Exposed: how a cold-call 'PC service' company tried to mislead us

Windows Service Centre

I received a call this morning from the same people. They said that I had reported errors with my Winjdows. I told them that I had not and that my computer was running fine. They tried to engage with me so, I hung up. Then I discover your own video of a similar call and thank you for that as it vindicates my hanging up on the cold caller.

Posted by Mike Vince, 23 Jul 2010

They have targetted BT Broadband customers

This lot rang me saying that they were calling on behalf of BT Broadband - saying they were the recommended service provider for BT (I am on BT Broadband so initially felt I might need to hear) ... Frankly I did not like the sound of them (instinct told me they were a c*n) but allowed them to get as far as getting me to look at their website - the one your video showed. They did not like it when I told them that I was ALSO MS Certified like them!!! (I am not, but who is going to quibble??) Neil Beware

Posted by Neil Golding, 23 Jul 2010

Another Site By The Same Company

By using an old trick of copying a bit of text from the winpctech into google i discovered another site trying to pull the same scam called windowsesolution.com the funny thin about the winpctech site is the copyright date 2009 and the site domain name was only registered on the 3rd of feb 2010 not only can they tell when any poc in the world needs asistance but they can also control time :) i going to try and have some fun with these people.

Posted by Mick Oldfield, 24 Jul 2010

Windows Service centre cold calling

Just watched your video recording of what happened when Computeractive called this company back - very interesting and I wonder what was happening in the background in all of the time the conversation was taking place? Could they have hacked into the PC in that time? I teach people how to use a PC and it scares me that these people prey on both experienced and inexperienced PC users alike, they are so convincing. i will be warning all of mt students about this scam.

Posted by Jean marsh, 30 Jul 2010

"Windows Service Centres"

Recently a friend of mine spent age on the phone to "Microsoft" in India!! They had called to tell him that his Windows license had expired and they could reactivate in on the phone for "only £60" he told them to ****** off and was treated to the exclamation that he was a "nasty greedy man" ..... Oh dear, what a shame.

Posted by Richard Bond, 30 Jul 2010

Sick of it!!

I have posted complaints on the blogs about this matter many times. I am just about sick of them calling me, Even when I was less than polite to them.....they still rang back. It's happening on a regular basis now, uaually about every other day. Thank goodness I haven't had any night calls though. Sometimes it's just music playing and sometimes silent. I cheack the caller ID and it's always the same number. I'm still getting calls fron that guy in India about our local free paper, as well. Last time he rang I asked him what it had to do with him and what he could do about it.....line went dead!! Ann.

Posted by Ann Bryan, 13 Aug 2010

I just had a cold call

from One Care contact number 02033263937 which I think is in China!!

Posted by Carol Carr, 25 Sep 2010

Windows service centre

I to recieved a call from a asian accented female claiming that she to was from the windows service centre and that they were recieving error reports from my computer.I asked for a phone number so that I could return her call later on 02919165553.She asked me to go into my security settings on my computer.I was a bit sus so I told her that I did'nt trust her and hung up.

Posted by Julie, 19 Oct 2010

Yep, I've had some 5 such calls - latest this morning

Your video and soundtrack exactly fit the calls I've been receiving for over 6 weeks now. This morning's call had an aggressive tone! I am naturally suspicious - first thought was to ensure PC disconnected from broadband router (same line used as phone!). Next I put the phone down having parted with NO information to them. Their most recent calls are showing up on caller id as "unavailable". Undoubtedly they are catching the unwary - or they'd be out of business long ago. We need civics courses in schools to include scam awareness learning!

Posted by Barry Moynihan, 15 Dec 2010

I've Had One Of These Calls As Well....

When they rang me, he claimed he could see there was something wrong with my computer. Me:Is that a fact'? Him: 'Yes, we know these things' Me:No, you are just a bunch of rip-off (persons of doubtful parentage), and told him to do something which involved sex and travel. The phone was hurriedly put down at their end, and I have never heard another word from them to this day...I think he must have got the idea I didn't want to talk to him again!!

Posted by Steve Hamilton, 31 Dec 2010

I've Had One Of These Calls As Well....

When these twats rang me, he claimed he could see there was something wrong with my computer. Me:Is that a fact'? Him: 'Yes, we know these things' Me:No, you are just a bunch of rip-off (persons of doubtful parentage), and told him to do something which involved sex and travel. The phone was hurriedly put down at their end, and I have never heard another word from them to this day...I think he must have got the idea I didn't want to talk to him again!!

Posted by Steve Hamilton, 31 Dec 2010

Windows Service Centre Scam

I received one call about this in December 2010. The caller actually stated they were calling onj behalf of Microsoft and that I had reported problems with my PC (which I had not). Having read an article in Computer Shopper just prior to this I was ready and knew it was a scam. I said that I knew they were not from Microsoft, that Microsoft do NOT call up customers and that I knew they were scammers. I went on to state that I was reporting them to both the Police and Microsoft at which point they put the phone down on me. I haven't received any similar calls since.

Posted by Stephen Clayforth, 03 Feb 2011

Windows Service Centre Scam

I received one call about this in December 2010. The caller actually stated they were calling onj behalf of Microsoft and that I had reported problems with my PC (which I had not). Having read an article in Computer Shopper just prior to this I was ready and knew it was a scam. I said that I knew they were not from Microsoft, that Microsoft do NOT call up customers and that I knew they were scammers. I went on to state that I was reporting them to both the Police and Microsoft at which point they put the phone down on me. I haven't received any similar calls since.

Posted by Stephen Clayforth, 03 Feb 2011

Dealing with the scammers

I receive calls like this at least twice a week, sometimes more, and from several different phone numbers, when the number is shown. I now allow them to proceed with their instructions until they ask me to alter something on my PC at which time I inform them that I am a retired computing lecturer, and then I blow a whistle into my phone. Not a very professional respone, but it gives them a sore ear and gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Posted by Ian Paterson, 12 Feb 2011

Dealing with the scammers

I receive calls like this at least twice a week, sometimes more, and from several different phone numbers, when the number is shown. I now allow them to proceed with their instructions until they ask me to alter something on my PC at which time I inform them that I am a retired computing lecturer, and then I blow a whistle into my phone. Not a very professional respone, but it gives them a sore ear and gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Posted by Ian Paterson, 12 Feb 2011

More of the same

I received an identical call this morning - I'm with Virgin Broadband. I am concerned that they knew my name, phone number and address. As I was not in a hurry, I kept them on the phone for over 20 minutes, up to the point where they asked for payment. If they spend enough time on long calls which end without a payment, maybe they will stop.

Posted by Margot Rohan, 30 Mar 2011

Nearly caught me !!!

I had just come in with a weeks shopping... and busy unpacking when they rang to say I had a fault on my computer. They didnt say they were from windows in fact they DIDNT say there were from any company. SO alarm bells rang.. plus they didnt ask for ME but called me Mrs J **** my partners name so asumed we were married. I brought the computer in my name so nobody would know his name but it is in the phone book !!!!! I asked them to call back when I had unpacked ... it gave me time to think.. when they rang back I said I had contacted my computer man who was coming to sort it out for me.. instantly they HUNG UP !!!!

Posted by jacqueline, 07 Apr 2011

windows 'security' centre

They're still at it. I had a [cold-] call from them about five days ago. I believe in keeping them talking- they are paying for the phone call! They wanted me to switch my computer on to show me the 'attacks'. I told them I could not do that as my computer was at work and I was at home. [My workplace is around a metre fom me, with a chinese wall between us.] Many minutes later they gave up on me and terminated the call. But they were persistent, as I escalated up their chain of command. Hello again Nancy. How are you doing?

Posted by alan smith, 10 May 2011

Still Calling

I have just taken a call from one of these companies. It was my first so I kept him chatting for 23 minutes or so before getting bored and hanging up. It was from a number in UK. 023168735.

Posted by Paul Kirk, 11 May 2011

and me

I have had 3 calls of this type so far, when I told the female caller that she was 'very naughty and it was a scam' she said I was a 'bull***t woman!! she really needs to hone her customer service skills...

Posted by Mary, 20 May 2011

cold calling

I have received about ten calls from these people who say they are connected to Microsoft and I say they can't be because I work for Microsoft ( I don't) and they don't stay on for long.

Posted by Keith Williams, 20 May 2011

PC Technician

I had one of these calls a while ago. After letting them talk for a while to the point when they asked me to do things on my PC, I told them I was a PC Tech and the phone went dead instantly. A friend of mine who should have known better, actually got taken in by a similar call and ended up having to have his PC repaired. He then got stiffed by a suspect PC Tech (not me I hasten to add) and ended up with his PC in and out of the shop over a few weeks and several hundred pounds out of pocket.

