02033188706

I had a call from this number telling me he was from microsoft and that their was errors on my machine, Wanted me to download the Teamviewer remote app to look at my machine. Told me that he could fix my errors for 25 UK pounds if I could enter my credit card details. In my case I played along with him and downloaded the app to the machine and he then now had a hook into the machine. He then got me to go to a internet landing page and enter credit card details which he told me he could not see (yea right) he could see them all right fake details were entered. Once he had these he was away but phoned back next day and told me they were declined to which I replied of course scammer and he hung up. I rebuilt the machine but being from a IT background I was aware of what I was doing and the machine I used was a media server with nothing on it so it was just a case of a new image to be loaded. Stay well away from these people as this seems to be what they are after your card details and anything else they find on your machine form the now created remote hook.

Just had a call from this company claiming to be Microsoft. Said that their system was showing that our computer had sent them error reports.
Told them there had been no issues our end, to which I was told I wouldn't see them because the errors were in the computer.
Just took their number and said I'd call back.
The caller said she was call Angelina, I really don't think it was

Phonecall from a harassed asian who said he was from microsoft and our computer has dialled them 50 times today.  Computer was on so went upstairs to look at it but everything was working fine, had problems with the laptop and asked if it was that.  He said it didn't matter and go on to a certain site.

At that point I got abit mad and asked he exactly what the problem was? And where he was calling from?  Also why microsoft were calling and not virgin media?  He said they were calling on behalf of virgin and did I not realise how important this was?  Someone had hacked into my phone line, was using my connection and it would destroy computer if not sorted.  It was extremely important to do this now.

To which I replied that he could actually be a hacker who wanted to gain access to my computer so I took his number and hung up.  Spoke to police who give me this link and I am obviously not the first!

My elderly mother just had the same call, as outlined above.  No idea how they got her number & name but suspect from a ripped off Virgin customer file.  When they phoned, they showed her the Start>Run>eventvwr log file and said they could fix the problems.  Said they were an affiliate of Microsoft and they had alerted them that these errors were happening.  Asked her to pay £25 - she did through Alertpay - they then got her to download Teamviewer off their web page by clicking on the - "get instant support" icon.  They then dialed in to her computer and "fixed" the problems.  It looks to me as though they just cleared down the eventvwr log file.   They left Teamviewer on the PC, but set up in such a way that they could get remote control access to her PC AT ANY TIME. It was set up as a service to start when the computer boots up.

I have no idea what they have done to the PC and now running virus/spyware scans, etc.  Also cancelled credit cards and advised https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx.  Also contacted teamviewer, alertpay and microsoft that this company are abusing their name, software and services.  Can I suggest you do the same.  They may be able to catch them.

Hi
Had the same call today and knowing very little as to how a computer works did log on for the company but got very suspicious when asked for £185.00 by a man called James  Roderick (of Indian decent)!!! Refused to pay but worried they were able to get any of my details.

Yep - total scam,

There is also a lot of other people who've had it here:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en ... 58-0079764bb001

Hang up / ignore.

Looks like "The Nerd Support" thenerdsupport.com have re-branded themselves as "Compstep" compstep.com.  Sites near identical, but use same number.  Scam

Got a phone call from a man claiming to be affiliated with microsoft claiming to be called Michael Lumb.  He seemed very guinuine and told me I had errors on my computer and he could help me fix them I just needed to give him my IP address.  When I did this errors started coming up on my computer and the whole computer closed down.  I couldn't get it switched on again and although I hadn't given any credit card details I cancelled all my cards incase they were able to get details off the computer.

got a call from these jerks who took 185.00 out of my account. if anybody has any information they can share so i can catch these thiefs email me at ficambell@live.co.uk plz

got a call from these jerks who took 185.00 out of my account. if anybody has any information they can share so i can catch these thiefs

got a call from DAVID MOSES these jerks who took 185.00 out of my account. if anybody has any information they can share so i can catch these thiefs

