Online we see malware, scareware and fake virus software all too often. The problem seems to be growing and while the majority of tech savvy individuals can now spot many of these tricks a mile off as more and more people start using the internet new marks become available every day.
Not content with the massive market of online marks Malware and bogus Virus Software companies are taking to high pressure cold calling techniques to get people to download their rubbish – and pay for the privilege.
There are numerous pitches, but they have one thing in common – they sound professional and extremely feasible to anyone who is not technically minded.
One such pitch asks that the user test their computer by going to Start – Run – Then type Prefetch.
Apparently doing so brings up a list of infected files on the computer. This is not the case it simply brings up a list of files in the prefetch directory and have nothing to do with malware.
With a professional pitch combined with the fear that people have of Trojans and Key loggers etc it is easy to see how they can sell this idea to people. They take it one step further with the classic if you pay now you can get at a ridiculous discount but if you do not take advantage of the special offer you pay a ridiculous price. What’s wrong with AVG or AVAST People?
What makes this scam even worse is that when the antivirus software is actually purchased they badge it with a legitimate name ensuring that if further investigation takes place the victim is unlikely to notice that they have something dangerous.
Far from just selling antivirus with high pressure sales calls what they are actually selling is a nice package of malware, adware and key logging software so the chances are they will later hack in to your online banking and empty your bank account as well. Plus they charge £70 for the privilege.
You receive a phone call from your telephone operator asking for your bank details – you probably query it and try to call them back. So they provide an 0800 number you call back and it all seems just fine, the trouble is the 0800 number is bogus and so is everything about this little scheme.
The victim is informed that they have to pay the operator outstanding fees, and until they do their line is cut off.
Here’s the really sneaky part, the scammer will say that the line is already cut off and is under their control. This can be tested by hanging up and then attempting to make another call.
The victim hangs up but the scammer simply presses the mute button so the connection is not terminated. When the victim picks up the handset again sure enough they cannot call anyone – they cannot even get a dial tone. The scammer on mute can hear the call attempts and probably the person swearing on the other end.
When the victim is done the scammer calls back and says that they can be reconnected immediately on payment.
This is such a good trick because under pressure people do not think everything through, plus it has been proven that the line has been cut off and a feasible 0800 number is provided.
This is not such a good trick because the scammers do not know which network each victim uses and half the time end up calling very confused individuals that use a completely different network. Thanks to this minor detail the scam has been reported and the Police as well as BT are well aware of it.
BT say that the do call customers with outstanding bills but would never advise customers to provide banking details by phone. If there is any doubt at all ask for the BT agents identity number and call the official 0800 800 150 number.
You see these services advertised late at night. Basically you text your name to 696969 (or something) and the chat service will put you in touch with horny ladies in your area for adult text chat fun. Texts received cost something like £1.50.
If you are ever tempted to use such a service please, please don’t do it just think about it for a second.
Where do you start with something like this? If you are reading this and are not extremely lonely and in possession of an IQ as low as the bottom feeders that run this scam then you will know that this is a bad bad idea.
£1.50 per text – and how many texts will it take to get this “lovely lady” “in your area” to meet you? Do you think you can do it in two or three texts – trust that even if it wasnt a computer or an overworked young boy you are texting in India this is not going nowhere.
I hope someone types adult text chat in to google and comes up with this site – but that is very unlikely to happen, these services are everywhere. That means that these services are a success. Of course they are profitable the operator is getting paid for sending text messages, but the problem is that people must be using the services. In today’s society when it is actually possible to speak to real people free of charge it seems incredible that this can succeed.
To add insult to injury anyone who uses this service effectively signs up to endless phone / text message spam. The people that operate this can sell names of clients for a very high premium. We know marketing lists are valuable, but just imagine the value of a list of lonely, gullible and happy to waste money individuals.
Nothing new here – this time it’s a message on my mobile phone!
FREEMSG: Our records indicate you may be entitled to 3750 pounds for the Accident you had. To claim for free reply with YES to this msg. To opt out text STOP.
I haven’t had an accident – theres a suprise. The trouble is they will send this to a million people and in today’s Personal Injury landscape you can bet your ass at least 500,000 will be waiting to hear from some no win no fee solicitor.
I hate these text scams because it means that somewhere my name is on a muglist and someone somewhere saw fit to add me to that list.
It also gets me angry because these guys can charge you for texts you receive. The FREEMSG does not do much to make things better – of course it should be free why on earth would I pay to receive a text that I did not want that is trying to scam me?
Any reasonably legit text marketer will also give you the option to Text STOP at any time which is fine. This text was completely unsolicited however so why I should waste a text and confirm I read the thing in the 1st place I don’t know.
This one is particularly sneaky text message I got a few months back:
You were charged in June for the Wappid ringtone service in error and are due a refund. Please call us on 0800 0319117 free from a landline to arrange refund
If this was legit then you would expect the Wappid ringtone service to exist – type it in Google and you only get a few hits, all people complaining about this unwanted text. This is most certainly a scam and a sly one at that.
Don’t be fooled by an 0800 number which is always free. Once you call this number you will be redirected to a premium rate number and there is no saying what this may end up costing you.
This is particularly nasty as some people may not want to respond to an unsolicited text message but feel that they have been charged in error, and the fact a large number of people will walk in to the 0800 trap makes it particularly nasty.
Recent Comments