Posted by Rose Buckler, 20 May 2011

waste their time

When I get a call asking for Mr Kenneth Hunt I say "I'll go and get him". I put the phone on the table and get on with what I was doing. They soon go away.

Posted by Ken Hunt, 20 May 2011

Have received such a call.

Fortunately i realized what type of call it was, i then told them i would put in the hands of my computer engineer which they did not like and got them off my phone line.

Posted by Peter Clarke, 21 May 2011

window service

I get these calls every 2 weeks or so,but I happen to know the purpose of the call,just ignore them,do NOT do anything they tell you,they are lying to you!!

Posted by R.De Ruyter, 21 May 2011

Play along waste their time

Received the same call. Played along along having heard of the scam - thought I'd waste their time and have some fun in the process. I even had to wait for my PC to boot windows, boy does that take some time, then crash and reboot :-) enough time to make a cuppa. Wow that PC really was "infected". Any way turns out that my PC doesn't run Windows!

Posted by L Owen, 22 May 2011

Me too!

Ditto all the above, except my call was for "logmein123.com". And, as I had nothing better to do, I kept them on the phone for over 30 minutes!!! The guy had an extremely thick Indian accent and that's how I was able to keep him on the phone for so long: I kept asking him to repeat what he just said as I couldn't understand him. I had a lot of fun misquoting everything he said, obfuscated and mumbled my responses making him say "what?". Anyone with half a brain would have known within the first minute I was screwing with them, but it took this guy over 30 minutes before he hung up on me. I feel so badly about that. NOT!!!

Posted by Awful Mann, 22 May 2011

He nearly got me

I am 70 years old with just a little computer knowledge. Having just replaced my broken computer with a reconditioned one, I had been trying to get everything loaded on to it. Spent all day trying to get the internet reloaded and Outlook Express back on. Feeling very hassled and waiting for a call back from Virgin Media I got this call from someone claiming to be from Windows Service Centre. claiming to be a Microsoft Windows Tech.It had been reported that I was having problems and he would do his best to help me. I went through the same steps as you have videoed before I smelt a rat. Then I asked for a telephone number or a web address. He gave me a web address, 'windowsesolutions.com which was obviously touting for business. I then terminated the call.After an exhausting half an hour I was left very tired and very angry that I had allowed myself to be duped for so long. Next time, and I know there will be a next time, I will not be so polite.

Posted by Eve Allen, 25 May 2011

how rude

I am an employee of gizurcash.com and I would like to complain about all the rude people I contact. I am fed up being strung along by them even though all I want to do is fix their PCs. But it is all worth it. I've just received $99 for completely ruining a client's machine. She seemed such a nice old lady.

Posted by David, 28 May 2011

The elderly

Im a computer tech and I received an email from a client aged 90years old who had the same people phoning him with the same rubbish. He was on the ball an realised this was a scam and hung up. Just shows you at 90 years old he still has is faculties about him. these numbers should be banned and BT should take the responsibility as without landline phones these scams couldn't take place. BT provided the lines and should do a back ground check before enabling such a service as they do residential clients.

Posted by A Greer, 10 Jun 2011

From India with love

Same as many of the others - I am a BT Broadband customer. Just like the video. After the Event Viewer nonsense, they were just wanting to get me to run www.windowsesolution when I insisted on checking the credibility of the call on the internet. I found this page and suggested that they were a scam call...they disconnected at that point.

Posted by John Walsh, 11 Jun 2011

Disgusting con merchants

Why don't the Indian government clamp down on these parasites? Or even better, the UK government stop giving financial aid to India. Pure filth. www.borocomphelp.co.uk

Posted by Jim Grant, 13 Jun 2011

windows service scam?

I received a phone call today from windows service centre, they said i had problems with my computer,running slow,malicious files ect, they even knew my name,upon asking him where he was calling from he told me London i asked him for a contact number so i could phone him back later that day, he wasn't too pleased but give me a number 1212881858, i then put the phone down and checked for scams on this topic, so glad i did.

Posted by Diane, 18 Jun 2011

Generic tactics

I get several of these calls regularly but they never mention Windows or Microsoft. Once they just said "the computer company". You have a virus. Comments such as "how would you know that? Don't phone back again" don't put them off. They always mention me or my wife by name (per an earlier comment by thumbing through the Phone book?) The MO is always the same using Asian staff. It may not be the same group but a whole micro industry. the last time I said "No you're not from the computer company, yhis is a fake call" the woman resignedly said "Oh, Okay" and hung up. I've had a few weeks peace since then but if and when they come back I'll use some of the great tactics mentioned by earlier posters!

Posted by Pete, 20 Jun 2011

thanks for this article

Just happened to me so I had to look it up to see I was not the only one. :/ Hung up on them quick, didn't take me long to realize it was a scam.

Posted by JC, 06 Jul 2011

Very convincing scare tactics

I have just had a call mirroring the one here (bit inconvenient as I was in the middle of some lunch). They were very convincing handing the phone backwards and forwards between the initial caller, supervisor and technician. What gave the game away was the excessive concern at the number of errors and the fact that they all 3 said pretty much the same thing. There were two things which were convincing 1) They claimed to know my computers identity number by getting me to do a run command (irritatingly can't remember what it was but I suspect that its the same number for every machine) 2) They warned me not to use the credit card until the machine was 'cleaned' which they were going to help me do. Natural caution stepped in when they wanted to type in a web address with logmein in the title. When i said you must think i'm stupid they hung up. The only consolation was that it took a lot of their time for nothing. I am now off to warn the relatives.

Posted by David Collingridge, 07 Jul 2011

JUST GOT THIS CALL!!

I can't believe I JUST CALL this call literally MINUTES ago. The lady on the phone claiming to be from Windows Service Centre asked me to do the same thing. When I asked her for her name, she said 'Don't worry, just get on with the computer'. She instructed me to type in 'eventvwr' into the Run box, too! Thats when I said I'm expecting someone and if I can call her back. She insisted on CALLING me back at first. But I said my times are inflexible, so its best I call her. She then gave me this contact number 02032397020. She said they are based in the UK. After the call was over, I immediately googled it! Wow, can't believe I almost got scammed. 12:13PM JULY 8th 2011, FRIDAY. Location: Perth, WA

Posted by Vanessa Chong, 08 Jul 2011

JUST GOT THIS CALL!!

I can't believe I JUST CALL this call literally MINUTES ago. The lady on the phone claiming to be from Windows Service Centre asked me to do the same thing. When I asked her for her name, she said 'Don't worry, just get on with the computer'. She instructed me to type in 'eventvwr' into the Run box, too! Thats when I said I'm expecting someone and if I can call her back. She insisted on CALLING me back at first. But I said my times are inflexible, so its best I call her. She then gave me this contact number 02032397020. She said they are based in the UK. After the call was over, I immediately googled it! Wow, can't believe I almost got scammed. 12:13PM JULY 8th 2011, FRIDAY. Location: Perth, WA

Posted by Vanessa Chong, 08 Jul 2011

WINDOWSESOLUTIONS -SCAM

I had a man called "Paul Adams" (although was clearly calling from India) call me this evening and the process was a carbon copy of the above clip - I decided to take his details and check with my local computer shop before doing anything but didnt as I googled the name and it bought up this page. The chap on the phone was very convincing and as I do not have any knowledge about computers I actually believed him. I have his contact details as follows 02921 252715 - when they called it showed up as unavailable - I shall not be answering the phone next time!

Posted by Amanda, 15 Jul 2011

Helpandsupport4pc SAME SCAM

Received a call which followed the same script as the video above. Regarding verification, they directed me to a website helpandsupport4pc.com which displayed a microsoft logo and took me to a microsoft partner site. Got me to open event lists showing error messages. Nearly got sucked in but whilst saving some data to a portable drive, I tried searching for the company via Microsoft's website and got some warnings about scams on their chat page. Thank goodness! I'm a Ph.D student and use my computer everyday, in the midst of writing, have backed up my files but...they nearly persuaded me that my computer was infected. Thanks for putting this video up. Now at least I'm not worried my computer is about to crash which is what they threatened.

