Is This a New Type of SCAM?

Oh yeah, it's a scam. Everyone gets error messages, so it's like shooting fish in a barrell.

You did the right thing hanging up on him. Microsoft will NEVER call people about this stuff.

Dawn

Yes, it's a scam. It's not new though. There have been e-mails circulating around in the past warning about this exact thing. You can read about it at the below link or just google "microsoft error message scam" if you don't want to click on the link.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/microsoft-callers-scam.shtml

huh. when i still had a PC i 'reported' hundreds and hundreds of error messages to microsoft. i WISH there had ever been an acknowledgement of any sort.
glad you hung up on the creep.
khairete
S.

Should have told him you have a MAC. :-)

Not new but definitely a scam. Had you gone along with his plan, he probably would have had you download malware or trojans. You can continue to use your computer but get yourself a decent virus scan (avast is free) and don't download things from iffy sites. Also, don't allow anyone remote access to your computer.

Yes, scam. It's been around awhile.

I've gotten two calls exactly like this. They claimed to be with Microsoft and that they were getting error messages from my computer. Both times, I told them we didn't own a computer and hung up. In both instances, the person on the phone had an Indian accent. When I googled it, I found some information that call centers located in India call people and dupe them into purchases "fixes" for their computers. I imagine this scam has caught on and people are randomly calling and hoping to convince people to pay for computer repairs. I think it was just a coincidence that they mentioned the exact error message you have been dealing with on your computer.

It is a scam. I got this call today too. My husband had told me about it from one of his computer clients getting the call and she wasn't sure what it was about, so I already knew it was a fake call. The guys said the same thing..." we're detecting error messages from your computer..." I laughed at him and said , "no you're not, and hung up."

Microsoft (not any other computer company) will NEVER call you to report errors being sent to them form your computer. There's no way they could manage that kind of data.

There are so many scams, it's ridiculous.

You don't need to be worried about turning your computer on. However, I have some pretty stellar responses to people like this.

If you get another one of these calls, just say, "Error messages? That's funny. I don't even have a computer".

We get scam calls at work all the time regarding our copiers, etc. One guy said, "We are your copier service company and we just need you to confirm your model and I.D. number".
I said, "Hmmm, well, our service tech is here right now and I'll let you talk to him". The guy immediately hung up on me.

Okay....it was a little white lie. Our service tech wasn't there. He'd been there and gone an hour before. The point is, I knew there was something fishy. Our service people are on contract. I NEVER have to confirm anything. I call them, they are there. Bam. No questions asked. There's no other chick with my name who calls them for anything. They already know our model numbers, etc.

I got a call on my land line the other day regarding a problem with my cell phone service. I said, "Yes, there does seem to be a problem because I don't even own a cell phone".

They hung up on me. And yes, it's true. I do not have a cell phone.

Scammers are just hoping to engage you. It's pretty easy to shut them down. They buy phone lists for residences and businesses and they are playing the odds that your household or business has a computer, copier, cell phone, mortgage loan, whatever.

If you call their bluff, they will leave you alone.

Sorry this happened to you....just be ready for the next time.

Best wishes.

So creepy! Can't these people think of better things to do? Sounds like either a prankster, a scammer or a hacker (or a combination). Hackers can find their way into computers for personal information, but they (from what I've been told by some experts) usually target large institutions (government, corporations, banks, etc.). Make sure you have adequate, functioning protection for your computer. My 'computer guy' recommended Symantec, Avira & Malwarebytes (yes, all 3 - the free versions) for my computer. So far, so good....

Wow, this one is new and freakish. I bet he was trying to match up your computer ID with your telephone number. Great answer you gave BTW for being put on the spot...I'll be looking at the rest of the answers. Thanks for posting and keeping us informed!

I think I might have told him that I didn't have a computer, that I hadn't been able to afford one since they were too expensive. This tells him he might have called the wrong person that would be of no use to try and steal any information from and it tells him you might be poor so you still would not be a great candidate for stealing your identity.

Either way I think you handled it great.

