evolved where by these scammers are actually calling people they have scammed back some time later and re-scamming them. Basically they say they are investigating the first scam and require a small fee for the investigation which will get your money back. Double whammy, nasty nasty people who need a double dose of Tom Mabe retaliation  .

[hypernova]

After opening the Start menu, I would bet that they do one of two things:

1.  Have you open up IE and navigate to a page loaded with malware of their design.
2.  Open up the command prompt and have you possibly directly download a virus/malware file.

And then they'll ask for your CC to fix it, as vcoleiro1 says.

"Good, what do you see on the screen?"

Oh...there's so many ways you can go here!
a.  I'm watching some hardcore porn of some *insert "favorite" type scene here*
b.  Ever heard of goatse?  It's this thing...
c.  Pictures of all the people I've murdered over the last few years as a desktop wallpaper
d.  Your mom  (for some reason, I'm laughing myself at this one the most.)
e.  Any other funny things.

My IP doesn't blink at all.  It just smells like flowers.

[fallacy]

What I would like to know if they got your IP.. What were they trying to get? I guess you can only speculate.

[danny_galaga]

I haven't had a scammer, but I used this once on a telemarketer:

http://egbg.home.xs4all.nl/counterscript.html

I got all the way to asking him what brand of toothpaste he would recommend. It worked so well I actually felt bad for him. Just for a bit. Then I reported his company to the 'do not call' register and got them fined $50,000. Poor bastard probably lost his job...

[Gray_Area]

tom mabe is now my hero.  that was  hilarious

That was just a sales call, but still pretty funny. That kind of stuff only works with caucasian americans, though. Everybody else would've hung up in ten seconds because their noses would've detected no money at the other end.

[BobA]

Had a call (unknown name, unknown number)  with a very heavy accent who informed me that my computer running Microsoft Windows was compromised and that they would fix if I went to their web site.  Told them to blow it out their bottom side.   

[RayB]

Microsoft JUST fired their call center company because it was discovered they were doing this! So now you have a company in India who just lost their cash cow, have access to tons of Microsoft's data (such as customer product registration info?) and they were already pulling this scam. Hmmm, methinks this scam is going to become much more prevalent!

[scofthe7seas]

I really wish I didn't get so blunt with my questions and acted stupid so that I could string him along for a while.  It would of been a lot of fun to act like a complete idiot and just frustrate the guy with my apparent stupidity.  Oh well, maybe next time.

Hey, I work for The Computer Company (tm). We're actually based out of Nigeria though, don't know why he told you otherwise..
Anyway, your IP IS blinking red. Like crazy. For Reals.
True story, no lie.

[vcoleiro1]

Just had one of these calls yesterday.  An indian lady proclaiming to be from Microsoft/security firm said my windows computer was sending out viruses. I then asked her before she got any further how many people actually fell for this scam.  Long awkward silence, then disconnection tone.

This is like the 4th time these people have called me. It's getting ridiculous,  Combine these ridiculous calls with the load of scam email I seem to get and it makes you just wander about humanity as a whole.

I thought about the call later and was thinking I should have asked her whether she thought scamming people was really worth her soul. Followed with , you should be ashamed of yourself.  At least that way, she would think about what she is doing.

[danny_galaga]

At least that way, she would think about what she is doing.

I doubt it. For some people in poor countries, cheating and robbing is the only way they know to try and get ahead in life. If they rip someone off who is much richer than them (which is everyone in a developed country) don't you think they will use the 'Robin Hood' rationalisation?

[equlizer]

"A ship fog horn", this is your captain calling. You have won a trip to..................

At first they were funny, now its just annoying.

[EightBySix]

thats just bizarre. just what could they want/get from your computer? seems like  lot of effort when they could get somehting like a credit card number off people much more easily. I keep getting automated calls that claim to be "in regards to your credit card" or "your automobile warranty"

Credit Card # is exactly what these guys are after, basically they say you have a virus on your PC which is affecting them and others, however, they can remove it online for a cost. You give them your credit card number they say , hey we fixed it . Later you discover your fleeced. This scam has now evolved where by these scammers are actually calling people they have scammed back some time later and re-scamming them. Basically they say they are investigating the first scam and require a small fee for the investigation which will get your money back. Double whammy, nasty nasty people who need a double dose of Tom Mabe retaliation  .

Actually your credit card details arent worth much in those markets nowadays, as they are only useful until the card is blocked. Your information is what they are after. Your phone number and name is probably just a matter of public record, or easily taken from somewhere. If they can complete the picture with dob, address, email, ip address colour etc then they have enough info to apply for thing in your name etc. I bet they would have directed you to install a key logger if the conversation had continued.

[hypernova]

What someone needs to do is let them connect, then upload a virus to THEM!