New Microsoft phone scam
9 years ago
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- 9 years ago
- 9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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This telephone scam is new to me.
Comments (31)A telemarketer is a telemarketer is a telemarketer. They prey on people to get money. These scams have adapted over the years from car warranties to phone service (remember "slamming"?) to other assorted BS. They bank on people wanting to believe that Bill Gates will pay you to spam people, and they use powerful motivators. They appeal to peoples' greed and/or peoples' fears. A Nigerian General wants to share millions with you. I'll send you a check for $5,000.00, you send me your car and a money order for $3,000.00, your grandson will go to jail for 20 years in a foreign country, you'll lose your house, be burglarized and so on. Here's a pretty good recording of this scam. It's over 1/2 hour long but you can skip through it for the entertainment, but it also has some good info in it to educate people on how they work. Once they get you to download one of the programs, they can get into your computer and you will have problems. They use essentially illusions to look credible and the non-skeptical will often swallow it hook, line and sinker. I always told my clients that if it comes to you in an email, assume it's false until proven true. And when they call you on the phone, it's not much different. The sad part is people WANT to believe scams. And they want to be the first to share this secret with people so they send it on to everyone they know. Anyone can challenge/dispute any charge, just like anyone can sue anyone for anything, however it takes proof to prevail. The banks have no liability to reimburse someone for being a sucker. The easy dispute process was tightened up on many years ago because people would buy something, then have buyer's remorse and dispute the charge. There are rules with a rescission period requirement on large purchases but on smaller purchases when you authorize a charge, you're basically on the hook for it. And to get a refund, you have to go through the proper procedures. People think a credit card protects them because if they drop the TV down a flight of steps, or leave the cake out in the rain, and they can just dispute it and get the money back. You can't challenge a charge because another store put the jacket on sale two weeks after you purchased it. Doesn't work that way. It's similar to people thinking they can buy something with a check and stop payment on the check with no ramifications or even to put them in a better bargaining position. Not always so. You can have issues with criminal charges against you for defrauding an innkeeper for one thing. Attempting to evade payment of a debt is a criminal charge in many places. For instance, writing a check on a closed account. Sadly there are some cards who will sometimes indemnify suckers and that costs everyone money. They'll do it for "customer service" I suppose but again, ever since the changes in the credit laws a number of years ago they aren't as friendly about it. Most of these telemarketers are educated, at least more than a lot of the people they call. I'd suspect the caller did not say they were with Microsoft. They probably said "tech support" or something and babble something about Microsoft certification or something and people who don't know better or don't pay attention assume something different. One of the collection agencies out of Canada operate under a name similar to a law office to gain credibility and scare people into paying up, even on debts they don't owe. People need to be educated and at least learn more than the telemarketers to protect themselves or they're destined to lose....See MoreExplain Microsoft Scam Calls
Comments (50)They almost got me today! I was just online doing my usual when this page came up, and this voice told me I needed to call immediately. They wanted my password and I was worried. DH is fishing, couldn't find our IT guys number, so I called the number they gave. They were busy. "Call back later." I COULDN'T DO ONE THING ON MY COMPUTER. THEY HAD ME LOCKED!! Now I do control, alt delete, and manage to close all windows and restart. First thing I did was run my malware program. They found nothing. Same with my security software. Nothing. Then I get the call. They are calling me back. I said "If you are Microsoft, what is my name?" They didn't know. I said a few choice words and hung up. BUT I have my screenshot. I did crop it for public display, but I've got the full thing with the address bar to show to the REAL microsoft techs IF I need to contact them from their bonifide website contact info. They have many tricks up their sleeves. Do not be fooled!...See MoreNew scam (to me) via USPS
Comments (18)I've actually had a similar idea to yours cynic, but with a slight change that might actually make the solution workable. Whenever a call is received, the recipient has the option of hanging up and dialing similar to *69 (I'll call it *96) which would cause some amount (say 50 cents) to be added to the callers bill, and that amount would be credited to the recipient's bill. Think about it. You've just got a call from 'Bridget at card services" or from "Microsoft" or from some annoying survey or from the opposing political party regarding their reprehensible candidate, and rather than merely hanging up and walking away silently fuming (like I did moments ago in the middle of writing this message) Instead imagine hanging up, dialing *96 and walking away slightly smirking because you've actually affected the annoying caller, and your phone bill will be slightly smaller this month. Imagine the smile when you think, "Five more of them, and this month is free!" The details of the plan would need some careful thought to avoid creating a new mode of abuse wherein some scammer calls you leaving a message saying "Its an emergency, call me back at this number ASAP" and then when you do, they *96 you and garner 50 cents from you. Maybe each caller gets a handful of *96 calls in a given month before they are debited. Or perhaps the caller is notified that the recipient has done a *96, and the caller has the option of dialing *97 and negating the charge back, but only a couple of times a month. It would take decision at the Federal level to force the phone companies to implement this, since I'm sure they'll fight it tooth and nail. Furthermore the telemarketing industry will surely claim it would affect their business, and jobs of all the poor schlubs they employ, but ... duh, that's the entire point of the measure. The one issue I see with the measure is that it would be so effective, that perhaps within a year of being implemented, the need for it and the use of it would drop to near zero. (Note if a lawmaker reads this and wants to implement this scheme, I'll gladly license the design for a meager 1/100th of a cent per call that is *96'ed :-)...See MoreAbout new Microsoft update
Comments (7)1607 refers to the Windows Anniversary Upgrade. This Upgrade has been available since August 2nd, 2016. You will see more updates that show this number 1607, don't worry they are just your basic Windows 10 Updates. I'm not sure if Upgrading to the Windows Anniversary Edition took care of the Pop-ups or not. There were lots of changes in this Upgrade and some of them were Adding Notification Banners that weren't available before, they can be shut off if you want. Settings> Personalization> Start, Turn Off "Occasionally Show Suggestions in Start" Settings> Personalization> Lock Screen, Turn Off "Get Fun Facts, Tips and More From Windows and Cortana on your Lock Screen" BTW, there may be more Notification Banners that I haven't listed (not sure). Here is a YouTube Video with Windows 10 Anniversary Edition Upgrade Review (Coolest Features). There are lots of YouTube Videos with WAE Reviews, I just picked one and posted it. You may find more than one useful!...See More- 9 years ago
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