Wife got scammed by computer pop up ad to call tech support

[Bobby Stainless]

Time for an iPad?

[Danno]

How old is the machine? Maybe dispute the charge and put that 350 towards a new computer.

[Tippster]

I bet you can set up your router with a "guest" network that's separate from yours. Put her on that.

[mangle]

Maybe rejoice that your wife is into porn?

[RShea]

Time for an iPad?

Yea, for a while Ipads were not targets for viruses and malware- BUT NOT ANY MORE!!!

http://apple.stackexchange.com/quest...r-other-browse very similar type of thing with a popup and number to call...

So keep drinking the Apple Kool Aid and think they are not a target. Apple 9.0 is so great and stable after all.

[RShea]

I bet you can set up your router with a "guest" network that's separate from yours. Put her on that.

That gets her away from his PC, but again the REASON to pull the network plug is because there is no guarantee that the company did not put something like a key stroke recorder, or as I stated a ransomware infection that will launch and encrypt all the data and then want more money to provide a unlock key, or a number of other malware or worst stealing passwords, identity info or phoning home to some server over the internet. Most every browser has capabilities to save and store passwords as well.

I do not want to sounding like you need to be paranoid, but what if your computer is a zombie now allowing the dark web to be storing child porn or something really bad like that? You have no idea what they were granted access to while remotely connected, nor do you have a guarantee that all they were after is scamming you out of the $350 dollar fee....

[liv2ski]

FML, looking for the restore disc's that came with the computer and I can not find them, so I emailed Fujitsu about ordering them. I bought a WD passport to back up her files but not the operating system and Wipedrive to clean the hard drive.
I guess I have to wait for the restore disc's to arrive, wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything. Good thing she can still work off her work computer.
And it is a 1 year old Fujitsu, so I want to clean it, not trash it. I turned off the internet switch while backing it up and will leave it off until I can wipe the hard drive and re install. Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

[old goat]

Good luck with the credit card company. Since your wife actually authorized the charge and since you can't prove that the company did not actually do what you paid them to do, you may be out of luck. Buth the $ is the least of your concerns.

[RShea]

Good luck with the credit card company. Since your wife actually authorized the charge and since you can't prove that the company did not actually do what you paid them to do, you may be out of luck. Buth the $ is the least of your concerns.

I have not heard of a credit card company that has sided with the scammers. There could be a first time, but consumer law also favors when things like "goods or services that weren't delivered as agreed" as per FTC rules and regulations.

[RShea]

FML, looking for the restore disc's that came with the computer and I can not find them, so I emailed Fujitsu about ordering them. I bought a WD passport to back up her files but not the operating system and Wipedrive to clean the hard drive.
I guess I have to wait for the restore disc's to arrive, wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything. Good thing she can still work off her work computer.
And it is a 1 year old Fujitsu, so I want to clean it, not trash it. I turned off the internet switch while backing it up and will leave it off until I can wipe the hard drive and re install. Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

Good strategy. Someone else mentioned the possible rootkit or bios rewritten with code. While you are waiting for the restore disks, go to the Fujitsu web site and find the latest version of the bios also and download it for your specific model. Once you have the system backed up and ready to wipe, use the bios utility to write the system bios with the new download, even if it is the same version showing. Just to add an extra protection. Most do not go after the bios- looking at screwing your Windows or something else, but it is usually a 15 minute process to create the bios flash and write the bios update.

[char]

FML, looking for the restore disc's that came with the computer and I can not find them, so I emailed Fujitsu about ordering them. I bought a WD passport to back up her files but not the operating system and Wipedrive to clean the hard drive.
I guess I have to wait for the restore disc's to arrive, wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything. Good thing she can still work off her work computer.
And it is a 1 year old Fujitsu, so I want to clean it, not trash it. I turned off the internet switch while backing it up and will leave it off until I can wipe the hard drive and re install. Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

You should just take all that money and spend it on a competent tech who will actually save you time and money down the road when you fail to get the malware off your system.