Posted by C Paul, 18 Jul 2011

cheeky swines

had this calll a few months ag, smelled a rat and got off the phone, looked it up and found my suspicions were correct. they have just called me again. i told them i knew it was a scam and what they were trying to do and the horrid little man persisted with trying to convince me my accusations were both unjust and hurtful. or at least i think thats what he was trying to do his accent was so terrible. i hung up and he called me back telling me he would continue to call until i did as he asked!!! i said i werent born yesterday and to take a hike, he said yes mam i am aware you are very very old and not born yesterday..i had to laugh! (im 29!) i demanded to speak to a manager, told him i knew what they were up to. he then told me i should watch what i say as this call is being recorded. i said good evidence for the police then love! this conversation must have gone on for about half an hour i demanded to know his name and i said i was going to contact Microsoft to verify his identity, to which he was trying to give me a number to call them back on! idiot! i got out of him his name was ritchie. took ages to get the surname. it was rich. at this point i swore quite profusely told him to get off my phone. he said ok mam one of our agents will call you tomorrow. oh will he now. ill be very ready to give him some serious grief!

Posted by kerry green, 21 Jul 2011

www.fullpcsupport.com scam

This happened to my mother-in-law who is not computer literate. We were on the phone earlier trying to access her Skype as she recently lost her husband whom she had known for 50+ years. So when she got a call from www.fullpcsupport.com she was at a loss as to what to do. She rang me and I told her not to discuss matter any further and to have them contact me. I tried later to get her on the phone but her line was engaged. She later called me back and was exasperated by how long ‘Annie Scott’ from ‘Windows’ had her on the phone. She was trying to get my mother-in-law to log onto some website. I rang this person back on 023-239-7020 and was surprised how quickly I got through to someone. I am afraid to say it as well but the male person was Indian and the female person was also Indian. And by the way, who ever heard of an Indian person called ‘Annie Scott’!!! Please note that there are genuine IT support people who work in the industry who ARE Indian and do an extremely excellent job, but it grates on my nerves how there can be unscrupulous persons who give Indian people a bad name! When I spoke to ‘Annie Scott’ she bombarded me will techno babble and she said it in a fast manner. Now I am studying IT and am CompTia A+ certified which is to say that I think I know a little about pcs but even I was having a hard time keeping up with her, not to mention an elderly person of 70+ years. I was livid. I told her off for putting my mother-in-law through all this bother. She tried to calm me down by directed me to the company’s website and stressed that they were legitimate. I asked her how she can know that my mother-in-law’s pc was infected. She said that her computer was listed with Microsoft and that my mother-in-law Windows OS was infected. I asked her what OS she had and she incorrectly answered XP. Then I was convinced. I asked her again to explain who she was and how is it that a company can ring up an individual. She began to speak techno babble in a fast manner which I quickly stopped and demanded that she speaks to me as if I knew NOTHING about pcs. The line then went conveniently dead. Unperturbed I rang the number again, and got through straightaway again, to the same male person who had put me through to ‘Annie Scott’. I demanded how such a company can put my mother-in-law through so much distress. He kept trying to answer my question with a question. I admit, I should have ended the call much sooner but my blood was up. Suspicious how quiet his office was, I asked him to explain why this was. He said that he didn’t work in a fish market. Very professional, don’t you think? I demanded that he put me onto his manager. He said who do I wish to speak to, as if I would know the name of the manager. I became even more infuriated and said put me onto to his manager as I am not satisfied with him and that I wish to make a complaint. He said that he will put me through to someone who will ‘satisfy me’. Again not the type of language you would expect from a professional company. He then put me onto ‘Annie Scott’ again. I asked for her manager and then got cut off. Do not let these sods get away with it! please visit: http://www.eatonbray.com/news/2010/07/international-routing-system-scam for a whole list of upset victims of this type of scam

Posted by Colin Naraine, 21 Jul 2011

ekibar

Let us all remember though that 'Scammers' like this would not be able to operate if WINDOWS were not such a failure as an operating system, they called me this morning after i had lost certain 'system32.dll' files and spent most of the night trying different means to reinstall them..

Posted by Pete snow, 27 Jul 2011

logmein123 scam

Today a similar incident with the eventvwr babble abot malicious software causing all the errors and warnings. they attempt to connect via logmein123.com to gain full access to your pc and convince you that you need to spend money for them to fully clean your pc. presumably they could copy registry files etc if you allow them in?

Posted by Graham Houghton, 01 Aug 2011

PCR

I just had a call from a company called PCR. My conversation with them was almost exactly the same as the one in your recording. I am not very technically minded and almost fell for it but decided it would be best for me to check them out first. This is when I came accross this website, and thank god I did! Their web address is windowssolutions.com, their phone number is 442921252715 and I spoke to an Indian man called Kevin Wilcox!

Posted by Sam Burns, 10 Aug 2011

had one yesterday

Had a call at the office yesterday, the call was referred to me, the IT guy, I immediately sussed it was a scam, as they said that the were calling from "Windows", I asked numerous questions, of which none were answered, I kept him on the line for 15 minutes, getting transferred to his manager, etc.none of my questions were answered. the repeatedly asked me to do things to "a computer" . the last question I asked was, " how long are you prepared to stay on the line? I have all day to spare", after mentioning that I was the IT person, and had been in IT since 1977. he immediately hung up. do not pander to these thieves, but feel free to have a little fun with them, before letting them go.

Posted by Grant Dickeson, 12 Aug 2011

cold call

we have just been cold called yesterday and again this morning,we went through all the steps as everyone else,but we let him have control of our computer were he was showing us random pages of errors.after a while he wentng onto a page were you can buy packages to stop viruses getting into our computer.we told him we was going to go back to the shop we bought our computer from so they can sort it out,he replied with "its not the computer shops responsibility to help sort your computer out,we are the ones to help you" then we hung up the phone. does anyone no if this has now harmed our computer?

Posted by sammy, 20 Aug 2011

Windows Support Centre

Had this very situation this morning!! I seem to receive about 1 a month. I hang up. Who do I report this to as I have a telephone number.

Posted by Susan Ellis, 22 Aug 2011

0203 026 9827 ~ onlinepcgenius/computersupport@live.in

These people say that the server has warned them you have viruses that will destroy your computer..they say they can fix it free...and that they are in Kensington, with full government approval and their head office is in Chelmsford.. they asked for some random name when they 1st called my disabled wife, then got her to let them reemotely control her laptop via ammyy.com they then said 3 pieces of software to fix it was £63 they remotely went on to paypal and took £186 in $ which was $299.99 which went out to an email address in India. on searching their company I just found lots of links saying it was a scam......they use different company names say they are Rachel or Alex. very agressive.When my wife tried to put in a complaint to paypal they remotely removed the page and deleted what she was writing!!! We uninstalled their programs and I complained to Paypal who have returned the payment but frozen it in paypal...these people have been phoning late at night and have thick accents and get very rattled..also say they are from Microsoft. It's just terrible picking on vulnerable folk. My wife's laptop has been crashing and slower since they had remote access. They even called her a liar.... please do what you can to stop these people. If they call YOU hang up. Rich

Posted by Rich, 26 Aug 2011

Microsoft scam

my wife got a call today from a company saying they where from Microsoft she told them nicely to go away

Posted by Joe Garland, 26 Aug 2011

Windows Calling

Received a similar call to say my 'windows called them'. I asked the caller, Indian male, which window called him, the ones on the west side of my house or the ones on the east side. He said "Huh". I explained to him that I had warned my windows to stop 'cold calling' persons and wanted to know which one it was so I could chastise them. He then said it was my computer windows that made the call. I asked how was this possible as it didn't have a phone connection how did it make the call. By now he was totally confused. He then stated that it was an internet connection and they had recieved a message that my computer was runing slow and had been infected by viruses. As a new computer I knew this was impossible. Then asked for his company name and phone number and all I heard was a mumbled sound, when asked to repeat he refused. I then informed him that computers don't contact organisations that I don't agree to and teminated the call. Still trying to find out which of my windows is making the calls, its usually my children blowing my phone bill.

Posted by Greg , 06 Sep 2011

LogMeIn.com are complicit

I knew it was a scam but played along, eventually getting sent to logemin.com Logging in there would lead to an unknown "technician" having unfettered access to my PC. Why not put a simple warning on their login page targetted at naive users who might fall for this. I wonder how secure logmein is if they don't even care enough to make this simple change.

Posted by rob, 20 Sep 2011

sept 20/11 call from bogus windows service company

Just got a call, from woman with Indian-like accent, alleging my computer was sending bad files to others. She would not explain how she had my name or knew I had a computer and windows os. The phone line quality was poor so when I asked her to spell the name of her company I cold not get it correctly. The last syllable of the name was "sol". But all that means little. More importantly, she wanted me to run eventvwr and tell her what I saw. I asked why, she replied so she could help me fix my computer. While I played slow, I googled this program and read about the scam. I kept her on the line until she hung up on me. Dinner was in the oven cooking anyway so I had nothing better to do than pissoff a scammer. I shall, however, watch my phone and computer sevices bills for bogus charges. Eventvwr merely shows the log of some of your computers functional activities. Ignore her statements for the nonsense they contain.

