Cold-call scammers dump Microsoft

[Wayne]

Fraudsters running cold-call scams from India are introducing new twists to the crime to con consumers out of their money.

The reason for the change in tack is people are becoming more aware of the scam, and are less likely to fall for the original line of "we are calling from Microsoft because your computer is infected with malware".

Last month a reader informed us that he had been called by a man claiming to work for a company called Global Tech, which worked with Microsoft. This reader was warned that his PC was infected and being used to commit online crimes such as phishing attacks.
Cold-call scammers dump Microsoft and now pretend to be Indian officials

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news ... -officials

He therefore faced being taken to court and fined if he didn't pay the company to remove the malware.

Now another reader, Gordon Hart, has told us he recently received a call from someone claiming to represent the Indian authorities. The original scammers were behind bars and the caller was tracking down their victims in every country "around the world" in order to refund the fraudulent charge.

The next request from the caller was one Mr Hart felt inevitable. He was asked for his creditt-card details and email address so he could be refunded.

Mr Hart told us: "I listened with some amusement and anger. I refused to confirm any of the story he was telling me. I told him to email me with all the details he claimed to have, and told him there was no way I was giving him my credit-card details.

Mr Hart warned that the caller sounded very genuine, and his story was almost convincing so people should be aware of these new developments.