Got a call from "Alice White" with a heavy Indian accent, with the same story as above. Knowing it was a scam I said I was busy and could I have a number to call back. The number she gave me was 201 588-3343. I asked where area code 201 was and she said Albany, NY. Area code 201 is in New Jersey. The caller ID just said out of area.

Same initial spiel. He called several times. I took his phone number to call him back. I looked up this phone number on google. It is listed on several sites to claim it as a scam and fraud, even Microsoft lists it as a scam. He called back and I listened to his spiel again and told him, no, I'm not logged into my computer and I'm not going to log into my computer because he is a fraud and a scammer. He yelled at me and asked me why I was wasting his time. I asked him why he was wasting MY time. He wanted to know WHY I thought he was a scammer and I told him I googled his number. I told him I had Homeland Security on the line with me and they are tracing the call and he can expect to hear from them. He hung up on me. He (Mark Wilson with an Indian accent) called me two more times and started his spiel anew. I told him thanks for calling me so that Homeland Security can get more information on him. He hung up.

Yes - same phishing scam - see http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fo ... c4-5ec9c7eb090b

They are still scammin as of Feb, 2013. Told me I would get a refund and that they coud no longer service my computer. They had remote control over my computer and pulled up my bank wanted me to put in my user id and password. I did not. The phone numbers listed do not work until they want to call you from the number. They are using the names Adam Fiaz who lives in India and Jermaine Johnson who knows where he is from...I am a widow and even tho they scammed me I was able to recover my losses but had to close out my bank account...I am a winner...My laptop works fine...

They got me for $160 this pass Thursday. I learned my lesson. Had access to my computer. God don't like ugly and eventually they will be caught...All the numbers listed are no longer in service or they ask you to leave a message. WOW

Below is a copy n paste from another forum explaining the scam:-

I get these phone calls about one a week. Last time, I was ready for them: I had a machine set up with a clean XP installation, so I played dumb to see what they would do.

They pose as "Windows Support Centre", or suchlike, and say that they've been receiving reports from your computer that there's a problem. You'll probably be asked how old the machine is - however old it is, seemingly, you'll be told that the warranty on your Windows software has expired, or that you should have taken one out when you bought it. Then, you'll be talked though opening something called the Event Viewer, and shown a screen that contains a number of warnings and errors. They will tell you that this is serious, even to the extent that it's causing problems that might force your ISP to cut your connection and/or inform the police.

Let's stop here and make two points:

1. There may well be something called a "Windows warranty". However, I have been a Microsoft Partner for nearly a decade, and I've never heard of such a thing. I think we can assume that if such a thing existed, Microsoft would be sending me lots of information on how I can make money selling it. They haven't, because there isn't.

2. I've never seen an Event Viewer that didn't have warnings and errors, and I've been a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer since 1999. Its function is to keep a record of everything that happens to the operating system so that people like me can find out what's happening if something has gone wrong. Most of the time, though, there's nothing to be alarmed about - in my case, most of the warnings were due to a printer not being found on the network because I'd switched it off.

OK, so the next stage is that you get passed to the "Technical Department". This is where it got interesting: I was told that a six digit support number was being generated so that my problem could be resolved, and I was directed to a website called logmein123, where I could enter this number. Now, this is a common tool used by people like me to fix machines over the network - clients call me with a problem, I can connect to the machine and show them what to do without having to leave my office. In this case, they were going to "fix" my machine. So I let them in. At this point, we will pause for a warning:

WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME ON YOUR MACHINE. I WAS GIVING THIS GUY COMPLETE ACCESS TO MY COMPUTER. HE COULD DO ANYTHING HE LIKED, TRANSFER FILES TO INSPECT AT LEISURE, ETC. I WAS USING A MACHINE WITH NOTHING ON IT BUT THE OPERATING SYSTEM. REPEAT: DO NOT LET ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW AND TRUST ONTO YOUR SYSTEM IN THIS WAY.

The first thing was that as soon as he connected, I could see the IP address he was connecting from, and I was able to trace this back to a company name, and trace the company back to its offices in Mumbai. While I was doing this (on another machine), I was watching a rather nasty piece of software being uploaded to my machine and installed. A bit of fiddling around, and I was asked to try running a few programs. Lo and behold, they all crashed with frightening looking error messages - remember, this was a machine that was working perfectly a few minutes before. This was explained as a consequence of the problems that I was having before, and that the diagnostic program they were running was now blocking programs that could get me into trouble.

This was the point at which I was asked for money - they started at £100 to fix the problem I already had, with an additional £80 for a simple one year warranty to protect me in the future, or if I preferred, I could give them £299 for an all-in package including fix, anti-virus software and a five year warranty. Visa and Mastercard accepted. If I didn't want to go ahead, then I wouldn't be able to do anything with it until it was fixed.

At this point I let him know what I was doing, complete with telling him the name and address of the company he was working for. I expected him to hang up on me, but he decided to argue with me, at one point telling me that I wasn't an MCSE and I didn't know what I was talking about. In the end, I just told him that if he had been in this country, he could expect to be arrested, and hung up on him.