Posted by ray, 20 Sep 2011

Me too! Sept 2011, same scam, different brand

Very convincing scam, mainly because they don't seem to be asking you for anything until the end. In my case it was fullsupport.com, but exactly the same script

Posted by Ann V, 24 Sep 2011

Hello Mr Allen?

I keep getting these and they always ask for Mr Allen, if I say there is a no Mr Allen they carry on anyway. As I can't stop them I have decided to have some fun with them. 3 days ago I said I WAS Mr Allen and let them tell me about the virus on my pc. I asked if it was due to the snuff and bestiality movies I had downloaded the previous night. I went into graphic detail about getting 'excited' while watching them and 'ejecting' all over the keyboard and that perhaps the pc had contracted my hepatitis C. Amazingly the bloke said 'I can help you with that' so I asked if was going to send me some tissues. There then followed a long detailed conversation until my wife got so embarrassed she made me hang up. So if you can't stop them at least get them to run up a high phone bill and offend them as much as you can, I felt better for it.

Posted by Lee Holdaway, 26 Sep 2011

Another company/website they're using: techsupport24.co.uk

They're also trying under techsupport24.co.uk. Rang up saying they were getting these errors from my IP address, blah, blah, blah. Stupidly even after I told him I worked in IT he still tried to get me to give him remote access!

Posted by Kelly, 27 Sep 2011

Oct 2011- Still scamming!

Took a call yesterday from a lady with a very strong,(poss Indian) accent. Asked for me by name..which just happens to be the name in the telephone directory surprise surprise.. told her I didn't own a computer. (I don't, I use my husbands), she garbled on a bit longer and then I hung up. Evidently lots of people in my area have been having these calls, which does make me wonder if they are using the phone book!?

Posted by Liz , 05 Oct 2011

Old information from phone directory / electoral roll / some other public database

I just spent an enlightening 22 minutes on the phone with a couple of jokers. I've got nothing better to do on a Saturday morning so I played along for a bit and then just got shirty saying "But which machine is sending you the reports? I have four here. Is it the laptop or the desktop?" They made a stab at just whittering on about "the computer with the problem" and being so inventive as saying that I was Mr BIRD of my address and telephone number. They were wrong though because my ex was called Bird and I am not and she's been gone for over a year, the post code had changed four years ago too so it was very wrong and very old information. However, given that I was never going to let them onto my machine, I played along a little more. I wanted them to give me a computer name or an IP address. They made one up and I said "Well, that's wrong because my starts with 89. and each of my machines would be NAT proxied behind it." They went away and the phone disconnected. I know you shouldn't feed the trolls but I couldn't help myself.

Posted by DaveS, 08 Oct 2011

Still doing it

Yes we just had this today. I picked up ,but passed it to my very astute husband. saying I know nothing about computers.He tried repeatedly to get THEM to give us our IP details. They didn't.They said they will phone again tomorrow. strange I tried 1471 and there find there is an unusual message " There is a semantic error in your application.Goodbye"

Posted by Gilly, 11 Oct 2011

Indian Microsoft Scam

I also received a cold call from a company stating that they had received information from my Internet Service Provider and Microsoft that my computer was infected by a virus. I put the telephone down, but four more calls later from the same source had me thinking that maybe I had a problem. They promised that my problem would be solved in ten minutes, free of charge. I switched on my computer and the person on the other end of the phone was in full control. The accent was Indian (he even asked if I had been watching the England v. India test matches). After 30 minutes on the telephone I realised that I had a problem and when I requested that he return my computer to its original status, he refused saying that it would cost me £300 to "fix" the "problems", I refused his demands stating that I had reliable Internet Security, but he rubbished the company. After one hour on the telephone,I became very angry, and threatened to report the incident to the police. After hanging up, the bogus caller left me with a blank screen, no icons and some lost data. I immediately telephoned Sussex Police and reported my experience, which is now in their hands. Since then I have received further calls which in total have now added up to 15, the latter quite heated when the caller accused me of being an angry man.

Posted by Dennis Wilby, 11 Oct 2011

Windows scam

I too received a call from an Indian telling me my computer was running slow. Having got a problem with a programme a collegue had set up using Word and Excel with macros I wasn't surprised to hear the comments, although it's only that programme that is running slow. They showed me how many yellow and red errors I had, saying 'Oh my God' when I said how many. Anyhow they had asked for my computer ID and security code. I said I didn't know either and they told me how to access them. He repeated the computer ID number which was correct. They said my security code had expired and were able to supply with one for £266 for lifetime cover. Financially I was not in a position to do this and asked for their number to phone them back. They said they would ring me back which they did and I told them they had really upset me and I was not interested. Is this going to affect my computer? Scary if they have been able to control other peoples computers. I do not read newspapers and had not heard of this scam. Think I will have to buy Comperactive!

Posted by Yvonne Tunstill, 13 Oct 2011

Play them up!

I, too, have been cold-called several times and like several others who have posted comments here, I play them along to waste their time. Fortunately, having been a CA subscriber for many years, I was alerted to the scam. I need to get their interest early on to hook them on the bait before reeling them in, so I use the strategy of letting them believe I am a pensioner and know nothing of these things. With the trap set, I then act stupid but express amazement at their technical ability to know about such things. I always ask them to repeat what they have said, I'm somewhat deaf as well, and misquote when I repeat it back to them! Because they must think they have landed a sucker, I can keep myself amused for quite some time. Then when I wish to end it all, I remember to ask them what they said at the beginning about my pc having a problem. When they say yes, I suddenly remember that I have a Mac. Phone disconnects! Whilst I have a lot of pleasure in messing them about, I am aware of the distress they can cause, so 20 or so minutes spent with me is 20 or so minutes they've been denied trying to bait someone else.

Posted by Terry, 14 Oct 2011

scam call

just had a call from Anna at Windows Service Centre - usual rubbish, but I kept her talking for a while then asked for her phone number and address to call her back. She said the address was Lower Castle Street, Bristol, BS1 3AG and her phone number was 011799 02774.

Posted by Diana, 19 Oct 2011

techienonline.co.uk

I got the same thing,, indian guy said I had "online infractions" and that was effecting my hard drive or something. After looking at event viewer he asked me go to techieonline.co.uk and wanted me to click the bit that gives them control. Then I hung up. Their phone number is 020302 664 482

Posted by Tim, 20 Oct 2011

Cold Call from "Windows"

I have been telephoned several times at various times of the day by people stating that there is a problem with my computer. I have always been a bit suspicious about this and always hang up. If I have a problem I will contact the relevant company. I have posted this to facebook for my friends and family to see.

Posted by Joy Whitehouse, 21 Oct 2011

www.windowsesolution.com

I got the same call now. Unfortunately they woke me up early in the morning. Though I suspected it, I just kept talking to see what they are upto. In parallel I googled the website name and found alerts. Exactly and the same point of Remote Support the line got disconnected. Can all these comments consolidated as a complaint and stop them calling innocent users. what is the permanent bail out for us from these people.

Posted by Hari, 22 Oct 2011

Windows cold caller

Hi, I had one of above calls last friday 28th oct. I spent an hr on the phone. When they asked for money i sussed them out, however, they took my screen for few moments. I didn't give them any card nos etc. Is my computer safe? I did check my security and hard disc & all seems ok.

Posted by Rosemary Goodwin, 31 Oct 2011

Windows Service Centre Scam

When so many people are being contacted by these ratbags, why isn't there anything being done by Microsoft or the authorities. They will keep going while unsuspecting people are being captured by them. I have had several of these calls, the first one almost got me...please do something.

Posted by Robert, 02 Nov 2011

Calling Canada.

They have called me 3 times trying to get me to give them information, the last time I strung them along for a while. they had me open the event viewer and look for errors, I told him there were not any. He said I couldn't see the errors because of the malicious software. Then they asked me to open my INF folder and asked me tro try to open those files, and when they wouldn't open proceded to tell me that those were all malicious files, and that I needed to go to www.support.me and download something. That was when I told him didn't really have a computer and that I was messing with him and wished him a great day.

