Welcome to Thunderdome

I.instaled "TruCaller" on my phone, and it stopped about 90% of them.

My mom was having email issues, so she called who she thought was her ISP after googling them. Surprise, it was not.

So she spent time on the phone, and then they asked for $1,000 to fix her issues. Then only $800, then she picked up her cell phone and called me.

I had her unplug the machine + hang up. I recommended a new PC for her to buy a month ago (and she did), but she never moved over to it. So I helped her set that up today (Hey, Microsoft: Remote Assistance is still too much of a pain in the ass for my parents).

Do you IT people think it's safe to put that machine back on the network? I told my parent they could pull some files, but do not attach it to the internet, just in case.

I assume the scam's goal is to get some $$$ and not much else, but wanted to see what yall thought.

Did she give them access to the machine? If not, it's probably safe.

Most of those scams are just cookies that take over a tab of your browser until you restart it, and nothing more.

Still, if you don't have to put it on the network to get the files, don't.

Leisher wrote: Did she give them access to the machine? If not, it's probably safe.

Most of those scams are just cookies that take over a tab of your browser until you restart it, and nothing more.

Still, if you don't have to put it on the network to get the files, don't.

She gave them remote assistance through Wi does, so they did have access.

Yikes...

Yeah, don't put it on the network. Get their stuff off and wipe it.

Leisher wrote: Yikes...

Yeah, don't put it on the network. Get their stuff off and wipe it.

That's the plan. Sigh.

At least this time they called me. They got hit a year or two ago with the "son in jail" scam with someone pretending to be my brother. (They picked the right brother, cuz I wouldn't have been in jail ). But they didn't call me (or my brother) until the next day.

This time, when the guy said $80, my dad said "pay it!" and my mom thought "Wait, let's call Catt"

My dad was the guy who taught me how to program, and used to be so on top of computer stuff. Now I had to spend 10 minutes on the phone explaining how to do Remote Assistance, and then show him how to setup email and stuff on the new PC.

My dad started his own business selling PC's and hardware in the mid 80's. Used to teach people how to use them. Can't do shit now either. Always falls for the remote support fees as well. Hasn't paid any, because they call me first. But has given people remote access multiple times. He swears it's not via the "Your PC has a virus" popups. The last time he swears it was via Norton's contact us links. However, they wanted to charge him a couple hundred after showing him 'logs' of hackers getting info from his PC. Really high pressure that if he didn't act now, hackers would take everything. Told him Norton wouldn't treat him like that and things didn't add up. I don't remember the end results, but ya. Used to be a PC boss, and now he's one of the worst users out there.

Cakedaddy wrote: My dad started his own business selling PC's and hardware in the mid 80's. Used to teach people how to use them. Can't do shit now either. Always falls for the remote support fees as well. Hasn't paid any, because they call me first. But has given people remote access multiple times. He swears it's not via the "Your PC has a virus" popups. The last time he swears it was via Norton's contact us links. However, they wanted to charge him a couple hundred after showing him 'logs' of hackers getting info from his PC. Really high pressure that if he didn't act now, hackers would take everything. Told him Norton wouldn't treat him like that and things didn't add up. I don't remember the end results, but ya. Used to be a PC boss, and now he's one of the worst users out there.

The most disturbing part is imagining myself in 30+ years...

"That'll never be me"

TRACED Act passes House. Woot!

Rs and Ds voted for it. A truly non-partisan bill.

Leisher wrote: TRACED Act passes House. Woot!

Rs and Ds voted for it. A truly non-partisan bill.

3 people voted against it. 2 Rs and 1 independent.

Wonder how long it will take for the tech to be implemented

I got a google email just today concerning my Pixel (my cell carrier is google fi). They said that starting immediately I can start screening robocallers. I'm thinking they always had the tech.

GORDON wrote: I got a google email just today concerning my Pixel (my cell carrier is google fi). They said that starting immediately I can start screening robocallers. I'm thinking they always had the tech.

I find it odd since I’ve been using their call screening for months

So have I, but they said something specifically about blocking the spoofers. I skimmed it. If I cared slightly more I'd find the email and copy what they actually said, but alas.

Ah, it's automatic now

Automatic call screening will stop your phone from instantly ringing when you're called by unknown numbers. Instead, it'll redirect them to Google Assistant first. Robocalls are outright blocked, and your phone will only ring when the Assistant identifies the caller as an actual human being. Google will provide you with the transcript of the preceding screening, so you have more information before you pick up.

Paul Krugman almost gets scammed

"Well, I’m on the phone with my computer security service, and as I understand it someone compromised my IP address and is using it to download child pornography," Krugman wrote in a now-deleted tweet. "I might just be a random target. But this could be an attempt to Qanon me. It’s an ugly world out there."

There's the obvious "you totally downloaded that CP" response, but really, I think he fell for a scam where someone said his IP was traced to getting CP to get money/gift cards.

First of all, why is it ok for people on the left to claim a right wing conspiracy, but not vice verse? One is taken seriously, the other is viewed like you just claimed to have ridden in a UFO.

Secondly, I'm very happy that person at the times confirmed it was a "scam", which is a SUPER common technical term us nerds use to describe files mysteriously found on computers..., because if 2019 taught us anything it's that NOBODY will cover up or look the other way when a powerful or rich person commits sex crimes.

Leisher wrote: Secondly, I'm very happy that person at the times confirmed it was a "scam", which is a SUPER common technical term us nerds use to describe files mysteriously found on computers..., because if 2019 taught us anything it's that NOBODY will cover up or look the other way when a powerful or rich person commits sex crimes.

I don't think there were any files. This was "Your IP was downloading child porn, give us money"

TheCatt wrote: This was "Your IP was downloading child porn, give us money"

Oh, he's claiming it's the old "We have video of you jerking it and to what. Pay us or we send it to your family" thing?

Fair enough.

Leisher wrote:

TheCatt wrote: This was "Your IP was downloading child porn, give us money"

Oh, he's claiming it's the old "We have video of you jerking it and to what. Pay us or we send it to your family" thing?

Fair enough.

Yes, that appears to be what is going on. But he didn't realize it at first, and thought someone conspiracy group was hacking him.