Having just spent hours checking an elderly parent's PC after she received an unsolicited call purporting to be somehow linked to BT I thought I'd post it as a warning.
My Mother was called by 'BT' - at least that was the implication - and told her PC may be suffering from technical problems and would she like it checked? its plausible as she has BT Home Hub etc (so, is BT selling it's customer list to '3rd Parties' ?)
Well, as an OAP her PC knowledge is limited and she was alarmed at the thought of having a problem on her laptop she uses to keep in touch with friends and distant relatives.
They had her on the phone for over 90 mins and remotely logging on to her PC via the internet performing all sorts of tasks that she can not fully remember.
Luckily she does not run or access to any form of online banking services so I am somewhat comfortable she is in no immediate danger. Perhaps that is why they were on for so long - just trying to find information that may of been of use.
They tried to sell her some expensive remote support solutions to sort out 7000 errors she 'has' on her PC.
I have inactivated the internet access until I can get up there this weekend to sanity check her PC and ensure no 'malware' etc has been loaded.
They only backed off when she insisted her 'Son' call them to discuss the issues, but to prey on inexperienced OAP's riles me greatly.
I've tracked down the company - based in Midlands with a 0116 number and their website looks iffy - incomplete (with template Latin still on many pages). They do not appear to have been around for more than a few months and operate from a residential address (according to Google :-).
I'm in the progress of talking to Trading Standards (with whom I have a good relationship with through the 'Buy With Confidence' scheme) as I strongly suspect arm-bending hard sells are taking place to get money for support contracts.
Just be warned, especially if you know any 'Silver Surfers' who could get caught out.
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Can I add, if I may, there is similar phonecalls purporting to be from Microsoft, claiming that the householders PC is infected by viruses, and they require remote access to fix the problems, they also levy a hefty charge for this.
Obviously it is not Microsoft, it is a scam.
We get on average 5 - 6 of these calls each week despite my somewhat offensive responses to them.
The caller id sometimes appears as 0123456789 and I have received calls as late as 11pm.
Thanks for posting this Gary, I will make customers aware also!
Thanks for posting this warning Gary
I note this week that BT launched a new service A new way to block nuisance calls: http://www.btlife.bt.com/technology-and-communication/a-new-way-to-...
What are ‘nuisance’ calls?
What makes nuisance calls so difficult to stop is that they come in many different forms.
Unwanted sales and marketing calls are probably the most well-known. These might be cold calls – like the double glazing call from a company you’ve never dealt with before. Others are follow-up calls based on something you’ve previously bought, ordered or enquired about. Some of these are legitimate – but many are not.
You might also have received recorded messages or silent calls. These can seem sinister but are usually caused by automatic dialling equipment in call centres.
Some unwanted calls are malicious and some are simply mistakes – but if someone is repeatedly misdialling your number and asking for someone you’ve never heard of, it can be just as disruptive.
How the BT6500 can help
Our new home phone – the BT6500 – helps you combat all these types of nuisance calls.
With just a few clicks through the menu on a BT6500 handset you can choose the calls you want to receive – and those you don’t.
1) If you’re getting unwanted sales calls, you can choose to block:
Withheld numbers
Anonymous calls (no caller ID)
International numbers
Payphones
The phone won’t ring and the call will go straight to answerphone – so if it’s someone you do want to hear from they can just leave you a message.
2) If there’s a specific company or person that’s hassling you, you can block up to 10 specific numbers – and you won’t get the call at all.
3) If you simply want some peace and quiet, you can switch on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. The phone won’t ring or light up – but if you want key friends or family to get through to you, you can simply tag them as VIPs in the phone’s contact list.
This system blocks up to 80% of all nuisance and unwanted calls² – meaning you can get on with your life without wasting time constantly racing to the phone. For homeworkers, people with disabilities and the elderly, the chance to take back control is especially important.
For homeworkers, people with disabilities and the elderly, the chance to take back control is especially important. This system blocks up to 80% of all nuisance and unwanted calls² – meaning you can get on with your life without wasting time constantly racing to the phone.
even better...just say 'hold on...just need to get a pen, be back in a sec' and leave them hanging ...and hanging ;-) it's like lambs to the slaughter ....
Thanks for posting.
very good post there gary
i have never and will never let anyone remote connect to my pc as i know what im doing with the old comp's and even connecting to a mates pc is a big no no for me but for any one reading this thats unsure about pc problems etc its good to let them know the new scams that are about.
ps
always back up files at least once a week to an external hard drive which can be unpluged from your laptop/pc (this can be a ghost copy of your system if useing win7 pro or ultimate as its a built in feature or just copy and past over your main documents folder were your pics / music and other files should be)
always have a good antivirus / malwear removal tool (i use system mechanic as its something which looks after your whole system and has saved me hours a month manual doing the tasks needed to keep a quick pc qoing)
and never click on any pop up window on the internet or that could pop up on your desktop unless you are 1000000000% sure you know what it is and its safe,not even the little red X, instead hold Ctrl + Alt and press Del and use the task manager to stop the program, then asap start a malwear / virus scan
there is so much more but this will atleast mean if your pc is fubar you have the files on hand still and do not get that gutted fealing many of us when first starting to play with computers have got because you have litteraly lost EVERY THING.
It's a scam that's been running for years. The standard replies are
you run Linux
don't have a computer
...end of conversation.
If you're scam/pc savvy I'd agree...but if an OAP it's not so easy :-) ..... that was the reason behind the post.
Luckily, the laptop appears fine after checks today....
Report the numbers to Ofcom if you have them come up on your phone. They're always overseas, but at least it's putting pressure on the regulators to do something.
All you can do is to look out for friends or relatives you think are vulnerable to scams. Whether it's "I've got a bit of tarmac left over" or "we've detected a virus on your computer", they are all preying on our greed or insecurity.
I had one of these ring me the other day, I only answered because the number was something like 01748 and looked legit and i normally don't even bother answering the 0844 or 0800 numbers because i know its going to be some plumb trying to sell me insurance,advertising or ppi reclaim, said she was from pc genie and could save my life because my computer was infected, when i pressed her for further details she hung up ! Goggled the number it was from Richmond ! So i gave it a ring back, what a surprise automated voice on the other end telling me the number does not exist ! How do they get away with ringing on a legit looking number that doesn't exist ???
Done some further fishing and came up with this: http://news.wikinut.com/Technogenie-A-Worldwide-Scam/j4g25wif/
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