NEED HELP-I got scammed!

S

seaecho

New Member
This is very embarrassing, but I fell for a scam and now am terrified of what is happening. I am retired and not very computer savvy.

I'll try to make this as uncomplicated as possible. I was talking to a guy from HP a few days prior to the incident on the phone, and arranging to have my files backed up by HP, and am paying a monthly fee for that service. They had one of their companies from India take care of it. I realize they "farm" out, but these people scammed me!

A few days later someone called on my cell phone, saying he was from Microsoft, and errors had been sent to the office by my computer. It was in danger of crashing, and losing all data, and also needed a tune-up. I just assumed this call was associated with the conversation I'd had with HP only days before. This company is called Tech Beetles, and also goes by Mayur Technosoft. Stupidly, I gave him remote access to my PC.

After showing me all the "errors" on my machine, he said that he needed to install Microsoft Security Essentials to protect it. I told him I already had it. He said he'd need to charge me. I told him I had the understanding that its free. He said no, that I'd only had a trial period, and that he would give me a lifetime of security for $199. I told him I could not afford that, and would research it and call him back.

That was when he threatened me, saying it was my choice, but that he could block my computer right then and there. This scared me to death, of course. I felt I had no choice, so gave him my credit card number. After a couple of hours, he told me my computer was good to go.

I called my credit card company the next day and told them what had happened. They were very helpful, and I received a notice from Mayur Technosoft a few days later saying they had credited my credit card. The credit card company confirmed it. They felt I should not have to pay, as the guy gave me no choice but to use the card.

Well, of course that wasn't the end of it. Two months later, (a few days ago)as I was surfing, a notice comes up on my computer, out of the blue, in the form of a receipt and it says Mayur Technosoft charged me $399.99 for one hour of remote help! At no time had I been told I'd be charged when I'd talked to the guy, of course.

I freaked out and I checked my credit card statement that I'd just gotten the day before, and there it was-$399.99. And guess what? This was a DIFFERENT credit card number! So obviously they had gotten the number off my computer when they had control of it. This is what is really freaking me out.

So I contacted this second credit card issuer to tell them what happened. They are apparently not as understanding. They said that since I'd willingly let this guy gain access to my computer, that things didn't look good concerning me getting a reimbursement.

HP had referred me to these people, so how in the world was I to know they were scammers? I can't trust HP if my computer needs repairs? Really?

So...obviously I've canceled both credit cards and am being issued new ones. My question is, is there any way these people can get the NEW credit card numbers off my computer? I need a credit card for Paypal, of course. But I'm scared to death to enter any credit number into my PC now. Thanks so much for ANY help!
 
Well the people who alleged you claiming to be from Microsoft were not legitimate to begin with. At no point in time will Microsoft ever call to say there are errors on your computer. He was just phishing for a dummy and he caught one.

The best thing for you to do is file credit card fraud and cancel those cards. And in future don't let anybody remote into your computer unless you know them. And also don't give your credit card number out over the phone.

Also be sure to uninstall any software they told you to install (such as Teamviewer).
 
I would surely do a military wipe, low format and new install. Any changes on the router?
Might want to reset that also.
 
Fraud has been filed and credit cards canceled. Like I said, I'm not computer savvy. What is a military wipe and low format? If I don't do these things, can someone still get my new credit card numbers off my PC? I have satellite--don't know how to check for changes on router.
 
I dont really get your story. First you say you were wanting to back up your computer by HP, which you have a service.

A few days later you get a call saying it was Microsoft. They wanted to install Microsoft Security Essentials for 199 bucks, but it free. Then some how the company changed from Microsoft to Tech Beetles or Mayur Technosoft. Which is it?

Then you say they threatened you, so you gave them your credit card number. You ever heard of hanging the phone up? Your retired and at that age you dont know any better then give someone your credit card number over the phone that you dont know and are threatening you. If so I dont even know wat to say.

Then you say HP had referred me to these people. How do you know that? At first you said the call was a few days later after talking to HP and you just assumed it was because of the call to HP.
 
if it did happen. They don't need to install the software mentioned. they have there own.
calling the credit card company was good. Calling the police is good for record keeping.
Calling and and talking to your Internet provider may also be advised. Im sure they have seen this before. i have with att but nothing like this. the low level format and wipe was related to putting the drive to factory defaults and buying at a store. Blank and empty. You might have a recovery partition or installation disc. New install and start over. Be careful where ya go. Use a virtual keyboard also for bills. Use a virus program. Gotta mess there. For the record, i have a dedicated computer just for bills. Don't check email, visit the Internet except to pay bills only. Strictly business. thats it.
 
I just assumed this call was associated with the conversation I'd had with HP only days before.
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Fortunate timing for the scammer, unfortunate for you. I'm sure that the call with HP had nothing to do with the call from the scammer. Incorrect assumptions can really bite you hard as you learned.

I've received several calls from these scammers (and I've never called HP for help). They call out of the blue and say they are from MS and have detected viruses on my machine. I tell them to F*** off in a very ungentlemanly manner and hang up.
 
HP did refer me to Tech Beetles, and the person who called said he was from Microsoft, Tech Beetles. The "receipt" that came up on my computer also said Tech Beetles and Mayur Technosoft. So I assumed it had to do with the issues I had with my PC, and had contacted HP about, and also setting up to have my files backed up.

I feel terrible enough about this to begin with, and am facing losing that $400. I don't think its necessary to rub it in even more. I didn't hang up the phone because the guy said he would block my computer--that it would be nonoperational.

So do I dare put new credit card information on Paypal, or would I have to start all over, going back to factory defaults? I cannot afford to have someone do this for me and I'm not savvy enough to do it myself. What I'm asking is, is there any way they can get the information for ANOTHER credit card, even though they no longer have remove access?
 
Did they use teamviewer to access your system? Most do. The only people that know your system may be having issues is you and your internet provider. I know some internet providers will email you if they detect bot activity on your account. All it takes really is a good head on your shoulders to understand how these people work. Don't ever let anyone access your system unless you know them. I would ran a scan with Malwarebytes and your antivirus program to make sure they didn't transfer any files over, doubt they did though.
 
No I don't remember the name Teamviewer at all.

I know now to never let anyone access my computer. I did a full scan with my security system, and it came up negative. Thanks, I'll scan it with Malwarebytes too. I thought I heard somewhere that Malwarebytes and Windows Defender can clash? I think that's why I stopped using it.

Voyager, I do realize that if I hadn't let them in, none of this would have happened. But I can't change the past--I can only try to go forward. I guess I'll take the chance and enter new credit card info and just hope that there is no way they can get to it.
 
seaecho said:
And guess what? This was a DIFFERENT credit card number! So obviously they had gotten the number off my computer when they had control of it. This is what is really freaking me out.
Click to expand...

Please read this^ again.
How do you think they got the number of your OTHER credit card which you never gave them?

Here is the answer:

THEY PUT SOME SORT OF KEYBOARD KEY LOGGING RECORDING SOFTWARE which was INVISIBLE during the installation AND is ALSO INVISIBLE during it's usage!So that software is running on your computer RIGHT NOW ALL THE TIME and no antivirus programs can detect it if it was well made.

I know this because I am also making one software like that called UAC keyboard spy 1.0 already for a year and it is NOT detected by ANY antivirus programs since I did my best to make it invisible as much as possible.Hell it's not even shown in the PROCESSES tab of the task manager and it's files are hidden.Hell it even takes screenshots of the ENTIRE SCREEN MONITOR on EVERY SINGLE MOUSE click and saves them as image files JPG.Hell it even has an option to send recorded typed text on ANY E-mail address every 30 minutes.Yes...it's that good.It took me a good amount of time to make that.

So they probably did the similar to you.That is how they found your OTHER credit card number.So EVERYTHING you do on your computer is recorded and sent to them.It doesn't matter if you have remote access program installed (such as TeamViewer) or not!They only needed remote access ONE time to put that software on your computer and that's it!

So scanning your PC with THE BEST antivirus software MIGHT and MIGHT NOT help.Because you can NEVER be sure if that spying program was removed or not.

So to be 100% sure that what you do on your computer is NOT being spyed by someone,you MUST...I repeat...YOU MUST COMPLETELY ERASE YOUR ENTIRE HARD DISK DRIVE WITH PROGRAMS LIKE KILL DISK OR DBAN AND THEN INSTALL OPERATING SYSTEM AGAIN USING THE ORIGINAL DISK ONLY AND NOT THE ONE FROM TORRENTS SINCE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PIRATED WINDOWS MIGHT CONTAIN...LIKE THIS KEYBOARD KEY LOGGING RECORDING SOFTWARE!AFTER THAT INSTALL THE DRIVERS IF NECCESSARY!

This might seem drastic,but TRUST ME it's the ONLY WAY TO BE 100% SURE THAT NOBODY IS SPYING YOUR COMPUTER ANYMORE.

AFTER THAT YOU CAN ALSO COMPLETELY RESET YOUR ROUTER OR EVEN GET A NEW ONE (REPLACEMENT)!Even though this might not be neccessary.

If you do not do what I told you,then do not freak out if you see that some of your money has been stolen AGAIN because it will be YOUR fault!

So do what I told you BEFORE TYPING YOUR NEW CREDIT CARD NUMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you do not know how to do this then learn or pay someone to do it for you.But it MUST be exactly what I said and not just some virus system scan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Believe me.Just do what I said:

-completely erase the ENTIRE hard disk drive with KILL DISK
-install Windows from original CD/DVD-ROM disk
-install drivers if neccessary
-completely reset the router or even get a new one (if you want)

NOTE:

NEVER EVER BELIEVE TO ANYONE...ABSOULTELY ANYONE WHO JUST CALLS YOU ON THE PHONE AND SAYS THAT HE/SHE/THEY MUST FIX ERRORS ON YOUR PC NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MOSTLY THEY SAY THEY ARE FROM MICROSOFT OR SOME OTHER GOOD BIG COMPANIES BUT THAT'S A LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG COMPANIES LIKE MICROSOFT OR OTHERS WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER CALL SOME RANDOM PERSON (you in this case) TO SAY THAT YOUR PC HAS ERRORS AND THAT IT MUST BE FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEY SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT PEOPLE FALL ON THESE KIND OF TRICKS ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO I REPEAT:
NEVER EVER TRUST PEOPLE WHO CALL YOU ON THE PHONE AND SAY THAT THEY MUST FIX SOME ERRORS ON YOUR PC AND THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DO THAT YOU MUST GIVE THEM FULL ACCESS TO YOUR PC!!!
BECAUSE THEY ARE LYING!!!

WHY ARE THEY LYING?

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TAKE MONEY FROM YOU!!!



Cheers!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
S.T.A.R.S. said:
YOU MUST COMPLETELY ERASE YOUR ENTIRE HARD DISK DRIVE WITH PROGRAMS LIKE KILL DISK OR DBAN AND THEN INSTALL OPERATING SYSTEM AGAIN USING THE ORIGINAL DISK
Click to expand...

This is all that was worth reading in the entire post. Which is still questionable. Somebody please clean the post up.
 
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