Watch Out for this Scam

I had a phone call today from a company called Online CC Care, claiming to be a Microsoft Support provider who tried to convince me that I had a problem with my computer. I asked the Asian-sounding lady what the problem was and she explained that my computer had a “fault” and I needed to download some software to correct this. Obviously, this is a scam to install some malware on my PC which I suspect would be very difficult and/or expensive to remove.

Most people are aware (I hope!) that they shouldn’t download software from an untrusted source so, just because a nice lady phones you, do not assume that she has your best interests at heart.

For the record, the number she called from was 0019476632176.

Update: I just noticed that there is an article about this by Paul Cullen in today’s Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0525/1224271087384.html

Update 2: Just got another phone call from them this morning (28 May). The company name is Online PC Care and the phone number this time was 008884084117. She hung up on me as soon as I started asking questions.

2 Comments for this entry

• 

  Pete Colleran

  May 25th, 2010 on 16:39

  Thanks,
  Passed on to work colleagues
  Pete

  Reply
• 

  Pat Rooney

  May 25th, 2010 on 18:10

  Sat down to read the Irish Times this evening and there was an article on Page 3 about this – Déjà vu all over again! Obviously it’s more widespread than I thought.

  Reply