AMMYY Scam

I just had a call that Caller ID listed as "Texas".  The actual last 7 digits of the ID were 823-4073, but no area code. 

The initial person on the line had such a heavy middle eastern accent I couldn't understand him.  He put a second person on line who told me he was the supervisor of the Microsoft Technical Support group and that the Microsoft servers in their service center(in Texas)  were getting messages that my computer had been hijacked and that it was sending bad messages.  I asked where he was calling from.  He said Salt Lake City.  He explained the "Texas" ID as his call being "muxed" over to the service center. 

When I insisted on a phone number where I could call him back he gave me 952-467-6389.  (I later found area code 952 is in Minnesota.) My cynical mind said it was a scam, but I let this guy put a third person on line.  I told him if he was trying to gain access to my computer or tried to sell me something I would track him down and sue.  He asked me to enter some information in the "RUN" box after which he told me what appeared to be my Microsoft (M/S) license number (Do each of us really have that number imbedded in our computers?).  He directed me to a web site (ammyy) which purported to tell me I had over 2,400 warnings and errors from "his servers" that my computer was sending dangerous messages.  The cynicism took over when he kept trying to talk over my objections with "you must listen".  I hung up on him.   

I did not let the scammer have any access to my computer but I am really curious how he came up with my "M/S license number".  Is that real?  Any thoughts on this last part? 

Will M/S ever broadcast public service announcements that they don't contact any license holders by telephone?

I applaud those of us who keep them on the phone for as long as possible.  The ONLY way they will stop is if they waste their time.  I play the really dull guy - the worst nightmare of it support people.

No, I don;t have a "windows" key - maybe that is the problem

Will anything make that key disappear?

No, next to my control key is my desk?

No, I don't have an enter key, I have DEL and INS and there is a PgDn... no enter key

One time I used my computer to go to YouTube, where there are a couple of these scam calls, I played the video so they could hear it and suggested we must have crossed lines with another technician.  It was a hoot. 

These people get paid about $5 a month, so there are an endless stream of them  So it doesn't cost money to keep them on the line, but it DOES keep them from preying on others.

By the way, an earlier post provided a phone number which DOES go to their call center.

   315 675-7749 goes right in there.  Ask for anyone, Sam, Sean, John, Jim - they will immediately get that person on the line for you.  

If you have nothing to do - and want some fun, get in touch with them.  No - it is not illegal.  If it were, surly the FBI, CIA, HLS, RCMP, OPP or someone would actually be interested in doing something with them.  No help from big brother.  

Maybe Ed Snowdon has a solution.

There is an article in the April 29 edition of Computer Active that reports that a guy in Luton (uk) has been prosecuted for running one of these call centres. He got a four month suspended sentence, a £5000 fine, £5665 in compensation and £13929 in legal costs. 

Probably two days profits.

That'll teach him. Apparently it's been described as a 'stark warning' to these people. Personally, I call it a bit of a joke. He probably won't pay the fines and has almost certainly started up again by now. 

Lock these people up.

Steve