Phone Calls Regarding Your Computer

I'm From Windows and I'm Calling to Help You

If you receive a phone call the purports to be from Microsoft, Windows, or any other official sounding name it is probably a scam. It can lead to losing money, having your bank account raided and all other nasty things.
We won't go into all the ploys used, the evil empire adds to the list daily, but you should treat all unsolicited computer calls with caution.

The normal procedure is

• You receive a call, they may ask for you by name.
• They say "we notice your computer is malfunctioning, and we are here to help"
• They are not, here to help. They are here to harm
  

No Credit Card so Must Be Safe

They may or may not ask for credit card info, but it doesn't matter. They will still scam you. They will ask you to get on to your computer and have you mess with things that will allow them to steal from you.
Ford never rings you and says we are going to fix your car over the phone, and Microsoft never rings you and says we are going to fix your computer over the phone.

Persistant

If you don't give in they may keep pressing you. They may even say that your computer is sending out terrible viruses and it has to be stopped. They may get very pushy. They may get very friendly.
Sometimes they even call back and try again. They may say the threat from your computer has excalated and must be fixed.
Just hang up.