Windows scam

[Nancie]

Watch you don't get caught by this scam. I was phoned yesterday by the 'Windows team' and told my computer had been corrupted by cyber hackers and that they were destroying all my files. I was shown the files and a list of areas which had 'problems'. One had over 33,000 corrupted files.

By this time I was very anxious - I had allowed their technicians remote access to repair the corrupted files and then I was told I had to buy a system to make sure this did not happen again. I can hardly believe this as I write it but was so anxious to prevent my computer being infiltrated I would have done anything.

I paid £147.00 for the system although alarm bells were ringing. When I looked up 'windows scam' on google later I discovered this has been going on since last year.

I then phoned RBS to see if the transaction could be stopped. The payment has not been completed and the money is due to come out of my account on Tuesday. However RBS cannot stop this although they are aware of the scam and know it is illegal. I told them I was the innocent victim and a customer of RBS for 40 years but they are insisting on completing the transaction on Tuesday.

Please don't let this happen to you.

[maxmix]

I'm fed up warning people about this type of scam, I repaired 6 PC's this week due to this type of activity, not always done via a phone call either...

Whilst Tradewinds in the Main Street is being refurbished I am actually doing house calls and computer pick ups etc

All the notices are in the door ATM.... if anyone needs any of my 25 years + advice do not hesitate to call me on 07909 474445... There are a few people about ATM even offering to repair your PC... that actually make things worse...

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST YOUR DATA/PHOTOS/FILES WITH ETC !

Lets hope Nancie that the RBS helps you out etc...

Fingers crossed....

H

maxmix

[Tom B]

Watch you don't get caught by this scam. I was phoned yesterday by the 'Windows team' and told my computer had been corrupted by cyber hackers and that they were destroying all my files. I was shown the files and a list of areas which had 'problems'. One had over 33,000 corrupted files.

By this time I was very anxious - I had allowed their technicians remote access to repair the corrupted files and then I was told I had to buy a system to make sure this did not happen again. I can hardly believe this as I write it but was so anxious to prevent my computer being infiltrated I would have done anything.

I paid £147.00 for the system although alarm bells were ringing. When I looked up 'windows scam' on google later I discovered this has been going on since last year.

I then phoned RBS to see if the transaction could be stopped. The payment has not been completed and the money is due to come out of my account on Tuesday. However RBS cannot stop this although they are aware of the scam and know it is illegal. I told them I was the innocent victim and a customer of RBS for 40 years but they are insisting on completing the transaction on Tuesday.

Please don't let this happen to you.

Nancie - well done on owning up to this on here - I am sure as you intended it will help warn off other people. If you haven't already I would immediately phone the police - this is criminal activity and there must be a dedicated team somewhere tracking these guys down, and if your payment won't clear till Tuesday then surely it can be stopped or at least tracked.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Nancie wrote,"However RBS cannot stop this although they are aware of the scam and know it is illegal. I told them I was the innocent victim and a customer of RBS for 40 years but they are insisting on completing the transaction on Tuesday."
My advice would be to hound RBS and make them stop the payment.Tell them that the payment has been obtained fraudulently.Your bank does have a duty of care in dealing with your account.Assuming that you are dealing with a call centre,ask to speak to a supervisor so that you are not fobbed off with "stock"answers.And keep on until you get a satisfactory response.
The advice about contacting the police would be a good idea also.

[Nancie]

Thanks for the advice - I did hound the RBS, Roger, and told them I would treat this as a major issue if they did not stop the transaction. I said they had a moral obligation to me as a long standing customer. They still would not budge. They said the transaction was pending and they had to complete it.

I do digital banking and the transaction was not in my pending box but when I contacted RBS they said it was showing up in theirs.

So much for the caring bank. Did they not have a recent advertising campaign about how much they care for their customers? That will be right.

I will try them again tonight but am away for a few days on Monday so cannot follow it up then.

Tom, I felt a fool for being taken in but they were very convincing and told me if I did nothing my computer could crash any minute. I cannot believe now that I was taken in so easily.

