amyy.com Internet/phone scam

[Bassmatt]

I have just had a phonecall from an Indian sounding chap from "computer associates" in Florida.
Apparently he knew that my computer had been infected with a virus or malware and was so concerned he wanted to help little old me all the way on the other side of the world. :laugh:
Basically he tried to get me to log on to amyy.com, it sounded suspicious so I hung up.
I have since googled amyy.com scam and it is indeed dodgy.
It sounds like they try to get you to give them remote access to your computer so they can "fix it" but they load malware on and then try to extort money to fix it, I guess they will also be stealing anything they can find of value off your computer.
Be warned, tell him to fuck off.

[oneofsix]

Basic rule, maintaining, fixing and protecting your computer is up to you. No one is going to contact you out of the blue and offer you assistance like this so if someone contacts you telling you they will fix your computer its a scam.

[Scuba_Steve]

even worse this scam drags legit software (ammyy admin) down with them

[mashman]

We fielded at least 5 of these calls over the weekend. All ended up with them hanging up :). Mrs M likes to give them an earful and I enjoy their persistence and maybe encourage them a little. Having an unplugged keyboard to hand works wonders... tappity tappity tap, my invisible screen isn't responding etc... I still need to record one.

[pzkpfw]

Pisses me off about the brave new "free internet" World we live in.

It should be possible for the "authorities" to find and ream these scammers: but not much action, really. It's all somebody else's problem.

[iYRe]

there is a "legit" (although terribly useless at their job) company that is run out of India or Pakistan, who cold call people and do remote "system optimisation" for people.

I've done this quite a few times myself (not cold calling though), because it is more cost effective for the customer if they dont have to pay me to go out.. and I am quite happy sitting in my armchair watching TV, and fixing things up remotely.

However, I recommend avoiding all of them. There are perfectly good IT companies and techs in NZ (although, not so many as some of the people who call themselves IT Consultants would have you think), and they can do it for you..

Unless you are connected to a corporate network who monitor the state of your PC (in that case your IT dept would call), or you have some hitherto unheard of support contract with some security company (in which case they would call you), or you have a maintenance contract with a local IT Company (as I used to run.. whom then would contact you), avoid these people like the plague. They make used car salesmen look positively angelic.

[rustyrobot]

I still need to record one.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN5IJYkTdsU

(dammit - how do you embed a video on these forums?)

[EJK]

<img src="http://chzmemebase.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/rage-comics-rage-comics-more-annoying-than-viruses.png" />
<font color="1a1a1a">adfadfasdfasdasdfa</font>

[The Baron]

I had a call today from a nice man called "Andrew". He told me that my computer had sent warning messages to his computer without me knowing....and.... it was hard to hear him being as it was a long distants call ... so I hung up.

[Quasi]

I've been getting a few of these lately. Just been saying I dont own a computer and they always hang up on me.

[Maha]

I've been getting a few of these lately. Just been saying I dont own a computer and they always hang up on me.

I did the same when I received an email from them...just replied that dont have a computer.. :corn:

[SMOKEU]

Just tell them you're running Linux.

[mashman]

I've been getting a few of these lately. Just been saying I dont own a computer and they always hang up on me.

I have 2, but tell them I have 4 and repetitively ask them which one has the issue, so they repetitively tell me that there's and issue on my pc, and I repetitively ask them which one has the issue, so they repetitively tell me that there's and issue on my pc, and I repetitively ask them which one has the issue, so they repetitively tell me that there's and issue on my pc ... weeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[EJK]

I did the same when I received an email from them...just replied that dont have a computer.. :corn:


<img src="http://img.printfection.com/14/45235/MJhg9.jpg" />
<font color="1a1a1a">adfnaksfamkdasdf</font>

[Scuba_Steve]

I have 2, but tell them I have 4 and repetitively ask them which one has the issue, so they repetitively tell me that there's and issue on my pc, and I repetitively ask them which one has the issue, so they repetitively tell me that there's and issue on my pc, and I repetitively ask them which one has the issue, so they repetitively tell me that there's and issue on my pc ... weeeeeeeeeeeeeee

see having cell as my only "home phone" I miss out on this fun. I have 7 "operating" computers (something like 11 total) I could have some fun with the "which one?" followed by the "oh this software doesn't seem to work on OSX/Linux/Win98 etc what should I do?" :innocent:

[paturoa]

I had one on Saturday from a woman of asian accent.

I had nothing to do and managed to keep her talking for over 10 minutes before she finally got pissed off enough to give up.

She started with a patter about "am I the main computer user and am I monitorring my security". After several minutes of me asking lots of noobie type questions we go to right clicking on My Computer. To questions like, what menu items to you see, I answered like "the normal list, yes everything is there".

She started to sound a bit grumpy and finally hung up when I chuckled at one of my own answers.

[mashman]

see having cell as my only "home phone" I miss out on this fun. I have 7 "operating" computers (something like 11 total) I could have some fun with the "which one?" followed by the "oh this software doesn't seem to work on OSX/Linux/Win98 etc what should I do?" :innocent:

fuckin geek

[Macontour]

Haven't had one for a while but I did keep one talking for nearly an hour one night....bored with the TV. They were very professional sounding and had answers for everything I said including being prepared to give me an address to send my cheque to and suggesting I borrow the money so they could fix my computer. After the lady had spent ages, her Supervisor came on and tried the same thing. He started to get angry and even told me that they had spent more than 50 minutes trying to help me. Let them waste their money.

[Scuba_Steve]

fuckin geek


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzXyWHjKcTQ