Yeah.. another scam ?

[Guest Curious16_377]

So yesterday just before I was heading out, the phone rang and my mum handed it over to me as when she spoke, the caller said he was calling from Microsoft and wanted to speak to the main user of the PC/Laptop. Before handing over the phone to me: my mum did warn me not to give out any credit/ debit card details of my fathers (I'm 16) from Paypal or just his credit card alone as: since we first purchased the laptop, monthly payments are taken for security and if any 'problems/virus' did occur then we would be approached some other way and another payment wouldn't have to be made.

 

 

Anyway moving on, I spoke to the person on the phone (he had a very strong Indian accent, oblivious to the fact that this could be a scam. I turned on my pc like he said and went on the sites and pages he told me to go to. He showed me the so called 'errors' malicious software' He did gain some access once I had given my Windows ID and password when he had asked for it. Later when referring me to the supervisor to sort out my problem, he asked for a payment and asked how long I've had my laptop for. I said just under 3 years. Then he told me that the security software expired from my PC after 2 years, therefore he had to take a payment from me. As my mum told me not to give out any details, I replied that nobody is home to give a payment and as I didn't know that this was a scam: I told I'm to ring back the next day when my dad would be home and he could solve the payment then. He told me he'd ring back the next day and advised my to not turn on my laptop at all.

 

 

 

That night (yesterday), I told my mum about the matter and she told me that we've been paying monthly for the right services and next time they ring, I should ask them to send a letter or give a number which I could call back on. She also asked me how much they were wanting which i didn't know the answer to. I went on the internet on my phone and looked around for the cost of 'Microsoft security system...' searches came up and what caught my eye was 'Phone call scam' which I quickly went onto and read the question and statement that somebody posted and realised that it was exactly the same incident with me. I told my parents about this. I was worried that as I had given some access to the caller whilst I was on the phone to him, he may have done something to my laptop. I switched it on and did a full system scan with my Norton Internet security which has been installed and renewed on my laptop since I got it. No threats or anything came up. I backed up all my files as important information, pictures, videos and music was on there. Then I deleted all the files from my laptop as I had copied them onto my USB stick. I deleted everything, in case the caller still had access to some information. I changed the passwords to all my accounts which were on my laptop. Then I restored my laptop which speeded up the start up of my laptop. Today, I did receive a phone call from them, my sister hung up the first time. The second time I hung up again and then the third time I decided to have a go at the caller and said to him that Microsoft don't make phone calls home and that my laptop is fine. When I asked for a number to call him back on, he hesitated to give it and just kept telling me to turn on my pc. Soon after he repeated the same thing nearly a hundred times, I just hung up and he didn't call back.

 

 

 

I had never heard about these phone call scams which take place and people fall the victims of and the topic interests me a lot as I've read many other peoples story's and statements about how they also received these phone calls. I feel stupid for falling so close into the trap and nearly making a payment.

 

 

I'm doing another full system scan right now because I'm still worried that there may be some matters left on my laptop that could cause a further problem/ issue to occur. I don't know what other possible actions I could take right now, should I take any at all? because my Norton internet security hasn't detected any threats whatsoever as I've ran many system scans.

 

 

Sorry for this huge long story, any feedback and or help would be very helpful and I shall be most grateful for it. Should I take any further action into this or get my laptop checked out by somebody.

 

 

 

Any and all help will be great.

 

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