"Microsoft Support Call Scam"(Event Viewer)

Anonymous
2014-08-13T14:31:05+00:00

I received a phone call today from a private caller with an Indian accent saying he was from Microsoft Support.

He told me my computer was constantly sending windows errors to Microsooft and we needed to fix it.

He went on to ask me how many computers I have in my home and said all of them had to be fixed.

He had me go on my computer, type: EVENTVEWR in the box and look in options,all of this sounded strange as he kept asking me what i was seeing on my screen at the time.

I went on to ask him to hold and googled "Microsoft Support Call Event Viewer" in which I found a blog with lots of people having the same thing happen to them(http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-security/phone-call-scam-received-call-from-a-technician/6ed2b99c-20ff-468b-a69b-aec78b93f287?page=22&tm=1407939072026 )

I then hung up the phone and he kept calling back(4 times)and this time it was a local number(15129633287), of which I googled immediately, bringing up a list of local numbers on a list with a foreign language as the titles.

I then decided to call Microsoft Support directly to confirm it was a scam and was informed that Microsoft never makes calls without a customer request and that Microsoft has its own set of programs it uses to fix computers instead of "event viewer".

I was told I could submit a post on here to let Microsoft know of the Incident, which is the purpose of this post..in addition to help anyone else from having to go through the experience many people have had with this issue.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-11-14T08:41:32+00:00

    I have had a call from an Indian man today by the name of ALEX, who said that I there was a problem with the computer I was using.

    I had just done a bank transfer so was a little worried! However knowing that our internet is usually safe and that the pc was up to date with all security updates and anti virus software and that they are run regularly I took a deep breath and continued to play along.

    He said he was from the technical department and was to do with OPENREACH... had I heard of them?

    He asked me to go on my computer and press the windows key and the R key together, and asked what was on the screen, then to type in EVENTVWR, I was aware of this scam so asked for his number so that I could call him back as I had to get the children ready for school. Of course he wasn't able to give me a number.  I asked him lots of questions about who he worked for and what company and he wasn't forthcoming with any of it.

    I then told him he'd wasted enough of my time with his scam and then he said that too many people were saying it was a scam and that OPENREACH don't scam people and many computers are faulty because people keep thinking it is a scam.  After a few choice words I put the phone down on him.

    When is this going to end!!!  This is not the first time that this has happened.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-10-04T21:46:15+00:00

    I received numerous call from a person with a heavy Indian accent telling me that he was with Microsoft security and that there was a problem with all the computers in my house. Upon questioning him, he was very evasive on some questions and kept repeating himself. When, by the tone of his voice, he was at the point of complete frustration, I told him my computers were being worked on and there was no way that he could have detected anything since they are all unplugged. This is the number that he called from: 1-607-319-8426. Be aware this is a scam.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-09-15T13:28:49+00:00

    I live in the Netherlands

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-15T13:28:06+00:00

    IT happende to me today. Even the name, Sam Williams, was the same.

    he called my home nummer, wich is secret. That is way believe they call people at random.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-08-30T13:29:40+00:00

    Well here you go. Just received an email about a new post to the Microsoft Community. It reads as follows;

    >A discussion that you are following on Microsoft Community has received a reply from SWAROOPSANGAM.

    Title: "Microsoft Support Call Scam"(Event Viewer)

    Reply

    HELLO SIR .

       I M SWAROOP. WINDOWS 8. 32 BIT AND WINDOWS10. 64 BIT NOT ACTIVATED. PLZ SEND PRODUCT KEY ACTIVATION

    Read this reply on Microsoft Community.


    NEXT STEPS*

    Did you like this reply? Give SWAROOPSANGAM some kudos!

    [Like this reply] <

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