Posted by lordsnow, 12 Nov 2011

just in time!!

i received this call today, i went along with it for a while with my wireless turned off, he showed me the amount of errors that had occured on my laptop, then asked me to go on to the internet, i wasn't comfortable with this so i asked him if there was a store i could go into to renew my warrenty, which was what he was trying o get me to do! he said no, it was and on-line service and i needed to go to the website now and he would take me through it. i told him i wasn't comfortble with doing this while he was on the phone and he should give me the address and would do it myself later, he then got quite annoyed with me, so luckily i googled the website before going to it saw numerous pages about scams like this so i told him what i had found, what i thought of him and put the phone down!! that really was close, thanks google!!

Posted by Sam Watts, 16 Nov 2011

Indian Fraud

Just had same experience as all the other people on here. Indian guy called Justin Brown...yep, said he was from Microsoft support and my pc was sending out error reports which were currupting my pc. I was walked thro all the same tech error stuff which i must say was very convincing, then shown asked if he could have the id No. so he could remotely sort this out! To which like a complete IDIOT i did! Luckily whilst he was in action i was googling on my iphone scams of this description when rthe alarm bells went off i cut the power to the PC and fronted this guy . After much speil he went on to ask for £80 for this anti virus program to which i told him to get stuffed. My only fear is now is my pc safe as he had access? No one seems to be answering this on this forum?

Posted by mark roberts, 21 Nov 2011

And still going... and going..

My partners parents who have no IT literacy at all received a phone call from the Windows Service Centre and my partner was round at the time so she was dealing with it. They were technical sounding enough that she had set up the remote access which is when I happened to be calling in and I was given the phone to sort it out. They wanted me to leave the computer on and connected (with them on remote access!!!) while I went to a local shop to get a ukashvoucher, so now theyre not after your money but your entire available identity! How many of us have our passwords saved on our home computers so we dont have to type them in every time?! Fortunately, I cottoned on in time, disconnected and uninstalled their access program they have you install.

Posted by Ben, 30 Nov 2011

Windows Scam Phone Call

Had a phone call yesterday stating that i had infected files on my PC. Told them to hang on for a minute whilst i got my PC up and running. Put my phone handset by my cd player speaker and played them music until they hung up on me!

Posted by Angela, 05 Dec 2011

PC Scam

Got a call this evening. I gave the call to my husband as they said it was about his laptop. He almost bought it until I became suspicious and asked questions. Asked for a number that I could call them back and they gave me one which I traced to Bayonne NJ. They said they were in Salt Lake. Checked out the web and found confirmation of the scam. They called us back when we did not call them. MUst say, they were difficult to get rid of. We threatened them with police action and they didn't seem to care. Beware

Posted by Butlers, 07 Dec 2011

Scam Windows calls

I have received calls of this nature several times. On one occasion my computer was switched off. I told them to ring again later after I had switched my computer on (they would not give me a phone number for me to call back). Amazingly, they did call back, and I told them there was nothing wrong. Only then did the caller accuse me of wasting her time, to which I replied she was wasting my time. The call ended. Received another call today from an "Anna Jones" of "Windows Service Centre", with a south Asian accent claiming there were problems with my computer. This time I replied that there was nothing wrong, unless they had hacked into it, in which case they were committing a criminal offence. "Ms Jones" sarcastically thanked me for wasting her time and hung up, ending a call that lasted no more than 30 seconds.

Posted by Raphael, 07 Dec 2011

windowsesolutions

I had an experience almost identical to that shown in the video. I let it run on to the point where they asked a fee (about 30 mins) before telling them I knew exactly what they were doing. I then googled their company name, finding your website.

Posted by Bob Barker, 13 Dec 2011

WIndwos Error - Cold Calls

Over the past month I have received about six calls informing me of a free service to help Windows users to fix decrease in speed caused by malware and viruses downloaded to my computer when I visit websites. The company 'CareOfPCs' is based in India and when I challenge them for company details and their Microsoft Registration they hang up. They state how there are many small companies offering this service on behalf of Windows Operating System.

Posted by R DeCambre, 13 Dec 2011

microsoft service center

Just had a call from the scammers using phone number 09999100329. They are persistent aren't they.

Posted by richard, 16 Dec 2011

PC Support Centre Online Ltd

This company called - Today I receieved a phone call from a foreign sounding lady claiming to represent PC Support Centre Online Ltd . She told me the company was representing various ISPs to help with technical problems. She went on to say the company had detected a problem with my computer (which wasn't on)and then asked which browser I was using. The phone number from this company was listed as 'unavailable.'

Posted by Keith Wesley, 16 Dec 2011

Another victim of this pleasant Scam

Received 1 of these calls yesterday @ bout 2:30pm central time. Some indian male saying that he was callin from Windows n that they had gotton a message from somewhere (hard 2 understand him)that my computer had a virus. He asked if I was who I was n if my email was ? it was, I said yes. He said he could help me over the phone, I told him that I was about 2 pic up kids n had no time @ the moment 2 do this. He asked when he could call bac, I told him in bout an hr. After hangin up w him my gutt feelin kicked. Sure enough an hr later I got a call only this time it was a woman, since I was drivkn n I never talk on my cell when drivin, I had my 13yr old talk, i asked her 2 ask the woman ? company n f a phone #, she said she couldn,t understand the woman so I told her 2 tell her that I had no problems w my computer n 2 say that if I got anymore calls I would hav 2 contact authorities. When I got hm I went on line 2 find out this was a Scam. Also talked w a trusted friend who said the same thin, so glad f my gut feelin. While i no these people may not pay f ? their're doin 2 so many of us, I am a true believer in karma "? goes around comes around", hope they get their's soon

Posted by Petita, 20 Dec 2011

Windows Technical Department - Scam

I received a call this morning from 2063971126 who kinew my name and said they had discovered I had errors with my computer and wouldI sit by my computer and he would tell me what to do. He had a strong Indian accent. He has phoned several times in the past saying the same thing. Friends this morning advised me to have nothing to do with this call but to telephone 101, the Police, which I did and they confirmed that this was a Scam and to have nothing to do with them. It's always an Indian who phones and says he'sfrom Windows Technical Department and I asked him where he was speaking froim and he said "Bradford". However,the number I got from dialling 1471 did not sound like a UK phone number. Who are these people?

Posted by June Moore, 05 Jan 2012

Computer t fault scam

This a frequent & annoying problem & had another one today. Put the phone down as there was a short lag (usually a good indicator of an automated cold call) & they promptly phoned back. Have tried putting the phone down, being rude, winding them up. Always an Indian type accent with an English name. Lately wait for them to mention Windows or Microsoft & then tell them I use a Mac or Linux - seems to work for now. As there are so many complaints why is nothing being done about this?

Posted by Ronni , 06 Jan 2012

Time waster - me?

Have received many of these calls and usually hang up. Once, however, I feigned real interest in the advice I was given and asked many questions. When it got to the point when I was asked to start the diagnosis, I told him I couldn't, as I do not have a computer. He got very annoyed and acused me of wasting his time!

Posted by Tony, 14 Jan 2012

Another one

I have just had a call this morning, great to find this, if nothing else to give me confidence that to send him packing was the right thing to do! I also told one about two weeks ago that I didn't have a computer and he just hung up on me - how rude!!!

Posted by Penny, 16 Jan 2012

call today

just had a call today, thought i would check on internet to see if it was legitimate and found this which was very useful. Got the number from them but not tried it though 02032394654

Posted by sali, 04 Feb 2012

Windows Service Centre

Same thread as other comments. I was suspicious and said I was not on my computer at the moment but my son would look at it for me as he is a programmer. She said she would call me back in 1 hour. I am sure it was the same lady's voice on the video. She said her name was Fiona (Indian accent) I asked for her telephone No. 1905570911 - she said she was based in London. I will wait to see if she calls back and give her short shift after reading this article. Thank you.

Posted by M Holly, 10 Feb 2012

Still Going Strong - unfortunately

Just want to add that today I spoke to the same company - they had tried 5 times in the last two days to call. gave me a number of 00442081330602 and Jack Lawson with work id WB0612. Strangely though I live in Sweden and the call was showing as originating in Egypt while they are claiming to be in the UK!!!

Posted by Jeremy, 11 Feb 2012

They also brake TPS laws

I told them we were on TPS they egnored it. Repeatedly. So I just hung up on them

Posted by MJ, 14 Feb 2012

I had such a call last night. The # was 981-234-5673. I asked if they were from Telus. Person told me to turn on the ceoputmr immediately to get mal-ware out. I hung up. L.

I had such a call last night. The # was 981-234-5673. I asked if they were from Telus. Person told me to turn on the ceoputmr immediately to get mal-ware out. I hung up. L.

Posted by Busari, 27 Feb 2012

Shame about the video

Shame about the video not working. I would have liked to have seen it. I just read about it in a recent issue of the magazine.

