New Scam

[BigBoy99]

I was searching the internet for a good beef brisket recipe. I opened one site and immediately I got a big Microsoft window and superimposed upon it was a blue notice advising I had been invaded by a virus. The voice in the background advised the computer was locked up (mouse was disabled) and it was not to be turned off and I was to call the number (1-888-614-6797) on the notice.

Since the Microsoft window looked genuine, I called the number and was speaking to a fellow whose first language was not English. Since it had a slight British accent, I'm guessing I was speaking to someone from India. He advised that my computer had been infected with a virus and he would help me get rid of it. He would have to get access to my computer so he could get control of my computer to eliminate the virus. He then told me to keys to punch and it was to be followed by the letter R. If my computer was locked-up, why would the keys work? I know enough about computers to know that R means run and if I entered R, it would execute some unknown software which was probably hidden in stuff which had popped up on my screen.

I kept stalling by not finding the keys he wanted me to enter. Since my computer was locked up, the only option I could try was a hard stop, which I did by holding the on button down until everything turned off. At this time I hung up the phone.

I restarted the computer and it came back up in the normal way and I immediately ran my virus protection software and it detected no problems. This happened last night and everything has been running just fine since.

I'm sure once he had gained access to my computer all personal data on it would have been up residing in India!

 

[pawngal]

Nothing new there. If you had continued he would have wanted several hundred dollars to "fix" your computer.

 

[Bekeart]

Saw something similar on a friends computer.
I do remember 1 - 888 number and mention of Microsoft.
No control of mouse or direction arrows.
I used the "three finger salute" - AKA Ctrl+Alt+Del to force shut down.
When I powered up computer restarted normally.
Do not remember trying to shut down with the Power key.

Bekeart

 

[PALADIN85020]

Ditto with the 3-fingered salute - control-alt-delete pressed all together. This should bring up a menu of currently running programs. You want to close down your internet connection.

Then when you bring up the internet again, do NOT accept the option to resume your previous session, or if it begins to start automatically, shut down the internet quickly before it can resume where you were.

That should take care of it. It's not a new scam; this has been going on for many years.

John

 

[glenwolde]

You might consider dumping your cache.

 

[NYlakesider]

Ditto with the 3-fingered salute - control-alt-delete pressed all together. This should bring up a menu of currently running programs. You want to close down your internet connection.

Then when you bring up the internet again, do NOT accept the option to resume your previous session, or if it begins to start automatically, shut down the internet quickly before it can resume where you were.

That should take care of it. It's not a new scam; this has been going on for many years.

John

As I have said many times I'm not too good on computers, but over the years I have got quite good at doing a forced shutdown when needed.-

 

[fiasconva]

You may want to go to malware site and download their free version. You can run it and then uninstall it. It won't hurt to make sure nothing else is lurking from there.

 

[Walkin Horse]

You might consider dumping your cache.

Or not watching porn.

 

[BigBoy99]

You might consider dumping your cache.

Bring a computer illiterate, what is a cache and how do you dump it?

 

[s&wchad]

Bring a computer illiterate, what is a cache and how do you dump it?

He means you should delete your temporary internet files, cookies and browse history.

I suspect you already know how to do that. For those less informed, this may help:

How do I delete cookies, cache, and temporary Internet files from my web browser? - Find Help (FAQs) - UMBC

 

[Jon651]

I was searching the internet for a good beef brisket recipe. I opened one site and immediately I got a big Microsoft window and superimposed upon it was a blue notice advising I had been invaded by a virus. The voice in the background advised the computer was locked up (mouse was disabled) and it was not to be turned off and I was to call the number (1-888-614-6797) on the notice.

Since the Microsoft window looked genuine, I called the number and was speaking to a fellow whose first language was not English. Since it had a slight British accent, I'm guessing I was speaking to someone from India. He advised that my computer had been infected with a virus and he would help me get rid of it. He would have to get access to my computer so he could get control of my computer to eliminate the virus. He then told me to keys to punch and it was to be followed by the letter R. If my computer was locked-up, why would the keys work? I know enough about computers to know that R means run and if I entered R, it would execute some unknown software which was probably hidden in stuff which had popped up on my screen.

I kept stalling by not finding the keys he wanted me to enter. Since my computer was locked up, the only option I could try was a hard stop, which I did by holding the on button down until everything turned off. At this time I hung up the phone.

I restarted the computer and it came back up in the normal way and I immediately ran my virus protection software and it detected no problems. This happened last night and everything has been running just fine since.

