Now, I realize all too well that this message may be completely out of place (then again; it's off topic for a reason) because I'm positive that there will be plenty of you out there who would welcome the chance to tell a so-called Microsoft representative something along the lines of: "So my Windows has a nasty virus and you need access to clean it? Amazing! Especially considering that I'm using a (FreeBSD/Linux)-powered X.Org desktop. I know FreeBSD runs Linux binaries, but Windows too? Cool! Say, I can give you shell access to my jail though..".
But what if you're also using Windows? Worse: what if you're dual booting and at this point are not fully sure if your FreeBSD environment really didn't do something "icky" with your Windows environment? Can you be sure that net/samba4 didn't do "something"? (yes you can be sure, if you had doubts then rest assured: they're misplaced).
Or what if you're in my place? Running a company from home which also happens to be a recognized Microsoft business Partner (registered with the Microsoft Partner network) and maintains a Microsoft TechNet subscription as well? It wouldn't be the first time where Microsoft uses call centres which don't really give you a professional impression.
In some cases you simply need to be sure that you're not dealing with an "el-cheapo" (pardon the expression) call centre which only calls you to put you through to someone "up the ladder" instead of one of the many organized scam centres.
Yes, you may have guessed: today I got a call from the US and it turned out to be a group of scammers. Quite the experience. And since this forum is the one I frequently visit I figured I'd dump this story here as well.
What (not) to do?
Rule 1: If you have doubts then put down the phone. You won't offend anyone and in this day and age it really is better to be safe than sorry. When in doubt hang up the phone. If the call was genuine and important then rest assured that you will be called again. But also realize that a company like Microsoft does not "just" call its customers.
But if you're in the mood, or really want to be sure, then this may help.
In most cases the scammers will present you a story that there is a problem with your Windows environment and that you risk major issues. I reckon they'll make stuff up as they go along and most likely will swap stories between your Internet provider disconnecting you, your e-mail getting blocked and what ever more.
The moment they start telling you that "your Windows is insecure" ask them for an IP address. They really don't like that one
If they don't understand what you mean or if they start telling you something along the lines of: "We don't know IP address" then you can safely conclude that these are scammers.
Rule 2: Never forget that their primary target are computer illiterates. Their personnel claims to know a lot, but in fact you will most likely know a lot more.
Ask why they didn't contact your provider; and insist that they give you an IP address if you need to be extra sure.
At this point it really should be perfectly obvious what is going on.
But if you're up to it then there's another point I'd like to point your attention to:
Optional rule 3: Collect as much information as you can and report the abuse to Microsoft.
I'm very serious and realize this could most likely be a sensitive topic.
After all: Microsoft and listening to their customers? We all know better. And trust me: most of us really do (myself included). Take their recent XBox announcement and the way they quickly turned 180 degrees after all the negative comments. THEN they started listening, not when all the real fans sent them many of their suggestions. (For the record: I own a PS3).
And that's just one example; that stupidity (personal opinion) spreads wide and deep.
I think we can all agree that Visual Studio, Microsoft's main development platform for all their environments (from Windows and ASP.NET right to their Windows Phone), is a huge asset for them. Yet they easily released a new version which quickly gave 13,000 developers a headache. What else would you expect if you throw away all the colours and theme options which your customers got familiar with? Worse: instead you only give them "light" or "dark"?
Yet Microsoft needed to see thousands of developers cry out in plain disgust before they finally came up with a solution which eventually allowed us Visual Studio users to apply the same colour scheme to Visual Studio 2012 which most of us got used to while using the previous Visual Studio 2010 (for the record: I'm using a licensed ("Professional") version of Visual Studio 2012 and if it wasn't for their colour plugin I would have tried hard to get 2010 instead).
I know my optional rule 3 may sound stupid. But before you laugh and dismiss it please hear me out.
Microsoft is like ancient Rome. One end doesn't know or sometimes even understand what the other end is doing. And although I'll easily admit that I have some bias I think their abuse report system (and everything behind it) is pretty on the mark.
Like them or not: they are hell-bent on trying to put a stop to scammers and script kiddies. Maybe for the wrong motivations, perfectly possible, but in many cases they did get the job done.
Alas; it's not my intent to start a whole discussion (though I'd welcome one) but if you're in the mood and feel like doing "something" against the scammers and kiddies I really want you to consider collecting everything you can and send it straight to the Microsoft abuse report.
You got scammed?
I suspected foul play and the first thing I did was open OneNote and started typing away, starting with the phone number, even turned the whole conversation to speaker phone here and there.
For your fun & entertainment, I'll share "abuse-transcription.docx":
That was sort of fun
Alas, true story. Hope some of you can find this useful.
But what if you're also using Windows? Worse: what if you're dual booting and at this point are not fully sure if your FreeBSD environment really didn't do something "icky" with your Windows environment? Can you be sure that net/samba4 didn't do "something"? (yes you can be sure, if you had doubts then rest assured: they're misplaced).