So, in summary, I wasted my time in this way so you don't have to. If these pirates call you, don't say a word. Just put the phone down.

I keep getting these calls from 'Microsoft" Windows telling me my pc is going to crash-am I sitting in front of the compute? and then I said NO.  "He' Kevin Brown (had a thick Indian sounding accent) said would I go to my computer screen ? and I said NO-give me your number and I will call you back.  This 201-285-5200 number is the number "Kevin" gave me-and I too hear what sounded like a room full of people talking on phones.  I am not going to call 'Kevin" back now or ever-this is a scam-I am certain of it.  Have also received these calls on my cell phone-Tell them you don't have a computer and hang up!

You cannot get into the laptop because they installed a password app. Take it to your nearest computer repair place and they will easily be able to fix it for you.

I'm a reporter with a news station in Oklahoma City. I did a story on these scammers, which will air tonight at 9 p.m. Here is the link: http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_8160.shtml

Took my wife for $250 yesterday 11/7.  Now today Cannot get into laptop.  Has anyone experienced stolen data or anything.

I got this call. And im sorry to say i paid these people 139.00 .Now i'm scared of what they have done to my computer. I didnt know this was a scam. I paid the money with my debit card. On 7-25-2012. What shall I do now?

I got the same call and was harassed into getting them on my computer, never again!

October 25, 2012
I too had a call today with just like yours.  They told me that they had seen where my computer was showing errors and warnings in my windows system.  I was leary so I plugged him for all the info I could get from him he said his name was Ben Johnson from the New York Windows Center with the number of 201-285-5200.  He continued on insisting that I had a windows issue and wanted my windows activation Product I.D. Number and asked me to turn my computer on.  I said no, just tell me where I can find the issues, I will write them down and then I can see what is wrong.  He asked me again to turn on my computer, I told him I would call Microsoft to verify who he was and my system problems.  This is when I hung up.  I did call micosoft and they said that if he did not give me a case number and that if I did not have any windows issues popping up on my screen then more than likely the call was not from Microsoft.  I gave Microsoft all his information and they thanked me.   (Then I found this page) So, stay smart and do not fall for this scam.  If they steal your Product I.D. Number they could disable your computer then you are screwed!  They will more than likely sell your Product I.D. Number to someone else!  It's people like that that should be shot, without any questions!

just to say they are still at it.
very hard to understand, would not give the name of the company, windows technical service, etc. were not able to provide sopmeone i could understand with out an  accent. eventually he started yelling at me.

This is big scam !! looks like some crooks got together and they are trying to get innocent people to get on their computers and help these guys some how to pay for the false services provided by saying that your PC has got virus or your PC is running slow etc. Please do not entertain such calls.

What happened .... My wife got a unknown call on 09/29 and literally the guy harassed her. These guys are mean. She was smart and she got the number and name of the person who called her. I was away when all this happened, but she called right away on my cell phone explaining what had happened. When I came back I called the number and asked for the guy Ron Wilson .. and he came on the line and started talking about ... my PC is infected and possibly my computer will crash if I did not do what he asked me to do. But instead .. I told him to not bother about it and he was Ok with putting the phone down. I am an Indian and I was able to easily recognize their accent and was able to hear some background talking in Indian Language - Hindi, hence I can tell the call was being answered by an Indian person.

same problem...just got a call from a gentleman. named alex smith.  he was full of all types of so-called information, even telling him we were at dinner wasn't enough of a deterrent.  he kept calling back, finally i got a number out of him and it led me to this site.  As others said above, don't fall into this trap. the more i pestered him, the more agitated he got.  sometimes stubbornness and savvy is a gift :)

This guy has called my house several times over the last few days.  I would not follow his instructions and asked for info on his company.  He gave me the 201 # and said they were based out of Bayonne, NJ.  It seemed like a scam from the beginning, I just hope he stops calling me.

THEY ALSO CALL FROM UTAH - PHONE 385 313-3975

HERE IS THE SCOOP.  WHEN YOU PRESS START KEY AND "R" SCREEN COMES UP - THEY TELL YOU TO TYPE IN WWW.HELP22.COM.  I LOOKED UP THIS IP ADDRESS AND HERE IS INFO


Registrar Information
Domain-name:
help22.com
Domain-ip:
184.107.254.122    
Domain-tld:
COM
Domain-registrar:
Domain-lock:
LOCKED
Creation:2011-11-18
Update:2011-11-18
Expiration:2012-11-18
Nameservers
ns1.avidwebsolutions.in
(173.237.189.6)
ns2.avidwebsolutions.in
(173.237.189.7)






Domain Record
Domain Name: HELP22.COM
Registrar: DIRECTI INTERNET SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD. D/B/A PUBLICDOMAINREGISTRY.COM
Whois Server: whois.PublicDomainRegistry.com
Referral URL: http://www.PublicDomainRegistry.com
Name Server: NS1.AVIDWEBSOLUTIONS.IN
Name Server: NS2.AVIDWEBSOLUTIONS.IN
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 18-nov-2011
Creation Date: 18-nov-2011
Expiration Date: 18-nov-2012

