Sep 18, 2012
Was called on Sunday by "James" who had a thick Indian accent. He said he was with Windows Service Center and wanted to let me know my computer had been infected with viruses and malware. He said with a few short steps he would fix the problem for me. When I asked if he was with Microsoft, he said no, that Microsoft doesn't call people and that if someone said they were with Microsoft, then that was a scam. Uh huh.
He said he was with the company that made my computer's operating system. I asked how he knew my computer was infected, and more importantly, how he had my phone number. He said that the Research and Development Department handled that aspect of it, he was in the Service Center and that he knew how to fix my computer. If I would just follow a few simple steps, he could show me all the viruses and malware on it.
I asked what the cost of this was; he said it was a free service, and he wanted to know if I was in front of my computer. I said no, and asked for his phone number. He gave it to me and his ID number of JS0809.
Clearly these people have been at this scam for nearly a year now. I will be reporting this to the FTC and to Microsoft (which owns the Windows Operating System). These are the people my genuine IT people tell me need to be alerted to this nonsense. Hopefully they will shut this scambag operation down.