Posted by John Stubbs, 01 Mar 2012

windows cold calling

I received this call twice over 5 months. First time put phone down, second played along as far as I could but had to tell them I didn't believe them. Main reason was I couldn't remember how the applications looked as I was not at work. At both times I was running linux mint 11/12 on all home computers. (nice of microsoft to try and fix a competitors system).

Posted by Ian A. Storey, 24 Mar 2012

same call

Some asian woman called, i googled as she was spouting i had errors. Since i work for cable tv company in uk i know it was all rubbish, tole em we were a police station and to give name of company and we were tracing the call to prosecute, she sorta gasped and hung up..... theives the lot of em.

Posted by madddyyy, 26 Mar 2012

Problem with hard drive

My mother received a call from an Indian person saying that there was a problem with the hard drive on our computer and could she switch it on and they would talk her through it. She advised them that she did not know how to work a computer and then hung up. She then dialled 1471 and got the number 0123456789 which I tried to ring and the number was engaged.

Posted by Caroline, 03 Apr 2012

The names these people use...

I get one of these calls about every couple of weeks, so do my mum and partner, but I built my and their computers so they called me the first time and I told them there's no way it would be MS, must be a scam. Anyway, the funny bit about them is the names they use - (thick Indian accent) "Hello, my name is Gerald..." I've also had alleged Clive, Henry, Arthur, Vernon and Albert in the last 18 months. I laugh for a while, then tell them they're liars and thieves and hang up :)

Posted by Phil, 05 Apr 2012

Windows Service Center Scam

How the heck do you get these idiots to stop calling? The very first time they called last year I knew it was a scam of some sort; 1) there is nothing wrong with my computer. 2) no one is ever going to call someone to tell them something is wrong with their computer....come on now. I have been nice and asked them to stop calling; I have been rude to them then hung up (one woman didn't like that I was yelling at her...so I told her to stop calling me then...LOL). I keep telling them that I know it's a scam and that no one would ever call someone out of the blue to tell them something is wrong with their computer; I have told them that I work in IT so I know they are full of crap......but they still keep calling.

Posted by Melody, 02 May 2012

They're still at it

Got a call last night almost exactly as recorded above and it was so convincing I almost fell for it. In the end I kept them talking for over an hour by turning my computer off and on and telling them it was slow to boot up as it has so many virus's. They wanted me to pay for my out of date Microsoft software (Vista, so perhaps this is a different slant on the same scam. Eventually I told them the internet was down for good and this sometimes happened in our climate. they said they would call back in half an hour, which they did very promptly. My wife took the call and told them I was out at a business meeting, so they asked her to go to the computer, at which she told them she doesn't even know how to turn it on, then put the phone down. They rang again this morning trying to convince me to continue were we left off and login to a website to pay for my 'upgrade' of windows. Needless to say I told them were to go. Just hope I don't get any more calls from them as, but if I do at least I can waste some more of their time by using the ploys given here.

Posted by Paul, 23 May 2012

remote access scam

ok this scam is still up and running, had a call from 'tech dept of BT' strange as I have nothing to do with BT, wanted me to give remote access to my system, asked the to put details in an e-mail and I'll look at it then. said my thanks and hung up

Posted by craig, 25 May 2012

Window PC Services

Just had a call from these people claiming that my pc is also sending errors out to their servers. I've had them call about 5 times now so I thought I'd have some fun. I listened to their patter and when they asked if my pc was going slow I said no. Everything they thought I'd say yes to was a no. Eventually when it came to the price I said I was skint and had nobody to lend me the £150+ they wanted from me to continue. I then told them that I used to be a PC Technician and if there were any problems I'd sort them out myself. They then tried to say I couldn't do this so I put the phone down. Now hopefully they won't call me again but now that I've found this site my thoughts are confirmed. Thank you.

Posted by Sharon Vickers, 28 May 2012

they just rang me too!

just had a call telling me that my computer has been sending them errors and warnings and that they are windows care IT department with a microsoft certified technician to help me! He said his name is Udi Cage. I said that my husband has the pasword for the computer and that we would ring back later. He gave me the number 442032397020. I wondered if it was a scam so typed the number into google and found all this!

Posted by ABradford, 29 May 2012

cold call

was scammed last year but still get these calls. the company calling themselves "Windows Service Centre" were very insistent and when i refuesed to go to my computer, the man in charge "John Watson" (who i have to say didn't sound like his name) told me that he would have to block my IP address as it was his duty. he claimed i had broken the law by downloading these errors and not having them fixed. This is a worrying variant; i don't know a huge amount about IT (I was scammed after all!) but i would imagine this is impossible for them to do....but if anyone can provide some reassurance i would be very grateful

Posted by Anthony Ashford, 29 May 2012

Windows PC Services

Thank you for this article - it has just saved me wasting time with scammers. Call came from 'Microsoft Windows PC Services' based in Luton, Bedfordshire and a caller who presented himself as 'Greg' was most likely Indian. When I asked to call them back he gave a phone number - 07024035004. No landline - that's when I started googling the scam and this article came up. Once again, thanks, and keep up the good work.

Posted by Jelena, 04 Jun 2012

Kevin cold call

windows pc services.com are back and scamming again. As an IT specialist that knows all about security I tried to ask leading questions about how they can receive error messages about my Windows PC (particularly interesting to me as I do not own windows PC) Immediately they hung up when challenged.

Posted by Not Anyones fool, 04 Jun 2012

microsoft scam

Had 2 calls in the last week. First one wanted remote access. When questioned he told me that I would lose my Microsoft licence and be fined $1000. That sealed it and I said goodbye. real nuisance these guys.

Posted by Dave Telling, 07 Jun 2012

Computer scams

Every time, and it happens quite often, a stranger tells me there is something wrong with my computer I tell them I don't have a computer and they quickly hang up!

Posted by Carolyn Smith, 09 Jun 2012

Just got one of these

An "Alan Watson"...from India, called and told me terrorists were hacking into my computer...for two weeks. I ask why am i not speaking with the FBI or some other domestic agency, and why am i now being informed? The hell are terrorists gonna use off of my laptop for terrorism? How did they know I was the owner of the computer? Told me to go to support.me, and put in code at logmein123.com. I didnt do it, and googled this to see if it's BS. Well it turns out it is. Too funny

Posted by George, 09 Jun 2012

They are still out there!!!

Thanks to everyone for helping to raise the awareness of this. I just happened to be visiting my Mum yesterday when she also received one of these calls from Windows Support Center Support. Script was as the video, requesting use of the EVENTVWR utility and playing on your fear of the word 'error'. I listened to what they had to say, started asking to many questions before they hung up. They wouldn't tell me how they got my Mum's number but I was really annoyed because my Mum is the type of person who isn't that PC literate, but does understand the words 'infection' and 'virus'.

Posted by neil porteous, 17 Jun 2012

get this all the time

I just had this phone call again today. i recon i get it every couple of months or so. I am quite computer literate so thankfully alarm bells were sounding the very first time they called. today tho i had some fun, i let her go through all her patter and pretended to sound shocked and concerned. when the lady asked me to go to event viewer (the computer wasn't even turned on btw) and asked if i seen any errors I said no there are none, she sounded very confused, are you sure?... yes i said there are no errors at all. she told me there should be errors and i asked "why is that ? because EVERY windows pc on earth will show errors and you are talking absolute garbage". she hung up.

Posted by Alan Roberts, 03 Jul 2012

Windows Server Helpdesk

Apparently I had a problem today with my PC software, a bloke with a Asian accent called 'Daniel' called to say they needed to fix my computer urgently, he said he was from Windows Server Help Desk at Microsoft. He phoned 3 times in the space of ten minutes as I said I was busy, I asked if I could call back and he gave me this number 01143603330 which is a O2 messaging service.

Posted by G Butler, 05 Jul 2012

Windows support centre

Apparently I've downloaded some infected files. I let him carry on his patter for about 5 minutes then asked him how this was possible as I'm a mac user. He didn't even give me the satisfaction of a reply before he hung up.

Posted by R LoSardo, 07 Jul 2012

Same thing experienced a few minutes ago

I had a telephone call a few minutes ago and asked the caler if he was retarded and needed help as his speech was incredibly slurred and incomprehesible ! At first I thought it was somebody needing assistance! He told me the same story about my computer having a problem and he was calling from Liverpool (ha ha) ! He asked me to press the windows button (bottom left) and in synchrony the r button and then to type in eventvwr (I didn't but jotted it down and told him to UFO ! He sounded shocked and I haven't heard back ! What awful tricksters they try to be and what time wasters ! I was making jam !

