03-3533-3224

I can't believe it - but I think I was scammed today!  I actually paid $274 via paypal.  

This is what happened.  I got this call a few days ago saying my computer was slowly dying as I had malicious software/files.  I asked how she got my number (I can't even remember the response as I got interrupted by somebody).  I told her that she could be a scammer and how could I trust her to be from Microsoft.  Firstly, she showed me how to look into the C:\ folder for malicious files by selecting the windows key + R then typing in prefetch.  Nothing strange about these folders but I couldn't be sure.  I still had doubts so she said that she could show me how to find my computer ID - which she actually read out before I got it myself, with her instructing me on how to find the ID itself.  Numbers coincided.  She had an Indian accent (speaking in English) which also surprised me, but I thought that Microsoft were using Virtual Assistants from India to make their calls!  
I was instructed to hit the windows key + R and to type up cmd + OK (I had written down all the instructions here but my little boy destroyed it - I can't believe it!)  
I was then instructed to hit the windows key + R again and to type eventvwr which showed me all the logged errors and warnings (there are many) I was told these were what were slowing down my computer (and my computer was in fact slowing down especially with google search - pages wouldn't open.  Next I was instructed to hit the windows key + R again and type in www.support.me
This brought up the Team Viewer website http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx
I was told to click "join remote control session" which brought me to the romote control box with an 9-digit ID and 4-digit password numbers which I had to give to them.  As this was all so advanced for me and rather technical - I actually believed I was with Microsoft even though I had niggling doubts (gut instinct said to hang up - doubts kept me on the bloody phone for one hour!).

Finally a dialogue IM box came up and I was connect to a John Pott (can't remember) and he asked for my home number, which I gave, and she instructed me to ask him to "send me the 287US$ form" which he did - I think I clicked on a link which opened directly to PayPal.  I logged into my PayPal account and paid the bloody 287US$ (this was about all I had left on my card so I'm really annoyed with myself).  She then asked that I send the proof of payment via email to windowscustomercare@USA.com - which I did (even though I found this all super wrong and I was supersticious - why would Windows Microsoft support ask me to do that).  
They have my Yahoo email and sent me a receipt in return to confirm what I had paid for.  She said she would call me again tomorrow.  By the way, after payment, the other guy was supposed to be working on my computer for two hours - I was not to close down nor touch the mouse during that time (that was lucky for them because I had to go out at that time)  

What did they do during those two hours or even 10 minutes while they had remote access?  I even got their "Manager" who did a "yes" / "no" survey with me.  Did I find the assistance helpful?  Did I understand that I would be paying 287US$ for a new life time Licence?  Three hours later I logged on to the Event Viewer and found that all the "Errors and Warnings" were still there - nothing had changed!  I thought - Oh no, I've been mugged - virtually.  Man, do I feel stupid.  How did they get my telephone number and how did they get my computer ID (I didn't give it to them and didn't repeat it when I saw it).  The PAYPAL receipt says "Receipt for Your Payment to Clay Cook" Charge will appear on your credit card statement as "PayPal HABUTV" - Unfortunately, this information is only seen once you've paid - obviously not Microsoft.

A long message, but I wanted to inform of the scam as it really is quite effective and I'm extremely careful and never taken for a mug.  She said she would call back tomorrow 25.10.11 to check if everything is going smoothly with my computer.  My question is - do they still have remote access - even though I have closed down and restarted the computer?  Have they damaged anything?  How will I know what they have done to my computer?  Do they have all my credit card details?

We got today exactly the same situation from the same number, just another reason (slow computer cause of defect antvirus program).....we paid the same amount...and now we are afraid to be watched all day, - and maybe they got more information out of our computer, as wie do online banking!  Can anybody help what to do now?

My wife was called a couple of weeks ago by this number. She asked for contact information and was hung up on.

The same thing happened this morning. This time, she gave me the phone. I insisted on contact information too: she said her name is Rose, the number is 033 5333 244, and the company is "Windows Service Center". She would not give me a company name. When I asked for a postal address, she hung up.

I'm curious by the way: what "computer ID" are you talking about?

Same thing happen to me. They Know my full name and home number in swizerland. I got a call from John for the same problème, computer slow down, but I don't believe them with his Indian accent. So i have asked for a number to call back, they gave me exactly this number. I was lucky i found your comments and confirm that this is a mug!

Over the past 2 years we have had about 20 calls of this type here in Switzerland, always male, always with an Indian accent.
Working in the computer industry and realizing straight away that this was a scam I have always hung-up. All the manipulations that you are asked to do are simple tricks and the computer ID or number is not in fact what is indicated in the call, this happens to be the same on all PC's. Then one day I decided to see what they were up to.

So, I went through with their game until it came down to downloading the software to take control of my computer, then I decided enough was enough.

I have informed the police of this, hoping they may publish something of this but nothing till now.

Should anyone fall for this, just uninstall any software that was installed during the process and run a decent scan of the PC and network, Norton for ex.