[Bobh]

Hi Nancie, sorry to hear about your situation. I get these calls regularly and even when i say i've subscibed to TPS it still does not put them off. I would be worried about future withdrawls from your account. The fact that they operated you PC from their centre would worry me. Keep an eye on things and good luck with the RBS.

[Bonnie Lass]

Hi Nancie, sorry to hear about your situation. I get these calls regularly and even when i say i've subscibed to TPS it still does not put them off. I would be worried about future withdrawls from your account. The fact that they operated you PC from their centre would worry me. Keep an eye on things and good luck with the RBS.

Bobh has hit the nail on the head, they can "get into" your computer any time now - get in touch with your antivirus people and tell them the problem, they can check your system and make things secure for you. I had a problem with a virus that came, I just e-mailed "Norton" and they phoned me back within minutes, scanned and secured my computer straight away.

[D.H]

Funnily enough I got this same call last week but I wasn't convinced by them as I hadn't asked for help and Microsoft don't have my telephone number.

I agree with one of the other respondents that it is brave of you to share this as many people don't like to admit that they have been duped, and then these people get away with hurting more victims.

There is a free online site Trendmicro Housecall that can do a scan for viruses on your machine for free. They make the money from selling you a product should a virus be found. I have used this often and if I find a virus I can google how to remove it. If not I know that my system is clear. When you go on to Trendmicro http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/ you will need to select 32 Bit. You will then need to download a wee bit of program from the company to make it work.

[Nancie]

Thanks Deirdre, I'll follow that up.

[Pans Lass]

Hi Nancie, sorry to hear about your situation. I get these calls regularly and even when i say i've subscibed to TPS it still does not put them off. I would be worried about future withdrawls from your account. The fact that they operated you PC from their centre would worry me. Keep an eye on things and good luck with the RBS.

Bobh has hit the nail on the head, they can "get into" your computer any time now - get in touch with your antivirus people and tell them the problem, they can check your system and make things secure for you. I had a problem with a virus that came, I just e-mailed "Norton" and they phoned me back within minutes, scanned and secured my computer straight away.

Good advice Bobh and Bonnie Lass








Thanks Nancie for highlighting this as we can easily be taken in by these people. I have had a few emails in the past from companies pretending they are from my bank asking me to verify my bank details online . The emails look like they are from your bank and if you are unaware of this kind of scam you can easily be caught out . Banks , credit cards etc would never ask you to verify your financial details online . And I can't believe the RBS can't stop this payment with all this modern technology . Good luck .

[maxmix]

And I can't believe the RBS can't stop this payment with all this modern technology . Good luck .

The trouble is the bank has done nothing wrong, once the transaction has been initiated it can be hard to stop...

Once certain transactions have went through they can be dealt with.... It's not the banks fault either that this has happened....

This is 2011.... 65% of web adverts/phone calls/cold calling are now classed as being fraudulent....

I had a customer who had $1000 taken from his debit card and a holiday booked in Florida, nothing could be done and after fighting the bank for months (local) his money was still not refunded.... If the fraudulent transaction had been done by his credit card, the credit cards insurance would have helped here...

PEOPLE HAVE TO STOP BEING SO TRUSTING ! (I have never left my keys in my ignition all my life, the amount of people that seem to think, ''It will never happen to me'' need to wisen up....

The Courier highlights these scams quite a bit I hear....

I have wiped so many peoples computers in the last 18 months, that it is beyond a joke now, worst I have seen in 25 years....

Nancie, now that all your details have been compromised, you really have to get new bank cards issued from all your banks, change your passwords as quick as you can, I would also get your bank account number /s changed, so no direct debits can be set up with your details at a later date....

Bit of hassle..... But it will be worth the peace of mind....

I already have 3 PC's in this week and it's only Monday.... and this is all in a little place called Campbeltown....

maxmix

PS Keep at the bank, 1st thing tomorrow if possible.....