Posted by Tanya, 07 Jul 2012

Grandma

I am 68 but would never dream of turning on my laptop on request from a cold call... I just hang up. I got the call about an hour ago, but knew it was a scammer, they had Indian accents too. Don't trust any "cold calls"...

Posted by M.Galbraith, 09 Jul 2012

Windows call center from India

Thank you for these comments. We have received 3 calls from them today, after telling them I could not understand them they had someone call that could speak better English. He's returning the call and Thank You again for the words of wisdom. I'm trying to cut him off without being the "ugly American" and letting him know I'm not stupid.

Posted by S. Peeples, 31 Jul 2012

Computer ID

I got a call this afternoon. The Indian guy got me type in the code to show up my computer ID. He read it when I checked my computer. It was correct. I was scared because this guy knew my phone number, name, and computer ID. I asked him what is your name, he gave me an obvious British name "Andy Parker." Funny enough that when I asked him your phone number, he hang up the phone. Maybe he thought I was not going to be tricked. Still, it scared me. How on earth they know so much about me? Let's keep this story alive so fewer peop would be cheated.

Posted by Mike, 01 Aug 2012

They are still up to it

I am staying in a furnished condo with a landline alreaady, been here about a week, and this indian sounding ------- called looking for a Jim, my name is John, he insisted that it was ok, and that it was my computer that has malicios files. I immediately knew it was a scam, and was like, ok and I suppose you want to sell me something to fix it. He said no, and that he wanted me to go to my computer, I played a long with him as I asked him if he was calling from Microsoft, he said no, I am calling from windows, and I was like, ok you do know that Microsoft owns windows, and he finally said he was calling from PC Care online. I immediately google searched to find this thread and many others like it. I asked more questions like where he was calling from, he said New York City, funny because the caller id said Beavorton Oregon...I continued to read as he wanted me to open cmd and type in something when I finally cut him off and said I am not as dumb as some of the people he calls and know that this is a scam and hung up.

Posted by John L., 07 Aug 2012

Microsoft licence renewal

After reading previous comments, I feel I am fooled. i have paid, in fact they had access to my western union account at two different times, taking 300, then after 3 weeks they made me pay another 280, now they are calling again, that they made a mistake and should send another 280, because otherwise they cant refund the money, as they wanted to do so initially. he even run the command which would tell me that I will be paid back 910 after sending the second 280.. I feel so stupid, or just very naive.

Posted by Andrea, 09 Aug 2012

www.pcsoftwareservices.com/

Their website looks so legit, my wife gave me tha phone as she confused our router reboot with a pc problem. Ultimately I think they wanted to try to take control of the pc and then persuade us to buy something. Pretty much the same babble as everyone else said. They claimed they were a Microsoft partner and gave me a CLSID for our computer. When I read the Id back to them I left out at least 2 characters and he still said it was ok! i get that same ID at the end of the file on an XP machine using ASSOC command so good scam as this Class ID is on every Windows machine. We had at least 2 or 3 online today, they claimed it was the Windows 7 one. They wanted me to open, run things/ open websites, etc. but nicely hung up after I wasted a lot of their time and googled the type of scam, and said I would not type anything they wanted me to.

Posted by RP, 14 Aug 2012

phone scam

it happened to me today they gave me a number to contact incase i needed to get in touch with them.it is 08082348670, they got control of my pc but weren't smart enough i unplugged them half way through. got my friend on the mobile line put them both on loud speaker and listened. i 1471 ed my phone and got the number 0442084679652. they were saying they could install windows 7 ultimate for £119.00 plus full lifetime support and then i hung up they got squat from me!

Posted by Mr G cavallaro, 24 Aug 2012

They just won't quit

One guy called me three times. In the end I had to take the phone off the hook.

Posted by N. Barnes, 27 Aug 2012

HELP!

I had one of these phone calls and actually believed them. I paid out $435. The company name was Live Tech Care. Now all of their phone numbers are dead and there is no way to contact them. Unfortunately my computer is running slow. Does anybody have any ideas?

Posted by pum, 27 Aug 2012

Cold calling

Just got yet another of these pesky calls - chap said that he's in Salt Lake City though he sounded Indian. He wouldn't answer my questions as to who pays him or who he works for. Asked him to delete my details from his system & he told me they'd 10,000 systems. Got fed up and put the phone down.

Posted by Mary in Dublin, 31 Aug 2012

I've just found your website after receiving one of these calls. Right from the outset it was obvious it was a scam - they went through the usual scenario of telling me my computer had problems but failed to explain how they'd obtained the relevant phone number to call (after also checking that I do actually have a computer!). Usually I just hang up on international calls but sometimes I decide to string them along; this was one of those times. The procedure followed exactly what your video shows, right up until they asked me to enter a web address - in my case it was support.me. By now 20 minutes had gone by, 20 minutes that I didn't begrudge as it was 20 minutes they weren't trying to sucker someone else. I didn't, and still haven't, typed in that web address, possibly being over cautious. I simply hung up on them and then received two more calls where they were eagerly trying to get hold of me again, no doubt thinking I'd been sucked in. I didn't answer the phone. These people make me sick.

Posted by Pat, 04 Sep 2012

their website

I asked them for their website when they called me and they gave me this http://windowspcservices.com/

Posted by Ad, 12 Sep 2012

Scam or not

Just had a. Phone call this morning saying they were from Microsoft and tried to get me to run through my computer programes sounded wrong as never received a phone call before here nu 02082041061 hung up in the end

Posted by George, 17 Sep 2012

yet another Windws PC services scam call

Nice Indian gentleman said my computer was generating error reports; I would shortly have my windows licence cancelled if I did not follow his instructions. I rang my computer doctor who said: hang up; or, ask his number to call back; ask him to give me my windows license details. He got grumpy, asked me if I was stupid, then said my licence would be cancelled , and hung up. Oh he also mentioned his senior technician "Stephen Tucker"

Posted by graeme, 21 Sep 2012

Another Windows service call

I just had a call from a lady telling me that she had a report saying my computer had errors..and was asking me to turn computer on blah blah. I told her that i wasn't very computer savvy and could I have her number and I'd get my partner to call her back..Her reply was I'll call back later and then the phone went dead..I had heard of this before as my partner received that same call about a month ago.

Posted by Dee - Australia, 01 Oct 2012

Called Today...

Being on a Telephone Preference Service, I was a bit surprised that these People knew our last Name AND Number. So, I kept Him on the Line for 20 Minutes, then when He asked what His Website said, I read this Article out to Him, followed by, "You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye.". I hope that They learn, crime does not pay.

Posted by Nick T, 02 Oct 2012

They called me today...

They told me that my computer was slow and as i the video they told to look for errors, first eventvwr, then www.ammyy.com so he could remote me, then he started msinfo32 and told me that there was a lot of drivers shouldn't be there and that was why my computer was slow, and now to the big question i asked them whos would pay for this session, and they told that they would because i have been a windows for many years and their company was gold member at Microsoft, but let us move on, he opened www.supportme.com and told me that he would connect a technician to assist, then i hung up...

Posted by Peder, Copenhagen, Denmark, 05 Oct 2012

They're still at it.....

I've just been running my eye down this column with some amusement (though, of course, with indignation also) because I have been getting these calls on and off for at least 18 months and they never seem to stop coming in. Actually, I was lucky with my first one because, after starting off by saying he was from Microsoft, the guy (mine, interestingly, did NOT have any kind of overseas accent) asked me whether I had Windows or a Mac! We got as far as the event viewer, after which I told him that I'd noticed nothing untoward, but that any problems which did crop up would go to my local repair company. I then put the phone down. They keep on persisting with these calls. I always hang up without answering but in the area of Glasgow where I live, which happens to have many elderly residents, this scamming problem has become so bad that we have been asked to report calls to the Police who repeatedly put warning notices into the local newspaper. I don't know whether that's happening also in other places but thank you, ComputerActive, for keeping up the good work! - Meg.

Posted by Meg Little, 07 Oct 2012

Microsoft scam

I have just been called and told them I want verify the details they gave me phone number of 0161 408 2651 or 08000148895 and an email address of support@onlinepcsupport.co.uk he was very pushy and said he needed to call back at a more convenient time I said I would call when I was ready after reading your post I will not be calling

Posted by Nickie blackstone, 13 Oct 2012

Still up and pestering!

Yes like so many others i join the ranks of those who have "tried" to be scammed. I have been online a long time and smelt a rat from word go. The number they called me from is 01800456324. Looks like they are now contacting Sky customers.

