Online PC Masters *SCAM* !!!

[CSB]

Hi all,

Got a day off work today, so at home and just had a strange phone call.

This foriegn sounding indian guy claimed we have a virus installed on our PC which other anti virus like Norton, McAfee don't pick up and if we had the PC on, he could talk us through getting rid of it.

Of course immediately it rang alarm bells that this is a fake call. However, all he asked me to do so far was to turn the PC on which I did, as I wanted to google the company he claimed to work for.

He then wanted me to go to a website to download a file.

Well, I told him straight away I'm going to investigate this and if all checks out fine, I'll contact them on their legitimate website. He then tried keeping me on the phone by saying "But your PC could shut down and cause damage to your hard drive at any moment". These people are so desperate to con people.

I said, no thanks and he then hung up.

After googling further, I came across some posts on the money saving expert site, which you can see below. I'm glad I didn't go to this blokes website.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2687843

Anyone calls with a foriegn accent and claims to be from a company called Online PC Masters who claim to be based in the UK, and says they want to install a file or get some kind of remote access to your PC. Just tell em to .......... well you know.

 

[V_R]

Yeah, there has been loads of thing kind of thing going on, They will try anything.....

 

[floppybootstomp]

Well done for figuring it CSB and as V_R says, it's a common thing right now.

I hate spam phone calls but sometimes I like to have a little fun and wind them up.

I always know if somebody's trying to sell me something, con me or I'm in trouble if they ask if I'm 'Anthony'. Nobody ever calls me Anthony, all friends call me Tony and usually phone me on my mobile anyway.

Once I confirm it's me they usually ask 'How are you today?'

Lots of answers can be given but I usually answer 'What the **** has it got to do with you how I am today?'

Or 'I'd feel a lot better if I could find a cure for my AIDS. You don't have a cure do you?'

There are lots of good answers, enquiring if they're the escort agency I ordered 'Mandy' from and is she on her way yet also elicits some good responses.

Be inventive and have fun boys and girls

 

[Silverhazesurfer]

Part of this makes me want to install a VM with every virus known to man on it and let them go to town on it. That would be a good laugh.

 

[bootneck02]

For those who are newbys to the internet and PC's follow this link

This is a warning from Symantic not that I use their products but it is a good example of what could happen to you.



EDIT: Video embedded for ease - V_R

 

[EvanDavis]

I only answer the phone to people listed in my contacts on bothe mobile and landline.

 

[TriplexDread]

This has been happening a long time nothing new really. Gotta be wise

 

[V_R]

That video is actually quite worrying, I know people who would be very worried if they received that call, and may even fall for it, though hopefully they would call me first! lol

 

[CSB]

Interesting video. Again they sounded Indian.

It is worrying V_R, I totally agree, and I will personally string them along if they try calling me again, no matter if they claim they are from microsoft, Corsair or any other company that I deffinately know I have not had legitimate dealings with before.

Has opened my eyes wider for sure and I hope this post has helped others on the forum who may receive a similar call soon.

The bloke who I spoke to made me feel like saying "now just hold on the line long enough, whilst I trace you!" lol

 

[theuser]

They are doing the scam again, relative had a call yesterday and allowed remote connect but didn't pay anything (now will have to re-image the PC just in case).

Just had a chat with them, using their helpful "Live Chat Feature". I wanted to know what software they used so that I can see what they could have done while connected. The answer is they use "crossloop", which it seems is at least designed not to have background operations. I'll look into finding ways to block that particular software in future (will still do the re-image/change passwords to be sure).

Additional info:
(crossloop - How can we block its usage on our network? http://www.crossloop.com/help/security_questions#_How_can_we)
server.crossloop.com has one IP number (74.53.113.228) should be a case of blacklisting it on your router firewall.

By the way, my name is not Jim. And, oddly they didn't answer my final question...


[Jim] My PC has a virus can you help me?
[Support Team] may I know your name
[Jim] Jim
[Support Team] may iknow your phone no
[Jim] I put it in the form
[Support Team] have you paid anything to onlinepcmasters
[Jim] no
[Support Team] please give me your phone no so I can call you.
[Jim] not able to receive calls here at the moment
[Support Team] are you sitting in front of computer
[Jim] yes
[Jim] that is how i am typing
[Support Team] we can help you to get rid of your computer virus
[Jim] that is good news
[Support Team] how many computers do you own
[Jim] 1
[Support Team] please give a call to our technical support no 02081445602 and our technician will happy to help you.
[Jim] unable to make calls at the moment
[Jim] can you tell me how you can fix the problem, are you able to connect to my computer
[Support Team] are you our registered customer
[Jim] no not yet
[Support Team] then you have to purchase the plan after then we will help you
[Jim] i'd like to know how you will be able to fix it, is it a software fix or are you able to remote connect
[Jim] i need to know before i purchase please
[Support Team] we will scan your computer and after that we will remove them
[Jim] can you tell me what software you use to remote connect so I can ensure it will work through my connection.
[Jim] i don't want to buy unless i can be sure it will connect properly
[Support Team] these are third party software and they will definitely connect properly
[Jim] i've had issues with logmein rescue in the past, when I signed up with another service
[Jim] need a service which will work
[Support Team] please call our technical support no 02081445602 the technician will explain you everything
[Jim] I do have one more question
[Support Team] yes
[Jim] while you are scanning my computer, how am i to know you are not taking files and information off of it or installing your own virus programs?
[Support Team] that's why please give us a call we will explain you everything
[Jim] can't see why you can't tell me now. I'm not able to make calls at the moment.
[Support Team] sir our technician never touch the customer computer data
[Jim] glad to hear it, but it is a little bit of a risk to just allow someone to remotely connect to my pc.
[Support Team] our technician provide technical support over the phone and work on computer infront of customer
[Jim] this is another reason why I would like to know what remote software you use, so it is clear what can be done with it. Not all interactions are on screen.
[Jim] I simply want the virus removed and any other issues resolved but want to be sure my data is safe.
[Support Team] Definitely your data will 100% secure we work on your computer while you are sitting infront of it
[Jim] But does the software you use support file transfers in the background? Things which I would not see on-screen. I'd like to be able to verify this before my purchase and make my mind up or look elsewhere.
[Support Team] Yes sir the files transfer shows on screen
[Jim] How can I verify this without knowing what you use? I'd like to be able to independently lookup the software and see myself. Why is that a problem unless you are hiding something?
[Support Team] The software that we use is Crossloop
[Jim] ok, thank you.
[Jim] I can see that it does show transfers, that is good to know
[Jim] One final question
[Jim] Why are you calling up people and claiming they have computer problems and convincing them to sign up for your service?

