Phone SCAM caller apparently from Microsoft

SCAM! Have you had a phone call from a man or women who say that they can see your computer & it has many errors? Did they say that they work for Microsoft & that they can help you?

This week I was called by a lady who I had taught a couple of years ago, when I was employed by Age UK.

She had received a call from a man with a strong accent who told her that he knew she was using a computer with Windows7 and that it was full of errors and potential viruses.

He wanted to help her, he could help her via the telephone. With his instruction, she downloaded the software which highlighted all these errors. She could see the errors he spoke of. She then downloaded the software to allow him to access her computer from his computer. A piece of software called PCAnywhere.

Then she watched his mouse as he took over her computer. He apparently cleaned it up for her.

Then he hit the final blow that’ll be $152. He could support her for 3 years. He promised her great things.

When I asked her about it there was no doubt that she had felt vulnerable. He had given her enough information to suggest that he was genuine, he had been on the phone for a long time. In hindsight she felt bullied. She wanted to get rid of him.

He had saved a text document on her desktop with his name, phone number and website. It felt authentic to her. She believed him.

What she didn’t realise was that initially he couldnt know what was on her PC. He took a risk. His sales pitch works for some and not for others.

I receive these calls regularly, sometimes 3 times a week. I listen to the sales pitch and then say something like “you are not a nice man, get a proper job!”. There is no defence, he hangs up immediately.

Luckily the bank were on to him, they stopped the payment and her card has been cancelled.

•He called himself Eric Gemes

•His phone number was 020 3286 4050

•His email address was windowshelp247@live.com

•His website was www.pcsync.org

•His address was 1310 East Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, California

His website looks authentic, when I call the telephone number I get an answer machine. I cannot find anything on the World Wide Web to suggest he is bad.

BUT he bullied her. He lied to her. She believed him. She had a valid and up to date virus software subscription. She had no virus. He took her money.

PLEASE DO NOT give these people your money.

Please DO NOT believe them when they say they can see your errors. They can’t see anything until you download the software, under their instruction.

If you have any queries or you need any advice about your computer, go to someone local. Find someone you trust, dont trust a strange man on the end of a telephone.