New Windows Scam (new to me, at least)

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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:03 pm

I've experienced the Microsoft Windows scam, where the scammer calls on the phone and tells you that you have a virus, and he will assist in removing it while on the phone. I got a laugh out of that. But today I experienced a new twist on that ...

I visited a site I'd never been to before, to watch a first run movie, online. And suddenly BAM ! I was assaulted by an official looking Windows warning message, telling me my Computer had been infected with a terrible virus, which would corrupt all my data IF I CLOSED MY BROWSER. So I closed my Browser. I use Avast (paid-for version), and it hadn't given any warnings, so I knew it was all a total scam. The warning message was accompanied by a female voice warning me not to close my browser, but to call the telephone number listed in the warning box immediately.

I got the info from the address bar, before I closed the browser window :
http://<Snipped link. No need to leave it where someone else will click it - bware419ers> .

Since I know how to send abuse reports, I am going to kill this site.

Elite Baiter Joined: 28 Mar 2015 Posts: 1916

I have had something similar on my laptop, without the voice and many times on my 'phone, the latter purporting to come from Google, informing me that I have four dangerous viruses on my device, which are causing it damage. As I have good antivirus protection on both devices, I have always ignored them, but they are irritating.

I wonder how many people are panicked into responding to the 'alerts' as directed?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:47 am

It scared me for about a half of a second, but when the anti-virus software remained calm, I realized it was a scam.

I reported this to the Hoster/Registrar, Amazon, and have not, as yet, heard back from them. The site is still extant ...

Here is a screenshot :
Image resized to prevent forum blowout - bware419ers

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 10:48 pm

I am a one-man IT shop in a small town, and I can tell you that I see this type of scam a *lot*. Just today, as I walked into a church to pick up a check from them, the secretary is on the phone while someone else is on her system - Shocked

- I can see the mouse moving, and a couple windows open.
I figured she was talking to the people who they buy their church management software from, until she handed me a printed screengrab which had that "scary" message on it.
I immediately took the phone from her and gave the guy a bunch of grief before hanging up on him and killing the network connection on the system.
Logged in via Citrix, he was showing her the Event Log errors (a common tactic) and demonstrating to her that they could not be deleted (on a one-by-one basis), saying they were coming from the many viruses on her system...

She is far from the first. Usually, if I can get the scammers phone numbers, I'll call them back acting as if I was a victim on a return call, and waste their time acting like like a clueless idiot (if they say "Cick the Start button", tell 'em you did and then the whole system shut off, because now it has no power, etc etc...).
I'd like to mess with them some more, which is why I came back to the 'eater today after a long hiatus. Hard to believe I joined here 10 years ago. Smile

Anyway - can one of you more experienced 'baiters point out the best way to call these guys anonymously? I remember people doing that on some of the better baits, using call services and such, but it has been so long I have forgotten the exact technique/process. I figured someone here would know, point me in the right direction, or have some good ideas.

Thanks!

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:41 pm

You can always use a "burner" phone. But, even though this isn't a 419 scam, I'm sure someone around here knows how to mask the number you're calling from.

And welcome back!

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