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AMMYY Scam
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Anonymous
Hello
I got a call from a guy with a really heavy Indian accent claiming to be working with Microsoft.
He told me that my computer had multiple problems.
He then told me to hit the Window icon on my keyboard and R (Which is to activate Run)
After that, he told me to type in "www.ammyy.com" and hit enter.
Right when he said that, I got suspicious.
I checked their website and it seemed legit.
I decided to google "AMMYY" and I saw "AMMYY scam"
I checked lots of posts having the EXACT same thing
-Indian guy
-AMMYY
-Computer problems
-Work for microsoft.
I hanged up and shut down my computer just in case. (I"m paranoid)
I turned back my computer on and the guy called me again.
He asked me why did I hanged up and I told him it was an accident.
He asked if I downloaded AMMYY yet.
I told him this "I ain't getting my computer hacked today, buddy." and hanged up again.
I ran a full computer scan with Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security.
(Which I trust since it went with my computer)
So my question.
Who are these guys?
How many people work with them?
Why aren't they sued yet?
Is my computer safe?
Thank you
Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy
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Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
You're fine. They cold called you and have no access to your PC since you didn't install anything or allow them to connect to your PC.
Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently - Microsoft does not make unsolicited
phone calls to help you fix your computer
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/phishing/Msname.aspx
Hoaxes and Scams
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu\_sc\_virsec\_master?ws=support#tab3
Microsoft Consumer Support Center
Microsoft Support
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support#tab0
Microsoft - Contact Support
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/contact-support
270 additional answers
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Anonymous
2014-01-24T01:13:38+00:00 Read through this thread (not too thoroughly though). I received THE CALL tonight (Caller ID "Novatel" and non-working number), I realized a scam fairly quickly (barely speaking English guy reading script gets you on hook and hands off to more fluent speaker) but led them along to see what they were trying to accomplish...led to infosis.net and the aammyy installer.
The IMPORTANT thing is that I have never received (or heard of) this scam, yet it came exactly 1 hour after I had formatted and freshly installed Win 7 and had begun downloading the first set of updates. You mention "cold call", but based on my experience and some other glossed over comments by others,,,it SEEMS as if someone in MS is feeding info out to a buddy!
Thanks,
Kevlar
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Anonymous
2014-01-24T01:33:20+00:00 Interesting observation, but, no, these are most certainly cold calls. It is indeed a very long running and apparently quite lucrative scam.
See: http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
See also: http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/msname.aspx
** Do not trust unsolicited calls. Do not provide any personal information. **
-steve
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Anonymous
2014-01-24T18:36:46+00:00 I had my husband ask the hacker for the name and number so we could call him back. Which I did. His name was most likely fake-James Wilson and the number was 786-224-0184. I have reported this incident to the FTC since my husband did fall for it, he did not pay but they have rendered my computer unusable. I am searching for information on how get back in my computer.
If you want to know-just ask, tell them you have to have your spouse call with the payment or some other excuse. If they think they have you they will give it to you!