I'm sure once he had gained access to my computer all personal data on it would have been up residing in India!

What you experienced here is not a virus on your computer but rather a malicious website. You went farther than I ever did by actually calling the number, but forcing a shutdown is really the only sure way to get away from what was happening - so you did exactly the correct thing. The best way to avoid the problem is not to fall for the bait to begin with!

My only concern is that by calling them, they now have your phone number and will most likely be targeting you with phone calls for computer repair services scams. Just hang up on those as well. Annoying but harmless if you don't fall for their sales pitch there as well.

Frankly, if you want a recipe for brisket you should ask here on this forum! I've got a 12-pounder I've been defrosting that will go on my smoker today.

 

[Goldstar225]

I was searching the internet for a good beef brisket recipe. I opened one site and immediately I got a big Microsoft window and superimposed upon it was a blue notice advising I had been invaded by a virus. The voice in the background advised the computer was locked up (mouse was disabled) and it was not to be turned off and I was to call the number (1-888-614-6797) on the notice.

Since the Microsoft window looked genuine, I called the number and was speaking to a fellow whose first language was not English. Since it had a slight British accent, I'm guessing I was speaking to someone from India. He advised that my computer had been infected with a virus and he would help me get rid of it. He would have to get access to my computer so he could get control of my computer to eliminate the virus. He then told me to keys to punch and it was to be followed by the letter R. If my computer was locked-up, why would the keys work? I know enough about computers to know that R means run and if I entered R, it would execute some unknown software which was probably hidden in stuff which had popped up on my screen.

I kept stalling by not finding the keys he wanted me to enter. Since my computer was locked up, the only option I could try was a hard stop, which I did by holding the on button down until everything turned off. At this time I hung up the phone.

I restarted the computer and it came back up in the normal way and I immediately ran my virus protection software and it detected no problems. This happened last night and everything has been running just fine since.

I'm sure once he had gained access to my computer all personal data on it would have been up residing in India!

I got the same window pop up the other day. I didn't bother with making the call, I just powered off the computer, started back up and ran a scan. All clear.

 

[kraynky]

New scam on me (didn't work), but "Wal Mart", called my wife and while I'm working, saying the $1,200 laptop I ordered was in, but I owed a balance. Wanted her to get on the computer and he would "guide her through paying the balance".

She did call and ask me if I'd ordered one, I said "Nope, it's a scam, call WM and our bank and ID theft protection and report it, give them the number"

They knew our names and address, but nothing else happened. They were phishing, but had to cut bait.

Be very careful out there folks! Scumbag scallywags are everywhere!

 

[Golddollar]

Twice I've received emails that said I bought a computer from Amazon. I checked my Amazon account and each time there was no such order there. Somebody was trying to scam me but I'm not sure what they were trying to accomplish.

 

[len917]

You may want to go to malware site and download their free version. You can run it and then uninstall it. It won't hurt to make sure nothing else is lurking from there.

I would second the use of malwarebyte and keep the free version.
I had a freeze like that one time but was able to shut down but not reopen in windows so I opened the computer the old way, you know with the black screen a white letters directed it malwayebyte, ran it and was then able to reopen windows

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

DId you get your brisket recipe??

 

[GaryS]

In order to "cancel" the order they'd have wanted your credit card number, date of expiration, security code, and zip code.

Twice I've received emails that said I bought a computer from Amazon. I checked my Amazon account and each time there was no such order there. Somebody was trying to scam me but I'm not sure what they were trying to accomplish.

 

[GaryS]

I paid for Malwarebytes and also Lifelock. Lifelock notifies you of suspicious credit card activity or if someone runs a credit check on you.

I don't recommend the Norton add on for Lifelock. Norton hasn't been good in close to 20 years and acts more like a virus than anti virus.

I would second the use of malwarebyte and keep the free version.
I had a freeze like that one time but was able to shut down but not reopen in windows so I opened the computer the old way, you know with the black screen a white letters directed it malwayebyte, ran it and was then able to reopen windows

 

[BigBoy99]

DId you get your brisket recipe??

Yes, I did get a recipe and it was delicious. We had a small brisket and it was supposed to be enough for two meals for us but it was so good, we only got one meal out if it with a little bit left over for a sandwich!

 

[Golddollar]

In order to "cancel" the order they'd have wanted your credit card number, date of expiration, security code, and zip code.

Thanks for the information.