Or what if you're in my place? Running a company from home which also happens to be a recognized Microsoft business Partner (registered with the Microsoft Partner network) and maintains a Microsoft TechNet subscription as well? It wouldn't be the first time where Microsoft uses call centres which don't really give you a professional impression.
In some cases you simply need to be sure that you're not dealing with an "el-cheapo" (pardon the expression) call centre which only calls you to put you through to someone "up the ladder" instead of one of the many organized scam centres.
Yes, you may have guessed: today I got a call from the US and it turned out to be a group of scammers. Quite the experience. And since this forum is the one I frequently visit I figured I'd dump this story here as well.
What (not) to do?
Rule 1: If you have doubts then put down the phone. You won't offend anyone and in this day and age it really is better to be safe than sorry. When in doubt hang up the phone. If the call was genuine and important then rest assured that you will be called again. But also realize that a company like Microsoft does not "just" call its customers.
But if you're in the mood, or really want to be sure, then this may help.
In most cases the scammers will present you a story that there is a problem with your Windows environment and that you risk major issues. I reckon they'll make stuff up as they go along and most likely will swap stories between your Internet provider disconnecting you, your e-mail getting blocked and what ever more.
The moment they start telling you that "your Windows is insecure" ask them for an IP address. They really don't like that one
If they don't understand what you mean or if they start telling you something along the lines of: "We don't know IP address" then you can safely conclude that these are scammers.Rule 2: Never forget that their primary target are computer illiterates. Their personnel claims to know a lot, but in fact you will most likely know a lot more.
Ask why they didn't contact your provider; and insist that they give you an IP address if you need to be extra sure.
At this point it really should be perfectly obvious what is going on.
But if you're up to it then there's another point I'd like to point your attention to:
Optional rule 3: Collect as much information as you can and report the abuse to Microsoft.
I'm very serious and realize this could most likely be a sensitive topic.
After all: Microsoft and listening to their customers? We all know better. And trust me: most of us really do (myself included). Take their recent XBox announcement and the way they quickly turned 180 degrees after all the negative comments. THEN they started listening, not when all the real fans sent them many of their suggestions. (For the record: I own a PS3
).And that's just one example; that stupidity (personal opinion) spreads wide and deep.
I think we can all agree that Visual Studio, Microsoft's main development platform for all their environments (from Windows and ASP.NET right to their Windows Phone), is a huge asset for them. Yet they easily released a new version which quickly gave 13,000 developers a headache. What else would you expect if you throw away all the colours and theme options which your customers got familiar with? Worse: instead you only give them "light" or "dark"?
Yet Microsoft needed to see thousands of developers cry out in plain disgust before they finally came up with a solution which eventually allowed us Visual Studio users to apply the same colour scheme to Visual Studio 2012 which most of us got used to while using the previous Visual Studio 2010 (for the record: I'm using a licensed ("Professional") version of Visual Studio 2012 and if it wasn't for their colour plugin I would have tried hard to get 2010 instead).
I know my optional rule 3 may sound stupid. But before you laugh and dismiss it please hear me out.
Microsoft is like ancient Rome. One end doesn't know or sometimes even understand what the other end is doing. And although I'll easily admit that I have some bias I think their abuse report system (and everything behind it) is pretty on the mark.
Like them or not: they are hell-bent on trying to put a stop to scammers and script kiddies. Maybe for the wrong motivations, perfectly possible, but in many cases they did get the job done.
Alas; it's not my intent to start a whole discussion (though I'd welcome one) but if you're in the mood and feel like doing "something" against the scammers and kiddies I really want you to consider collecting everything you can and send it straight to the Microsoft abuse report.
You got scammed?
I suspected foul play and the first thing I did was open OneNote and started typing away, starting with the phone number, even turned the whole conversation to speaker phone here and there.
For your fun & entertainment, I'll share "abuse-transcription.docx":
Code:
"Met Peter xxx" (xxx: censorship at work ;))
"Hello, we are Microsoft call centre calling, how are you today?"
"What is this about?"
"We are Microsoft call centre. You use Windows right?"
"So what is this about?"
"You have yellow mark on Windows. Indicating dangerous problem with Windows version."
"Could you give me an IP address so that I can verify your claim?"
"No need, we need you to start (horrible phonetic Dutch following:) remote hulp up ap stund?"
"Why? Considering that you can't even give me my IP address. Does my Internet provider know about this?".
"Yes, they gave us your contact information".
"So what's my name again?"
"You need to do this quickly before virus spreads and you lose all your data".
"Sounds like your calling from a call centre. I take it you warn many people?"
"Yes, Windows has many problems".
"So why don't you know my IP address? Could I talk to your division manager please?"
"No, you need to start program".
"What is your name again, I really need to know?"
"Why you need to know?"
"Because my company is a Microsoft reseller and we've been contacted by Microsoft about this. They request that we record as much information about any contact with Microsoft in order to help them with marketing purposes as well as against protecting from possible scammers" (total lie).
"<click>"
"Hello? still there?".Alas, true story. Hope some of you can find this useful.
