My dear friend, whose name is Eric, had a phone call today from someone claiming to be from Alienware and asked him for "control" over his PC so they could fix a virus that got in. If it helps anyone not be scammed, that would be great.
Here is his PM to me:
Today
11:11pm
Eric
Did you know I almost got scanned today?
I mean I almost was scammed today?
11:51pm
Kellie
really ?? how??? what happened????
by who??
where?
11:57pm
Eric
By some people that were calming to be Alienware. They told me my PC was affected with a undetectable virus that downloads more, and more of itself on my PC. He told me to look into my event viewer, and all the errors I had was the virus, and that I can't remove them manually, and neither can his side do so. However, if I paid for their software support I would be able to. I told them I'll pay next time, but I was suspicious he said it wouldn't work if I reformatted my PC. To me that made no sense as everything would be gone from the PC if I did that.
12:02am
Eric
After I had some time, I got in contact with brother David, apparently he works in the business of these computer issues. We scanned the PC with different programs, and after asking questions on what I was told I suspected nothing was wrong with my PC, and that I was lied to. I wanted to start back tracking, so I looked at the number those people called me from, and it was a blocked number. I then called Alienware, and they told me they never called me today, but only they have record of me calling them, and they wouldn't even have a way to know if I had a virus on my PC. Then they said my story sounded fishy, and that I shouldn't take a call from someone that says there alienware again, but only when I directly call them. A bit of startling for me, but everything went alright as my PC is okay.
12:03am
Eric
I only thank Jehovah though that I wasn't away from my PC when I gave them remote access on my PC.
12:20am
Kellie
wow! someone called you? wow! I hope they did not add anything to your PC during all that. People are sure greedy! and just downright spiteful!
I wonder how they knew you had alienware? Now I wonder if THEY got hacked and someone stole some info.....
Here is his PM to me:
Today
11:11pm
Eric
Did you know I almost got scanned today?
I mean I almost was scammed today?
11:51pm
Kellie
really ?? how??? what happened????
by who??
where?
11:57pm
Eric
By some people that were calming to be Alienware. They told me my PC was affected with a undetectable virus that downloads more, and more of itself on my PC. He told me to look into my event viewer, and all the errors I had was the virus, and that I can't remove them manually, and neither can his side do so. However, if I paid for their software support I would be able to. I told them I'll pay next time, but I was suspicious he said it wouldn't work if I reformatted my PC. To me that made no sense as everything would be gone from the PC if I did that.
12:02am
Eric
After I had some time, I got in contact with brother David, apparently he works in the business of these computer issues. We scanned the PC with different programs, and after asking questions on what I was told I suspected nothing was wrong with my PC, and that I was lied to. I wanted to start back tracking, so I looked at the number those people called me from, and it was a blocked number. I then called Alienware, and they told me they never called me today, but only they have record of me calling them, and they wouldn't even have a way to know if I had a virus on my PC. Then they said my story sounded fishy, and that I shouldn't take a call from someone that says there alienware again, but only when I directly call them. A bit of startling for me, but everything went alright as my PC is okay.
12:03am
Eric
I only thank Jehovah though that I wasn't away from my PC when I gave them remote access on my PC.
12:20am
Kellie
wow! someone called you? wow! I hope they did not add anything to your PC during all that. People are sure greedy! and just downright spiteful!
I wonder how they knew you had alienware? Now I wonder if THEY got hacked and someone stole some info.....