I've have a customer asking about this as well, they again pretended to be some company put onto the customer by BT stating some form of security problem with the users PC.  Unsure of the name they went under, but they did talk the customer through things to basically drop all security off and told him to go to www.thesupportonline.com and again to download the remote desktop software to which they then started to access his computer (before even asking for consent, which is ILLEGAL : invation of privacy), they were trying to change things etc. but weren't very successful and tried to then suggest installation of alternative security etc. for a £80 fee, my customer luckily declined to which the company put the phone down on him...he did 1471 to get the number, and when calling it back got a dead tone.  I had to go round to his location to then put everything right and to ensure they will never gain access to his PC again.

I have today reported the website via Mozilla Firefox's HELP > Report Web Forgery...I suggest everyone else do the same for whichever websites they claim to be (assuming it's the corrent number that called etc. and get them blacklisted.

To the people who want their money back - go to your bank and dispute the charge, it was taken under fraudulent conditions and I am fairly sure that if a chargeback is filed the company won't challenge the dispute.  It's possible you might need to file a report with the police which could be a sticking point, in that they might refuse to take a report with one of the usual reasons ("civil matter sir" (incorrect), "we don't deal with amounts under £10,000, etc).

I am not a computer expert - but even i twigged that what they were showing me in my computer was not a " virus " so argued with them ..with  " David "  and then when they asked for 185.00,
realised it was a scam so switched off the wireless connection ..

how do we stop these people ?

what information / damage have they done ?

They have a company in the US by the looks of things, Futuristic Internet Services Inc, registered in Delaware. Could be a way to reach them. Also a virtual office in London with a UK company registered there - COMPSTEP LTD.

Might be a way to try and track down more information about them at least.

Really, if anyone is getting such type of calls then he should go to the police and should take a serious action against the caller company but always be aware ,it could be any individual who uses the brand company name and they do it for the money only.

As Neo said that the caller company is the support online i.e  www.thesupportonline.com ,i can't believe it because i am using the support online services for a long time and it's not a scam company ,it's a big and very trustful company provides computer technical support services.It could be a mistake be Neo or any one is using the support online's brand name.

i am agree with Bob , i have also read such type of many scams against reputed companies ,peoples often do it because of jealousy , As if we talk about , the support online , it's a reputed computer support services company, i am very trustful to this company and using these services still now.

What are you talking about www.thesupportonline.com

It stinks of a scam website - the company doesnt really exist.  Look at the flash images of children.  What company would stick teamviewer.exe on every page which is NOT secure.

Do the people of the last two posts work from them?

Also if someone rings you saying that you have a virus on your computer just hang up! How on earth could they tell anyway,

Some details I found about the supportonline.com, not much help as it's a PO BOX. Certainly big scammers who have been ripping off a lot of people of late... Something needs to be done.

Registrant:
     
      Goyal, Sudeep
      
      ATTN THESUPPORTONLINE.COM
      care of Network Solutions
      PO Box 459
      Drums, PA 18222
      US
     
      Domain Name: THESUPPORTONLINE.COM
 
      Administrative Contact :     
      Goyal, Sudeep
      kj2n89z35hz@networksolutionsprivateregistration.com
      ATTN THESUPPORTONLINE.COM
      care of Network Solutions
      PO Box 459
      Drums, PA 18222
      US
      Phone: 570-708-8780
     
      Technical Contact :     
      Rediff.com India Limited
      nh77j4jr6rg@networksolutionsprivateregistration.com
      ATTN THESUPPORTONLINE.COM
      care of Network Solutions
      PO Box 459
      Drums, PA 18222
      US
      Phone: 570-708-8780

ComStep.com are hosted by Verio Inc, http://www.verio.com/ , I have contacted their customer support to check on ComStep in accordance with their abuse policy. Hopefully they'll check on them and take action.

A very handy site to know:

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp

It will tell you who registered a particular site, sometimes the information isn't available but it sometimes is.