Comments for Webologist

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Webologist

Webologist — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:33:54 +0000

Good point. Don’t want them knowing any more than my name and telephone number really.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Andy

Andy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:46:56 +0000

Sounds like a good idea.

I also thought about rigging up a “dummy” machine, but I don’t like the idea of them knowing my IP address, even if it is a dynamic one. I believe they can identify your internet provider and get a rough idea of where in the country you live from your IP address, and the less they know the better.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Webologist

Webologist — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:28:36 +0000

If I had the time I would do this: Grab one of the many boxes laying about here and install a fresh Windows then have that ready for the phone call, just to see what they do with Ammyy access, and also see if they mention anything regarding the PC being empty. Maybe a really strange desktop image would be amusing too, maybe something that looks like an FBI logo … “FBI computer fraud investigations – 1,000 scammers traced and imprisoned this week”. Yeah, I may do that ….

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Andy

Andy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:48:20 +0000

They don’t give up, do they ?

While working on a new laptop for a customer, finalising the installation of Windows 7 after fitting an SSD (turns a £300 laptop into a “£800″ laptop, almost !), the phone rang.

Surely this brand new laptop, with a fresh install of Windows can’t be “faulty”, can it ? Oh yes it can, as the helpful chap on the end of the phone tried to prove, when he got me to open eventviewer. He explained that these errors would be slowing the machine down. I informed him that I’d just finished fitting an SSD, and this laptop was anything but slow. I even told him that I do a bit of IT for a living, and these errors are on all PCs. Undeterred by this he tried the old http://www.ammyy.com trick. As I downloaded and ran the app, I told him that he was going to ask me for the ID number, and that I wasn’t going to give it to him. He said that if I didn’t the apps on the machine would be slow. I told him that I didn’t believe him, and then he gave up on me.

Pity that I had things to do, otherwise I was in the mood for a long conversation, followed by an explanation that I had been wasting his time, as much as he had been wasting mine.

I’m really going to try to have some fun the next time they phone.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Sasha

Sasha — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:12:24 +0000

I just received this call from “Windows Care” and got as far as the laughable verification by zfsendtotarget bit before I cut them off.

Strangely I was on the phone to BT support last night (in India) about their rubbish broadband service, and gave my second name as my partner’s (as she couldn’t be bothered to go through the whole 45 minutes of being told to dismantle the phone socket etc. – but we’re not married so I never use that name under other circumstances). However Ms “Windows Care” (in India) immediately addressed me by that name…

Probably a coincidence… But “Windows Care” for the list…

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Webologist

Webologist — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:48:08 +0000

I doubt it is possible to get off their lists, they do not abide by any rules.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Eema23

Eema23 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:46:15 +0000

He called again yesterday (Feb 3) asking for my husband by name. I took the call, explaining I was the chief computer user. He gave his name as Alex different last name starting with an S, same voice as two days ago. I strung him along for a while; acted totally shocked when he wanted me to type a CMD line into my computer, telling him my systems administrator would kill me if I did that. I ended the call because daughter needed me, if he calls back I will try to waste more of his time. What will it take to get off their call list?

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Paul

Paul — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:28:13 +0000

Yep, even in 3rd World South Africa we’re starting to get the calls. While he was on the phone I googled and then asked him to explain why ‘scam’ comes up so often around CLSID. He hang up.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Webologist

Webologist — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:11:09 +0000

That is interesting Eema23, so some of these companies are routing calls through Google Voice to evade authorities?

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Eema23

Eema23 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:01:29 +0000

Thanks for posting this. They called me today, “Alex Skinner” a male with a heavy Indian/Pakistani accent and non native speaker misuse of English verbs. I answered the phone away from my computer and explained that the computer was off. I kept asking how they knew it was MY computer that had a problem but no good answer. I was told the problem was in my Windows operating system and even if I replaced the computer the new one would be affected. But when I asked if replacing my computer with an Apple would I still have the problem I was told they need to work through the root file to see. I asked for the phone number to call back when I have the computer on and the time to deal with this problem. I was given 760-429-2871 as the toll free call back number in North Carolina. I never heard of area code 790 being toll free and on checking discovered it is a southern California area code and is used for Google voice.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Hang 'em High