This is a BIG scam! Don't go along with ANYONE that calls you and tries to have you give them your personal information...... only if YOU initiate the call......

Hmm... Maybe call 'Microsoft' and ask if they have been calling customers about error messages or something similar. If they say no... Scam. If they say yes... Not a scam :)

Always assume it's a scam. In fact, American Express was calling hubby and I to offer us "identity protection." Hubby said to the guy "how do I know you are actually from AE." The guy said, "because I have your information." Hubby said, the best ID protection I can have its to not discuss my personal information over the phone with anyone. Thank you."

its a scam! this happened to me recently.. i was getting this message on myy computer from "microsoft security" saying i had all these infected files and viruses and whatnot. I didnt have microsoft security, i had something else so i knew it was a virus.. plus if you clicked on it it immediatley asked for your info & credit card number so it could "fix the problem".. that went on for mayb a week or 2 and then i got the same phone call you did. I did the same thing, said no, &hung up. I didnt turn it on after that. I brought it to my fiances fathers house so he could fix it. He said that the mmessage i was getting was in fact a scam/virus, and it was good that i didnt believe the guy on the phone when he called. He also said my computer was a mess! it took him 2hours to clean out n get working again... he put norton on it and its great

Yes, this is scam. He wanted you to turn on your computer and make some changes. Those changes would have ruined your computer and made it vulnerable to hacking. My husband got this call too and realized it was a scam. You can always ask for a phone number and name of the person who is calling then call Microsoft to verify that this is legitimate. This goes for anyone from any company that calls you unsolicited. You did the right thing.

It's a scam and you did the right thing.

A friend of mine who IS technically savvy (he works for JPL) got this call too. He posted about it on FB. He got them to hang up and they called back (or someone else with the same scam) a couple weeks later.

You can turn on your computer. If you're really concerned, run a virus scan for spyware. :) (should probably do that occasionally anyway)

I got one of those calls myself a while back. It is a scam. They will offer to fix the error messages. I think when/if you allow them to "fix" the problem, that's when they get into your system. I just told the guy I would call my own tech.

It's a scam! They are trying to get you to give them remote acess to your computer. If you allow that to happen by accepting an invite sent online, they'll have access to everything stored in your computer. All your log ins, passwords, contact information. You did good by ending the call.

Like everyone says, it is a scam. A neighbor's mom got a call like this. She told the guy that she could not turn on her computer because she does not have one.

It is a scam.. It was in our paper and news and they started calling our house at 9pm nightly.. Well it became a joke with my hubby and he would pretend to be turning in the computer etc and they would eventually hang up.. Well one night he had the girl on speaker as a joke with our kids saying things like I love Bollywood movies, your voice is sexy, do you have kids of which she replied I am only 20.. Then when I told him to hang up already he yelled I am not cheating I promise.. It is only the operator and then handed me the phone.. I proceed to tell her I know she is not really from Microsoft.. She interrupts me rudely and says you listen to me lady you better keep eyes on your husband because the way he was talking to me he does not love you and is going I cheat on you! I said excuse me?! She said you heard me I said.. And repeated it again.. I told her hello I was on speaker the whole time and he was right in front and doing it as a joke.. I then hung up on her! I then contacted the phone company and since have added caller ID after the hubby and I got in a major argument after he said I took away his fun and that I can't tell the difference between a phone prank and real life.. Needless to say it sucked! Just hang up on them!

of course people can hack into your system....yes, it's a scam.

if you don't have a good firewall set up - yes - they can "hook" you with a "phish" and capture your information.

NEVER EVER give your information out over the phone to someone who calls you. And don't call them back. As good scammers have their "call center" set up to take calls and answer as "American Express", etc. If a credit card company calls you and wants information? Tell them you will call them back - pull out your card and call the number on the back.

Go to the Microsoft website and CALL THEM - or use the 800 number on your Microsoft install package.

If it sounds too good to be true. It usually is.

As everyone else, said, total scam, probably will happen again.
As I often do with annoying telemarketers or scam calls, I just put my 2 year on the phone.
Even better when she was younger and having a tantrum.