Staff
Christmas is the season of goodwill to all.
But some residents expecting long-distance phone calls from loved ones at this time of year instead may be getting calls from the Grinch.
Local residents again have been reporting a phone scam aimed at gaining access to personal computers and credit card information, and are giving the same advice: just hang up.
One resident said she recently received several calls from an individual telling her and her husband there was a problem with her computer software.
The caller, who had a thick accent and for whom English was not his native tongue, claimed to be from Microsoft.
The caller ID phone number showed up as 110-000-0000.
The name on the caller ID came up as M12071736040005.
After several calls, the woman said she told the caller she didn’t even have a computer, noting that it got a virus and she would never get another one.
The woman then called “Phonebusters,” who told her the scammers probably would call her again but that she, and anyone else who receives such a call, should “just hang up.”
She added the callers will try to keep people on the line for as long as possible, noting the scam artists even may be able to “hijack” your phone.
According to Microsoft’s website, “Microsoft will not make unsolicited phone calls to help you with your computer.”
“If you receive a phone call like this, hang up,” it adds.
Microsoft also warned that if a cyber-criminal gains a person’s trust, they can do one or more of the following:
•trick people into installing malicious software on their computer;
•take control of a victim’s computer remotely and adjust settings in order to leave the computer vulnerable; or
•request credit card information so that cyber-criminals can bill for the phony services.
Because telemarketers are using computers which dial up batches of 20 phone numbers at once, they are not subject to the rules of the “Do Not Call” list.
Another factor is the telemarketers sometimes are not even based in Canada or the U.S., making it difficult to charge them.
Those who may have experienced this type of situation can contact Phonebusters at 1-888-495-8501 or via e-mail at info@antifraudcentre.ca