Hang 'em High — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:54:59 +0000

Received typical (with a new twist) call, coincidentally a couple of hours after my monitor ceased functioning for no appparent reason. I quite literally was getting up off the floor from installing my spare monitor when the call came, and as i got up i noticed my internet light was off. (I’d also been woken up twice in the middle of the previous night so i was not at my best)! Even so, my ‘internal alarm bells’ were ringing immediately as they do with any cold call and i slammed the fone down without speaking. He immediately rang back and ‘told me off’ for putting it down on him! I have to give the scum credit; they are by miles the most authoritative so-and-sos i’ve had the misfortune to encounter. Did the windows + R thing, the ‘alerts’ & ‘warnings’ thing and when i entered the url they asked for i was very very fortunate that my internet (I’m guessing from an unbelievably fortunate coincidence) was down. They didn’t like it when i told them my internet was down and that i couldn’t connect. So they gave me the ‘toll-free’ number 02030510987 to call them back on my ‘cellphone’. Are these phrases native to India or does it seem like the scripts were written by North Americans? The URL they asked me to go to direct from the ‘run’ box was iexplore support.me . I was lucky i couldn’t connect to it but I immediately did a full AV scan, a system restore, and then found this site! My compliments to you all for helping to limit the damage these reprehensible thieves can do; criminals whose sole aim to is to rob vulnerable innocents of their life savings through fear should simply be hanged and hanged high. Hopefully, my including the above details might help even one poor soul from falling into their evil clutches.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Andy

Andy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:24:21 +0000

They’ve recently made their monthly call (nice to know they are still trying to help me with my bug ridden PC).

Apparently, my PC is still sending reports of trojans and viruses. I told them that they’d warned me several time about this problem, but my computer was still running fine. I then went on to say that when they last called me, I refused help and that they were going to report me to the authorities and get me disconected. I suggested that they hurry up and do this, before I bring down the whole internet. The phone then went silent.

Only a couple of minutes, but I quite enjoyed them.

I now need to conjure up a good response for when they (no doubt) call again.

See you in another month or so.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Andy2 - 15 min 8 sec

Andy2 - 15 min 8 sec — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:55:41 +0000

Well done Mikey’s wife. There are a lot of people out there who do not have the knowledge to realise that they are being scammed. If these companies can fool even 0.1% of the people they call they can make a good living from it. Keep these idiots talking as long as possible, waste their time and save the 0.1% of people who don’t know they are being scammed.

Comment on PC Support Security Scams – ZFSENDTOTARGET CLSID Trick by Mikey

Mikey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:42:36 +0000

Date 20 January 2012 – Time approx 18:00Hrs GMT
Landline rings my wife answers and an asian accented male – speaking a mixture of mumble and fast pace english greets her by saying hello is that Mrs xxxxx my wife er yes (as she had noticed the caller ID come up with just the following numbers 01200) *this is from a network that is unable to transmit numbers* asian man says there is some errors with our internet – as when we connect it is hitting on there servers and causing errors. He then went on to say he was working on behalf of the following companies {this after avoiding simple questions along the lines of who is it you work for – where did you get my telephone number from (answer was from our ISP themselves)} BT, Telewest, Virgin, Sky etc. My wife asked him if he had gotten our telephone number from our ISP then who are we with – he could not or rather did not have any answer to this – my wife when he gave the list of companies he was working on behalf of was skill full enough to say we are not with any of them thanks – even then saying you should not actually be calling us as not only are we ex directory but are TPS registered as well so you should not actually be calling us should you – aisian male so Mrs xxxx you are TPS registered? Oh er ok – My wife then HUNG UP.
This is the first call we have had about these scams and i know from googling the number the STD 01200 is the Clitheroe area of Lancashire NW England UK – also a tip i will give anyone who uses the internet say surveys or competitions – if need to leave a telephone number make one up or use an old one you used to be it landline or mobile. – And every quarter at least update or refresh your details on sites such as TPS and MPS (mail pref services) and report these calls via TPS or blogs or even facebook – spread the word – Phishing is rife and chancers are everywhere – if it is genuine then ask for name and tel no and address of company and anything you can use to research then – genuine companies wont obnject to you being security concious – if they are bogus they will avoid questions – so keep asking keep them talking even put them on ‘hold’ they waste youre time so why not waste theres – 5 or 10 mins after periodically saying wont be long just hold on – hang up – treat them like the plague avoid at all costs!

Comment on New Technology, Social Media and Human Rights by Todd Landman

Todd Landman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:43:40 +0000

Dear Shezaad: you can use our icons to add differentiaton to your maps. Please see:

http://www.idcr.org.uk/resources-links/human-rights-icons

The categories of abuse map nicely onto the categories in our collection. Please email me todd@essex.ac.uk
should you have any questions.

Cheers

Todd