I had a call from "Microsoft" and scam websites
 

The number was +491739496734.
The person in an "indian" english speech (please Indian people excuse me but I could not describe it otherwise), told me that there are a lot of hackers in my computer, and I asked him if there is anything wrong with my Windows which he answered yes (and I am on Linux). Then I just called him a couple of names and hung up as I was not in the mood to listen to him.

Scam artist?


This came when I was about to post a new thread about scam websites and how to identify them. I was searching yesterday and found the website listed below. Does anyone know of similar websites?

https://www.scamadviser.com/

You feel the need to ask????

"I am calling from Windows and you are having a virus"
"To cancel your Amazon Prime which has been renewed for 79.00 press 1"

If I have a week without getting at least one of each of these I consider it a good week.

 

There's fairly long thread about scams, including the "I'm from Microsoft" ones, here:

https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/general-10/here's-a-new-scam-4175668204

It was a first for me, call me a virgin if you like, so I'd thought to post about it.

I am more interested in websites like the one I listed, if anyone knows of any please post.

Edit. Interesting thread, lots of similar calls around.

Many years ago I did the same thing and the guy called me back and started cursing at me.

On another call I stopped the guy and started explaining to him how the scam worked, he said you must be an IT person and hung up.

I have not had a live Windows virus scam call in a long time.

The best advice is just to hang up...

I had a similar call once claiming that my pc had a virus. I told the caller it was impossible because I did not have a computer, to which my response he hung up.

I used to have a lot of these calls from "Microsoft engineers" but I haven't had any for a long time now. The OP is right; they always have Indian accents and they ring from a very noisy office.

Caller ID is a wonderful thing. If they call and I don't recognize the number, I simply don't answer. They never leave a message.

One of my most interesting engagements was with a telemarketing company which used VOIP. You could literally choose the "local phone number" that the call would appear to come from. If you then picked up the phone, there was a split-second online auction to determine to whom your answer would then be connected. (No, I am not joking.)

Did you know that a cancer diagnosis is worth about $85,000 before the patient dies? Did you know that "Addiction Recovery" is actually a scam for resort properties? Neither did I.

Rather disconcertingly SMS providers allow setting an alphanumeric origin ID, so spam/phishing SMS messages can be shown to come from the name of your bank. Obviously if it's the wrong bank then ignore it, but if it is the same name as your bank then the phishing message will appear in the "legitimate" conversation.

That number is from Germany. Is the caller from that country or is it possible for the caller to be anywhere in the world? Is it also possible for the authorities to question that number or they just don't care as I read in the other thread?

Could be anywhere in the world. With programmable software phones, you can literally have any number you choose show up for the caller ID. My old work number was used by several, used to constantly get phone calls "yeah, I just missed a phone call from this number".

Currently I seem to be getting calls from "Amazon" ;)
Texts mostly seem to fake being from DHL ...

I used to get calls and be harangued in some form of Chinese (I think) - v odd, almost funny the first time.