 

[V_R]

lol, nice interrogation there. Though i honestly still cant believe people still fall for this...

 

[theuser]

lol, nice interrogation there. Though i honestly still cant believe people still fall for this...

They pick people off the gov register or similar aiming for pensioners etc. They also are very aggressive and insistent that your computer is infected or in some cases infecting millions of computers...

So far the reports I've read they keep it legal-ish to make it hard to prosecute, but nothing to stop similar groups installing keyloggers and all sorts. Unfortunately a lot of people hand over the money, for support which they don't need (it does seem like they do give some kind of service though).

And yes, I am STILL sitting in front of a computer...lol

 

[V_R]

Yeah i can imagine, my folks have had a call before, thankfully i told them what its all about and to tell them to bugger off. I'm their tech support not them.! lol


Also Googleing the phone number is interesting...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=...158658l0l159583l2l2l0l0l0l0l304l544l2-1.1l2l0

 

[theuser]

Yeah i can imagine, my folks have had a call before, thankfully i told them what its all about and to tell them to bugger off. I'm their tech support not them.! lol


Also Googleing the phone number is interesting...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=...158658l0l159583l2l2l0l0l0l0l304l544l2-1.1l2l0

Well I'd given them "the talk" at least they stopped short of handing money over. No doubt they will call again.

 

[nivrip]

Pal of mine had a similar phone call a few days ago. The usual stuff about how dangerous this virus was etc. etc.

He asked them how they knew about the virus and got some guff about having traced it to his PC from someone else.

He then informed them that he doesn't own a PC and they didn't know what to say. What he said was true, he has computer phobia and won't have any sort of computing programme in his house.

Seems like a good line to use.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Excellent niv, such an obvious solution

I've been in all day today (I have a virus - real, medical virus that's making me cough a lot)) and got about five spam calls, all Indian accents. Biggest giveaway is a pause after you've said 'Hello' or whatever it is you say when you answer the phone.

I'm having the time of my life being really obnoxious, foul-mouthed and insulting to these people.

Sometimes I don't think they recognise everyday cuss-words cos they just carry on.

I'm sussed, any phone call from a stranger is bad - full stop. Unfortunately there are a lot of vulnerable people out there.

I would really like to incite some physical violence here but I know I'll never get the chance.

and btw, welcome to the forum theuser, quite a strong first post that one

Edit: I have an old phoneline cassette recorder, dial tone activated, and a lot of cassettes, might just have to record some of these, if the recorder still works, last used in the year 1999.

 

[theuser]

Excellent niv, such an obvious solution

I've been in all day today (I have a virus - real, medical virus that's making me cough a lot)) and got about five spam calls, all Indian accents. Biggest giveaway is a pause after you've said 'Hello' or whatever it is you say when you answer the phone.

I'm having the time of my life being really obnoxious, foul-mouthed and insulting to these people.

Sometimes I don't think they recognise everyday cuss-words cos they just carry on.

I'm sussed, any phone call from a stranger is bad - full stop. Unfortunately there are a lot of vulnerable people out there.

I would really like to incite some physical violence here but I know I'll never get the chance.

and btw, welcome to the forum theuser, quite a strong first post that one

Edit: I have an old phoneline cassette recorder, dial tone activated, and a lot of cassettes, might just have to record some of these, if the recorder still works, last used in the year 1999.

Thanks. Just need a friendly hacker to kill off their site, that would be nice.

I like the idea of recording them and making fools of them (without being offensive) however legally you have to inform them they are being recorded I believe. Of course if your opening line on all suspect calls is, "Do you mind if I record this call..." will probably get rid of most of them.

Another thought is to have a pc setup with all sorts of background operations running which state it has connected to their system is and downloading their server data. Could have lots of fun pretending that it has collected all their financial records, pay-roll etc. A nice big window with a count down to the server side virus execution commencing total system wipe. Could make a nice little app with a stop button which just makes the timer run faster... Well they did say that your computer was infecting millions of computers, why would you want to connect to it???

In the live chat, I was half hoping the person would ask why I was unable to use the phone, as I planned to say "Well I am on the phone with Trading Standards who are talking me through this conversation, so the line is busy.".

Some comments I read on this topic and people have handed over all sorts of money, and the groups of people they target are the ones which can ill-afford the worry over it. I can imagine the impact of being scammed has on people, it can be very serious.

I think it'll be worth setting up your own premium rate phone line so that you can use that for all correspondence with companies. Probably make a fortune with marketing calls.

Always make sure you (and everyone you know) are signed up for the telephone preference service, their system should flag your number before they call and they are already in the wrong before they speak. Most calls we have are stopped sharpish when you state this.

What he said was true, he has computer phobia and won't have any sort of computing programme in his house.

Just don't talk to him about micro-controllers and embedded software, but at least washing machines can't climb stairs (yet).