Windows Defender Scam

Pretty close to disaster 2 days ago. I got an email on vacation that I was being charged $299 because of the automatic renewal of Windows Defender and I called repeatedly to say I didn't want it. Always a busy signal. Left a message saying I didn't want it and wouldn't pay, and left it at that. I checked my bank statements and no charge was ever made, so I thought perhaps it was taken care of.

Then, two weeks later, I got another email saying my account was being charged for a renewed Defender subscription, this time for $399. The different amount should have tipped me off. This time there was a different phone number and someone answered. Though he had a thick foreign accent, he said his name was "James Morgan". I yelled and threatened and demanded and he said that he'd need to get into my computer to reverse things; I assumed he wanted to remove the software. I acquiesced.

Things rapidly got stranger and I had a growing, sickening sensation that I was being scammed. "James" said he needed access to my bank information and then after visiting there he told me that the return of funds couldn't be completed until the next day, that he would call back the next day at 9 AM to complete the transaction. Oh, and I should stay off my computer for the next hour.

At this point I knew I was about to be ripped off big time. Better late than never. I immediately called the bank and changed all my passwords. I also called my real computer maintenance service and they removed all of the foreign bugs inserted in my computer. James called back the next at 9 AM as promised—I told him never to call again and hung up. He tried to call repeatedly over the next 5 minutes as I blocked him. The number was from somewhere in Michigan.

They always use the phoniest sounding American/British/Australian names. The syntax/spelling is always off. But if you're pissed off, you can gloss over these warning signs and get sucked in.

I am reporting all the gory details so that

1. Everyone will know what an idiot I was.  With work and activities with people I know, I allow remote control of my computer all the time and have become too trusting of a request to do so. Never again.
2. Others can determine from the particulars that the same perpetrators were involved.
3. Everyone will know what an idiot I was.

Live and learn. Thankfully I lost no money. But it was a close call.

Thank you for your detailed explanation.  I got the $399 email today, and in reading your story have been saved the frustration of calling the number and starting that ball rolling.  On one of the earlier posts there was mention of a reporting page so i think I'll look into that.  Just wanted to say thanks for saving me from such a headache.