THESE PEOPLE ARE RELENTLESS! NOT ONLY FROM NEW JERSEY BUT FROM UTAH AS WELL - USING THE PHONE NUMBER 385-313-3975/  THEY WANTED ME TO PRESS THE START KEY THEN THE "R" KEY WHICH WOULD HAVE THE COMPUTER TO A REMOTE ACCESS LINE - I DO NOT HAVE ERRORS ON MY COMPUTER - I INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY IS SPAM, ANTIPHISHING AND SECURITY SOFTWARE.....I TOLD THEM IF THEY CALLED AGAIN, I WOULD CALL THE POLICE AND REPORT THEM.  I AM ALSO CALLING MY PHONE COMPANY AND REPORTING THEM FOR FRAUD.
THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY CALLING FROM INDIA OR PAKISTAN OR SOMEPLACE NEAR THERE - YOU CAN HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND ALOT OF VOICES LIKE IT IS A PHONE ROOM OR A SWEAT SHOP!
SHAME ON THEM.

Update to this, I figured out that they gained access to my parents' computer by duping them into remote access (holding the Windows key down while also pressing R to get to admin commands).

I also found a video someone made of dealing with these idiot scammers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12aCBrkVM8E

For each one of us here, there must be hundreds more who haven't thought to search this out or post about it. Please, if you're reading this, report this scam to the FTC:
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Maybe the FTC will do nothing & they won't get caught. But you know, maybe they will.

They've struck again. It's a serious scam. My parents turned over remote access to their computer and were just about to pay until I intervened. Please spread the word about this on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, et al.

The scammers are getting access to computers by having people type in a website address -- www.event.com in my parents' case.

I also wonder how the hell they got my parents' name and phone numbers. My parents live in California. It would be helpful to know where else the scammers are calling.

I have been contacted daily by the same guy with a heavy accent for the past two weeks or longer.  Each time he tells me it's an urgent matter and that there is a virus on my "Windows machine."  Every day, I ask for his number to call back an today, he finally gave me 1-201-285-5200.  I told him I'd call back but I first looked up the number and I was directed here.  I obvioulsy knew this was a scam but now I wonder what we all have in common, that they would have gotten our phone numbers.  The caller ID always shows private name.

Received a call 8-30-12 from "Windows" telling me there was something wrong with my computer, it is going to crash.  I followed his instructions through a couple different screens until I came to a screen showing my computer ID.  I then got suspicious, said I had to go.  I did ask his name and number which is 201-285-5200.  He asked when I would be returning, I said about 7 o'clock which gave me enough time to contact my computer tech.  He told me not to do anything, it's a scam. Received a call at 7 o'clock from unknown name, unknown number.

Well they are still at it. I have recieved 5 phone calls today from this number telling me that my business computer has a virus on it and they need access to get rid of it. Super pushy. Just wish they'd stop calling my business!

I received a similar call.  When I asked for their number to call back they gave this number.  When I asked them if this was a Microsoft office number, they hung up on me.  Scam!

Received repeated calls over last month; only answered this past week.  Same story as C.T. Crow's post.  So obviously ridiculous.  I told the guy: 1. Windows is not a company, but a software.  2.  Microsoft never ever contacts customers via phone or email.  3.  There is no such thing as a centralized database of Windows users.  Then I told him that I did not believe anything he said and to STOP CALLING ME.
I found the FBI cyber crime website and filed a claim against them with NJ phone number and the number that was appearing on my caller id, a 312 area code.  I googled the company name he gave me and could only find a UK company that builds computers.

My wife got a call today exactly like the ones described above; she had them call back and I took the call. Same suspicious line and very high pressure. Sounded Middle Eastern. Claimed to be from "Windows Technical Department" in New Jersey and that they were providing service to Windows customers with computers that were in danger of some terrible problems if the corruption was not fixed. I asked how they got my number and the response was that all Windows machines were hooked up to a central place that told them if there were urgent problems that they had to fix.It sounded so fake it was laughable.  I refused to press any keys for them, as I didn't know if they could take control of the machine if I did.   I looked up the number he gave me and got this site.  I hung up.  This is highly suspicious. These guys are predators and should be stopped.

THESE PEOPLE CALLED ME AND WHEN THEY GAVE ME THEIR PHONE NUMBER, I FOUND THIS WEBSITE. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO,  THE GUY THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT HE WAS CALLING FROM PAKISTAN AND THAT HE WAS LADEN. REFERRING TO BIN LADEN.  HE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE F****D OUR COUNTRY. I WANT THESE PEOPLE CAUGHT! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK ALL DAY AND WORK HARD, AND HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THIS CALLING AND HARASSING US.

i got a call saturday from 201 285 5200.

i recived a call from a person saying he was calling for microsoft telling i was having trouble with my computer and they knew what was wrong and wanted to help get it fixed ..anway after showing me what was bad and  telling me i could get there program for 200.up to 400.dollersthen cutting to 69$ when i didnt go for that he said he could cut me off the internet forever dont tell them any thing.!!!!