Ad install a pop up blocker.

[Art Shirk]

I trust RShea's take, so how to convince my wife?

Don't?

Technical support aside, if you just want to emote with someone, recall that my wife bought a timeshare after two margaritas without my knowledge.

[iceman]

I can't believe she had margaritas without telling you.

[highangle]

Did the scam look like this?

[digitaldeath]

Never update

[liv2ski]

Did the scam look like this?

She said she got the blue screen of death with the 888 number to call. The computer was totally locked up. Called Amex and they thought it sounded fishy, so they blocked the payment and told her to file a credit freeze with the 3 credit agencies. WAPITA. May a thousand fleas infest their groins.

[Meadow Skipper]

Technical support aside, if you just want to emote with someone, recall that my wife bought a timeshare after two margaritas without my knowledge.

Ha. I missed that story, and apologies if it's too soon, but it's pretty fucking funny.

[Mustonen]

Never update

Update early and often, unless you like your shit getting compromised (I may have missed a contextual clue somewhere).

[stfu&gbtw]

This thread makes my head hurt. No wonder best buy is still in business.

[Art Shirk]

I can't believe she had margaritas without telling you.

Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana.

[Skidog]

This thread makes my head hurt. No wonder best buy is still in business.

This is dead on.

In all honesty if there is any personal information regarding banks or credit cards its likely long gone. Amex suggestion to stop credit is a good one.

Good luck.

[old goat]

Maybe I'm missing something or maybe I'm just old and untechsavvy--but it sounds like the scammers got into her computer, froze it and then blackmailed her to unfreeze it; rather than her clicking on a pop-up which then caused the problem. Which would mean that if they got into her computer once they can do it again, even if her computer is clean or even if she gets a new computer. I would think that when they find out they're not getting paid they would be eager to do it. Or are these scams done in a huge volume and the scammers assume they'll get paid by a certain number of people and not worry about the ones who don't pay.

There's something to be said for not having any sensitive personal information on a computer. Companies are starting to get more savvy about not putting ssn's, cc numbers, etc on mailed or emailed documents. Except the feds--where your ssn is on a lot of mailed document as well as the medicare card you're supposed to show to every receptionist when you go to the doctor. (Told you I was old.) I keep docs in an unlocked fire/flood proof safe. I figure a burglary is a lot less likely than a hack and a burglar a lot less likely to know what to do with data than a hacker. (Same theory in warfare--I was on a tour of a missile frigate--they still use signal flags because if ships are in visible range flags are a lot more secure than electronic communication.)

[TomCrac]

Why not just use the money she got from helping that Nigerian prince getting his money out?

seriously, vibes, can't be fun.

[mmmm...pow!]

Had the same thing happen to my computer today. Didn't freeze up entirely, but couldn't exit out of Edge. Called Microsoft and spent a long while on the phone while he remotely fixed (I hope) it. Just bought the computer last week, so don't want to get rid of it, though it is under warranty, so I could send it back and swap it. Kinda a PITA, since it's taken a long while to get some programs installed and transfer stuff from my old puter. Hoping I can trust MS to remedy it, but some of you have me doubting it a bit now. No money has left my bank account, so I think I should be safe with change of passwords.

[RShea]

Had the same thing happen to my computer today. Didn't freeze up entirely, but couldn't exit out of Edge. Called Microsoft and spent a long while on the phone while he remotely fixed (I hope) it. Just bought the computer last week, so don't want to get rid of it, though it is under warranty, so I could send it back and swap it. Kinda a PITA, since it's taken a long while to get some programs installed and transfer stuff from my old puter. Hoping I can trust MS to remedy it, but some of you have me doubting it a bit now. No money has left my bank account, so I think I should be safe with change of passwords.

One difference is you hopefully did reach a legitimate Microsoft support person (Paid call or one of their Security and virus divisions offered you a free session??) and they were not out to scam you. Passwords changes are easy unless you have 100's of accounts you have used on the system already. Of course best practices are also to not use the same password across every account.