"Something wrong with your computer." scam
@cnt422 (11)
Rancho Cordova, California
December 7, 2015 1:16am CST
For the last few months, my family has been getting strange phone calls. They all start the same; "Hello, I am from [business name], we're calling to talk about some problems with your computer." They tell you that you need to install software so that they can remotely access your computer to solve the problem.
I learned not too long ago that this is a common scam. They even called a few das ago, and I engaged the scammer in a short conversation:
Scammer: Hello, I am from [business name], we're calling to talk about some problems with your computer.
Me: There's nothing wrong with my computer
Scammer: There certainly is, we want to help you solve this problem.
Me: Okay, what kind of computer do I have?
Scammer: ... You have a windows computer, Ma'am.
Me: No... I mean what brand, what model?
Scammer: ...
And just like that, the conversation was over. Who else has encountered these scammers, and what did you do about it?
8 people like this
7 responses
@yukimori (10174)
• United States
7 Dec 15
My husband gets those calls fairly regularly. I don't know how he's dealing with them these days, but at one point I answered and dragged out the conversation for an hour and a half. I conned the guy into "helping" me troubleshoot some issues that I was having with booting my computer, then told him, "Oh, hey, the power just came back on and everything seems to be good! Thanks so much!"
I'm not allowed to answer my husband's phone when I'm tipsy anymore. 
4 people like this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
7 Dec 15
@sugartoes I have had that message pop up on my computer too. Very annoying as it has loud audio with it.
2 people like this
@yukimori (10174)
• United States
7 Dec 15
@sugartoes Nope, I just have fun making them think I'm an easy target. 
@paigea Nah, it was just the third or fourth time they'd called in two days, and my husband was getting sick of it. It's kind of funny what those guys will put up with if they think you're going to let them have their way with your computer... 
@paigea Nah, it was just the third or fourth time they'd called in two days, and my husband was getting sick of it. It's kind of funny what those guys will put up with if they think you're going to let them have their way with your computer... 1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
7 Dec 15
I get that call quite often too. I put my phone on speaker. I put on my best old lady routine and thank them for calling and say I am so pleased they are going to help me. They tell me to type certain things and I say okay. I wash the dishes or just use my computer. I say I am waiting for the site to come up and my computer is so slow and I am so happy they are helping me. I try to waste as much as their time as I can and when I get tired of it I tell them I don't have a computer and I hang up!
3 people like this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
8 Dec 15
Wow! I was getting those calls too. I do have microsoft computer and software and they told me they were seeing the flags I was getting. I was getting flags so I let them keep talking until they told me I needed to download a program for them to gain remote access to fix it. I told them I needed to call microsoft. Needless, to say I called found out it was a scam and they emailed me information to send the FBI these jerks number.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (113247)
• El Paso, Texas
8 Dec 15
I've been lucky, no such calls for me. I think a lot of people download way too much stuff which makes them way too open to these B.S.ers. I never download unless it is from an authorized site like Microsoft and shows HTTPS// in the dilly that shows the URL when I do.
@cnt422 (11)
• Rancho Cordova, California
10 Dec 15
I could see how some people could fall for it. No one wants to believe there's something wrong with their computer, and some people will do anything to fix it. But still, your best bet is to take it to a professional you can see in person.
@Bhaskarjhborah (735)
• India
7 Dec 15
i didn't get this type of scam. But it is good that you shared about this it will be helpful gor many people . I think
2 people like this
