Darwen pensioner in scam warning (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Darwen pensioner in scam warning
10:30am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Darwen
SCAM Jean Murdey
A DARWEN pensioner has warned people to be wary of scammers after she was conned by a man claiming to be from Microsoft.
Eighty-two-year-old Jean Murdey was duped after receiving a call telling her she had problems with her computer.
She was encouraged to turn on her computer and follow step-by-step instructions to ‘fix problems’ with her computer, which she had only had for a few months.
But when her daughter came in and heard what was going, she quizzed the man on the other end of the phone before hanging up.
Mrs Murdey, who lives at Pembroke Court residential home, said: “A friend had a look at the computer to see what was wrong with it after the call.
“I suggested he did a system restore so it would be like it was when I first got it, but he couldn’t even do that.
“I’ve had to take it back to the shop. They only charged me £10 to sort it out but that’s £10 I didn’t want to spend.”
Mrs Murdey said, because the caller said he was from a recognised firm like Microsoft, she believed it was genuine.
She said: “He sounded like he knew what he was talking about.
“I have been told since that Microsoft don’t ring you, but who wouldn’t believe them?
“If someone calls and tells you they are from the town hall, the Lancashire Telegraph or some other recognised body, you are going to believe it is genuine.
“It isn’t just a case of being embarrassed, it has invaded my privacy.
“They are rotters. They’ve no right to take advantage of vulnerable people like this.”
Mrs Murdey warned others to be wary of the scam.
She said: “If you get called by someone saying they are from Microsoft just hang up.
“People need to be aware that Microsoft wouldn’t just ring you.”
Councillor Yusuf Jan-Virmani, executive member for neighbourhoods and customer service, urged people to be on their guard.
He said: “Microsoft states clearly on its website that it does not make technical support calls. If you receive a call from someone claiming to work for them, or any other major name company and have any suspicions at all, just hang up. Never, ever share personal, financial or login information with anyone you don’t know.”
Comments(16)
darwenTower
says...
1:15pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Some take advantage of this.
I would rather the scrotes that perpetrate these crimes were dealt with severely rather than it become necessary for the whole human race to default to cynicism.
Philip A Berry
says...
1:22pm Thu 2 Feb 12
halcyondaze
says...
1:38pm Thu 2 Feb 12
I fortunately heard what was going on and asked to speak to them and let them go through all their spiel - which is very persistent and would be believable to a lot of people.
I knew they were lying but he persisted in saying he was from Microsoft and needed to fix my PC. It turned hilarious beacuse he unable to grasp that we use Apple Macs running OSX and therefore have no Microsoft products in the first place!!
martynj
says...
2:29pm Thu 2 Feb 12
http://www.microsoft
.com/en-gb/security/
online-privacy/avoid
-phone-scams.aspx
Stubacca
says...
3:06pm Thu 2 Feb 12
halcyondaze wrote:I had the same thing, got a phone call, "Oh you appear to have a problem with your windows PC slowing down"
These scammers called my grandparents recently with what sounds like the same scam. They were about to be talked into doing some virus type checks over the phone and no doubt eventually be hooked into a scam.
I fortunately heard what was going on and asked to speak to them and let them go through all their spiel - which is very persistent and would be believable to a lot of people.
I knew they were lying but he persisted in saying he was from Microsoft and needed to fix my PC. It turned hilarious beacuse he unable to grasp that we use Apple Macs running OSX and therefore have no Microsoft products in the first place!!
But as soon as I told him I had an Apple iMac he hung up.
I've got no sympathy for her though, to be honest, it's common sense, or at least ask questions
buzzinfly
says...
3:52pm Thu 2 Feb 12
jimpy0
says...
4:32pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Incredible Hulk
says...
5:38pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
6:06pm Thu 2 Feb 12
jimpy0 wrote:I live my life using the motto EVERYBODY is out to screw you not just online but in real life as well :)
why do some muppets still fall for scams - if you start from the position that EVERYBODY is out to screw you life gets easier. If you hav'nt got the slightest idea of using a Pc/laptop you have no right going online
CapitaBackHander
says...
6:37pm Thu 2 Feb 12
That said it never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for these scammers. I got an email (normally filtered out) the other day from some very sad lady who had lost her husband and (come on you know the rest and the figure!) had now got £12 Million Great British Pound that she wanted me to have... some people just can't be taught the lesson - always told my nana to keep her front door closed! Darwen way was to always have the door open - she was actually shocked that someone entered the house and robbed her sideboard. Unbelievable!
grumpyoldlady
says...
7:08pm Thu 2 Feb 12
amazed
says...
8:27pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Aslam Hussain
says...
10:18pm Thu 2 Feb 12
useyourhead
says...
12:22am Fri 3 Feb 12
amazed wrote:I deal with it in one of two ways, always screen calls with an answerphone and pick up to those you know or on the odd occasion that they are lucky enough to have you answer have some fun with them, in the past i have pretended to be five and yammered on about wanting a ninja turtle for christmas, sang to them, tried to sell them something, requested advice on diy and car repairs etc. just go wild and toy with them, it can be quite therapeutic!!
I have had two calls now!! He sounds "continental" to me so I talk "continental" back then tell him to go away - "I am not interested" "Please, sir, you MUST do as I ask" Laugh and say "Go away" Quite a challenge really. I have also had two calls this week asking if I am a home owner and have I had my loft insulated. Then the most recent one is "Solar Panels" How DO you stop these people? I am supposed to be registered with the "Preferential" call service are something like that but they are useless.
sean_brfc
says...
9:50am Sat 4 Feb 12
Aslam Hussain wrote:Haha, great advice. I wish they wouldn't just report it as though it's just old people that fall for it. I nearly fell for the same thing until my mum walked in and went mad, and I'm 1/4 the lady's age (and equally gullible).
I speak punjabi to them , that really puts them off so if you do know another language then just baffle them with that or just speak good old french : F*ck off !!! usually does the trick.
HarwoodBiker says...
1:10pm Thu 2 Feb 12
The mind boggles. THINK, people!