The Cottage Smallholder

Ahem¦ taking this thread back on topic¦.

My son and I had an hilarious hour today, while he played dumb to a telephone scammer. The scam is that you get a call to say your computer has a virus and not to worry they will fix it for you. They also claim to be from "Windows" and have an Indian accent but a western name. 

Now this chap rang three times, with a different name each time. First time, C said "oh dear our electric is off so I can't turn the computer on". C asked him to call back and went off to get his laptop, with an evil grin on his face. Second time C hadn't arrived back so I asked him to ring back again. By the time he rang for the third time C had his laptop set up ready. He'd created a virtual computer on his laptop which runs on Linux. The scam only works on Microsoft Windows, and C knows what he's doing.

Now we had a great laugh as C (who is into amateur dramatics) played a bumbling computer illiterate who couldn't read the numbers on his credit card, then his computer "crashed" (so he could disconnect the internet and prevent anything further being done) and after pretending to turn the computer off and on and check all the cables (with accompanying bumps and crashes as he scrambled about under the desk), eventually "accidentally" pulled out the telephone connection from the socket " "I wonder what will happen if I do this?"  

BUT this is serious. If you get a call like this, hang up. First they use your ignorance against you, showing you files on your pc that are completely innocent and telling you they are viruses and malware. Then they get you to download a file allowing them remote access to your computer. They can access all your files and you won't see them doing it. Finally they want your money. You may willingly pay their fee if you are taken in, they may also empty your bank account.

C has detailed records of everything that was said and done. He's traced the website owner and the parent company. Tomorrow he intends handing it over to the police. They might (but only might) shut this guy down, but there are many more out there.

Don't get taken in.

whoops edited for spelling!