funnymunny
Registered User
- Messages
- 143
Hi,
I hope someone can give me some advice on this. I received a phonecall the other day, from someone who sounded Indian, asking if I was Mrs So and So and if I was the owner of my computer. I said yes and she went into a big spiel about being from Windows XP (I think she said XP, but it was definitley Windows) and that they had received several error messages from my computer and that I should turn it on immediately and type in a command, otherwise I could loose all my data. I told her there was no need for her to worry as I had my computer fixed only a week previously (which I had). She got most insistent and was quite forceful that I should go turn on my computer now! I told her I couldn't anyway as I was minding my child and didn't have time. She said she would call back and I thought that would be the end of it. She called again in the afternoon but my husband hung up on her. She called again yesterday, with the same spiel and was quite agressive that I turn on my computer. I told her I didn't believe that 'Windows' rang people and asked her how she got my details. She went on about license registering and getting details from the local exchange. I told her that I was not going to turn on my computer and type in a command on her say so and that I was sorry if it seemed rude but I was hanging up. She made it very difficult to hang up, and kept trying to persuade me of who she was. She wanted to give me telephone numbers, assure me she would not hack into my computer or steal my data, and gave a website to check, which I have not checked. Eventually I used the baby as an excuse to get rid of her again, with her telling me she would ring again tomorrow.
Several things now are making me paranoid and I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on them? I made a phonecall from our landline the other day, after the first phone call and could hear the modem beeping in the background, which I hadn't heard before.
About two weeks ago, my computer was broken, so I brought it in to the local town to a shop that is an internet cafe, repair and computer sale shop. It is probably purely coincidence as I didn't give him my home number.
I went to use a program on the computer for work last night, and it hung, which it has never done before.
Lastly, I rang the local Garda station after the first call, more to let them know that this is happening rather than looking for advice, but all the Guard said to me was don't entertain them. I thought maybe they would want details for future prevention or whatever.
This sounds ridiculous as I write it, but am I safe using my computer? I don't conduct work through the internet, but I do use my computer for work, which contains a lot of private information including bank account details. I haven't been using internet banking or paying bills online in a while and am currently looking for good spyware.
And lastly, how the hell do I stop them ringing the house? I fully intend not to answer the calls but I am amazed that they have kept it up and made 3 phonecalls so far, all from the same woman, saying the same thing. I assumed that when I said I didn't beleive her, she would hang up. I am concerned that they will keep ringing and start ringing at odd times,
I hope someone can give me some advice on this. I received a phonecall the other day, from someone who sounded Indian, asking if I was Mrs So and So and if I was the owner of my computer. I said yes and she went into a big spiel about being from Windows XP (I think she said XP, but it was definitley Windows) and that they had received several error messages from my computer and that I should turn it on immediately and type in a command, otherwise I could loose all my data. I told her there was no need for her to worry as I had my computer fixed only a week previously (which I had). She got most insistent and was quite forceful that I should go turn on my computer now! I told her I couldn't anyway as I was minding my child and didn't have time. She said she would call back and I thought that would be the end of it. She called again in the afternoon but my husband hung up on her. She called again yesterday, with the same spiel and was quite agressive that I turn on my computer. I told her I didn't believe that 'Windows' rang people and asked her how she got my details. She went on about license registering and getting details from the local exchange. I told her that I was not going to turn on my computer and type in a command on her say so and that I was sorry if it seemed rude but I was hanging up. She made it very difficult to hang up, and kept trying to persuade me of who she was. She wanted to give me telephone numbers, assure me she would not hack into my computer or steal my data, and gave a website to check, which I have not checked. Eventually I used the baby as an excuse to get rid of her again, with her telling me she would ring again tomorrow.
Several things now are making me paranoid and I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on them? I made a phonecall from our landline the other day, after the first phone call and could hear the modem beeping in the background, which I hadn't heard before.
About two weeks ago, my computer was broken, so I brought it in to the local town to a shop that is an internet cafe, repair and computer sale shop. It is probably purely coincidence as I didn't give him my home number.
I went to use a program on the computer for work last night, and it hung, which it has never done before.
Lastly, I rang the local Garda station after the first call, more to let them know that this is happening rather than looking for advice, but all the Guard said to me was don't entertain them. I thought maybe they would want details for future prevention or whatever.
This sounds ridiculous as I write it, but am I safe using my computer? I don't conduct work through the internet, but I do use my computer for work, which contains a lot of private information including bank account details. I haven't been using internet banking or paying bills online in a while and am currently looking for good spyware.
And lastly, how the hell do I stop them ringing the house? I fully intend not to answer the calls but I am amazed that they have kept it up and made 3 phonecalls so far, all from the same woman, saying the same thing. I assumed that when I said I didn't beleive her, she would hang up. I am concerned that they will keep ringing and start ringing at odd times,