Posted by Stu, 18 Oct 2012

Windows PC Services

I can't believe i nearly got taken in! This chap called from Windows PC Services and told me my computer was sending error messages. When i sounded suspect, he read out my windows licence id. And that's where i nearly fell. Thought only Microsoft would have that id. He made me enter it into the computer 'Run' screen and i checked what looked like the id and it DID match!! How is that possible. Anyway, i nearly listened to what he had to say but something made me google Windows PC services and this came up. Thank you all for this!! I hope I haven't given him any crucial information by confirming my Windows id...or what i think was the id. Anybody care to clarify?

Posted by Asima, 18 Oct 2012

cold calls

I got caught once by these people don,t answer telephone calls from 0207 or 0044 telephone numbers it appears that these nos can be bought easily and used from anywhere in the world and are hard to track

Posted by Janet Withers, 21 Oct 2012

PC Support Scam

Have been called twice by Indian sounding person.Hung up when asked to go to AMMY (?)website so that they could control PC. They called themselves PC Support Center and have a website www.pcsupportcenter.net. He also gave me a phone number which I have mislaid, and was very persistent.

Posted by J Harkins, 22 Oct 2012

I let these people remote my PC am I safe now?

I thought they were from Windows as they had the IP number of my pc !!!! but under a guy called Lee. Am I now not safe?

Posted by J Plews, 02 Nov 2012

Windows Pc services Nov 2012

Just in the nick of time we read your article on our iPad while Pc services were scamming us about error messages on our laptop. They sounded so convincing and we were about to log on to their website when our antivirus program kicked in and we had to restart the laptop. In the meantime we got our iPad to check out their website and your article came up. We then told the caller we had to go out. Of course he wanted to call back, but by then we had him sussed. So he was well narked and told us we were not taking him seriously and we would be getting a letter from Microsoft and would have our licence revoked....!! So just beware....His number was 0161 846 58138.

Posted by Adrian, 03 Nov 2012

Windows pc services

My husband took a phone call this afternoon, Chris Wilcox of Windows who also said he is a microsoft engineer. He told my husband that his laptop was running slow due to a large number of errors, if the problem was not rectified the Microsoft licence would be revoked! Unfortunately my husband if far more trusting than myself and allowed Chris access to his laptop but thankfully realised that accepting a service contract was not a good option. Apparently Chris will phone back tomorrow so that hubby can resume the conversation and subscribe to the services offered. Chris will be sorely disappointed ! As we were unsure as to what may or may not have been done during the "streaming in" process we have spent the evening stopping bank cards etc - I wont be a happy bunny if I receive a call from such a company again! ps the telephone number left by Chris was 02032394191 - as with other posters the caller was very confident, used my husbands name and apparently had the microsoft licence number.

Posted by J Jackson, 05 Nov 2012

WINDOWS PC SERVICES

Got a call from windows pc services today telling me i had a load of viruses and trojans, i played along for a bit and when i told the guy i was a pc engineer, he asked me if i could even spell engineer and what uni i went to! i told him there were articles all over the place about his scammy "services" and he replied "you know you are in big trouble, I'm going to hack you and steal all of your personal information", bring it on, when asked what operating system i was on, he hesitated and then said vista (I'm not)

Posted by Lol-at-calls, 12 Nov 2012

Have I been had

Iwas contacted by a company called Windows Computor Dept in New Jersey USA Tel 01513240399 they worked on my pc for about two hours unfotunatley i paid them £44 I am now rather worried what I have done.

Posted by Graham Bell, 13 Nov 2012

Scam Calls

At one point I was getting a regular trickle of cold 'scam' calls,which are easily recognised as such mainly by instinct ~ I simply have a bit of fun by saying in a rather loud agitated voice "are you from the Hospital" Then follow up quickly & aggressively "then get off the line - now" ! Does the scammer have a sleepless night ? I don't suppose so but I feel better !

Posted by Abraham, 16 Nov 2012

Working the Netherlands as well

I received a phone call from them this morning, telephonenr 001512451155. As we were talking about fixing our broking kitchen window just this morning, I was a bit confused someone of Windows Service Centre called. As soon as she started talking about the errors they received from my pc I realised it was not about that kind of windows. I started asking questions, not understanding she didn't speak any Dutch. She couldn't tell me other than she was calling from the Windows service centre and that my pc has a problem which she could help out with. I told her I would fix it myself and hung up on this lady. Afterwards I searched the web for this company and found your website ans was glad I hung up. Helpful, tnx!

Posted by Marie-Christine, 16 Nov 2012

They are still doing this

...Wasted the guys time and revealed I knew what he was doing...he wasnt very happy

Posted by Adam, 24 Nov 2012

"There is a problem with your computer" scam

I received a call this morning saying there was a problem with my computer and I should go and sit by it waiting for instructions. I said it was an Apple Mac computer and I was very surprised and he put the phone down. The number calling me was 0661800456324. It is a number in Iran.

Posted by Pam Bentley, 03 Dec 2012

I got a call today glad I found this site

He told me he was from windows and I had a virus that was eating away at my computor. I asked him if it was a sales call he said no. The call went on and on, eventually I asked him to get to the point. He did eventually get to the point which was he said my ' softwear protection layer' had expired! I told him my computor was under guarentee he tried to baffle me with IT jargon. It went on and on. He tried to make out that I required to buy some softwear he was trying to make me think that my PC was going to crash in 3 days. When I insisted that the way he was calling me he told me my computor was going to close down within days!!! I was fuming when he said ' good bye don't have a good life'!!!! There is more I just could not believe it.

Posted by wendy farrow, 11 Dec 2012

We were also called

We have been also called by a man called Alan Watson and we gave him permission to get to our PC. We had to pay € 150 to solve the problem. Can anyone tell us what we should do now because we didn't pay but he was in our computer. Do we have a problem now and if so what do we do. thanks foor your reaction

Posted by Jeroen, 20 Dec 2012

Further scam

These people are going even further now. I have calls, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, purporting to be from a company offering to refund money I foolishly was scammed out of by them 'fixing' my computer. They say the original comany has gone out of business and they are refunding the money as the service is no longer available to me. Again they are very feasible on the phone but take no notice when I tell them that I know its a scam, tell them that I do not want my money back, when I'm rude to them etc. I don't know how we stop these calls, they call at all times of day. We are on the BT service that is supposed to stop nuisance calls but it makes no difference.

Posted by Lesley, 07 Jan 2013

Enjoyed wasting their time...

I get these calls regularly, and as someone who works in IT I recognised them as a scam from the first time they did it. Normally I out the phone down on them, but today I decided to string them along for 15 mins... At the point they wanted me to hand over control of my PC to them, I asked "How many people fall for this b*llocks?" Of course, the phone went dead instantly. I feel for those who've been reeled in by these scum.

Posted by Dave Uppers, 14 Jan 2013

Caught

I was caught by these scammers. They are very plausible and very clever. I am 73 and am not too smart with computers and I was taken in to the extent of paying £80 for their services, trusting soul that I am. My bank subsequently told me that unusual activity was happening in my account. Someone was attempting to withdraw £202 through Western Union, but the bank blocked payment. I reported all this to the police and changed my bank account numbers, etc. Today the 'Microsoft Computer Services' phoned back to give me a rebate. When I declined to give any details they said that they would repay me through Western Union. They would have to pay £450 as this was the lowest amount that could be transferred. I would get my £80 and tranfer £370 back to them. Hmmm! I have a number and an address for this. I will contact Western Union tomorrow to see what happens, but I'm sure that any Microsoft support service would not work in this way. What will happen to the £370 - Another scam maybe? I will be happy to provide more information if necessary. Yours suspiciously

Posted by Liz Roberts, 18 Feb 2013

I was scammed

I had a call from someone named Mark Leroy he told that the computer warranty had ran out and this could cause serious problem to my computer. He had access to my pc for over 5 hours. I paid £190 for 3 years warranty through Western Union as I wouldn't give him my card number. The money was sent to India. This happen on the 25th of February.

Posted by s willis, 08 Mar 2013

PC Center Scam

This PC Center place keeps calling for the last week or so. We keep hanging up on them. They have called themselves the "Windows Maintenance Department", and the "Dell Maintenance Division". Somehow they know we just bought a new Dell. I sure hope Dell knows these people are somehow getting a hold of this information. Anyhow, next time I'm going to ask them for a Tax ID number, tell them they are being recorded, and keep them on the phone while I conference call Dell in as well. Hope they won't hang up on me, LOL!

Posted by Heather Blackwell, 18 Mar 2013