Scam or Not?

[1955]

Today I received a phone call from Co-Mantra. A guy with a strong Indian accent claimed Microsoft was running slowly on my PC. Gave him my email address and card details - he remotely worked on my PC. He claimed £275 for a 5 year warranty (£55 per year). All sounded very genuine. Have I been scammed and if so what can I do about it?

[Marvel]

Had the very same phone call myself today, told him to fluff off, i said to my brother as if any fool would fall for that scam, sorry 1955.

[ummmm]

It was stating a fact....!!!

I cannot believe that with all the info we have at our fingers that someone is sooooo stupid. Sorry...but what a pleb.

[northernmonkey]

whats your number am abit skint as it happens

[ChuckFickens]

As you have given remote access to your computer (how BTW? did they get you to install something?) the only 100% safe option you have now is to get the hard drive wiped and reinstall everything.

I wouldn't even trust your antivirus software now you have let somebody else make unknown changes to your system..

[Barmaid]

lol ummmm, I must admit I did think about saying "cancel your card and then repeat as many times as necessary until it goes in "I must not give out my credit card details to a complete stranger who phones me out of the blue"."

[ummmm]

I'll better that...

Do not answer the phone to a number you do not know out of the blue....

[1955]

I am not gullible - as I have said it sounded completely genuine and I take offence at your remarks ummmmmmmmmm - you don't know me

[alavahalf]

I also had a call this afternoon from a very nice chap from Microsoft...he too had an Indian accent...he told me I had a problem with my computer, and that I was sending out spam at this very moment...he said he will fix it...''make sure you have your credit card details ready'' he said.

I asked him to give me a minute while I get my card......''ready''.......
''Please sir can you give me the long number on the front of the card''..he said

I then spelt K..I..S..S...M..Y..A..R..$..E.... ''I dont think you are understanding me''
he said...
Maybe he did'nt...but I understood what he was after.

Definite scam...phone the card company and try to cancel the payment..!

[craft1948]

yes the Indian chap I spoke to last year said they were contracted to Microsoft....

[1955]

I think possibly Co-Mantra is a genuine company but that scammers would ring up pretending to be them?

[sara3]

1955, have you contacted your credit card company? there should be someone available to talk to.

[ChuckFickens]

Errr, I would beg to differ about you being gullible, you've just fallen for a very obvious scam.

But nothing can be done to change that now so you have to deal with the consequences.

Cancel the card and stop the payment, do not use that computer to login to anything important (online banking etc) until you are 100% sure that the computer is clean, which as I said before will require a full wipe and re-install now IMHO.

[Barmaid]

Sara has a point - if you phone the CC company and mention the word "fraud" you will find you get put through to a specialist department who can probably help.

Yes they probably are a genuine company, but that is how scammers give kudos to their ruses.

[1955]

I rang them about 40 mins ago (It's a 24 hr service) and she said no money had been taken off as yet - didn't know what to do as I use my card a lot and it's a pain being without a card for 7 days or whatever

[1955]

I am definitely NOT gullible!!

[ummmm]

I am not gullible - as I have said it sounded completely genuine and I take offence at your remarks ummmmmmmmmm - you don't know me


Oh yes you are...

No...I do not know you but I do know that you're a very silly gullible person.

[ummmm]

What's your pin number and password?

[1955]

No - I am not!!

[jno]

a useful step is always to have a spare credit card for occasions like this.

CoMantra does seem to exist (and the fact that they hadn't already taken your money and fled to Brazil does seem to suggest theyr'e legit, sort of). So you haven't exactly been scammed, but you've been sold something you don't want at a price that is no doubt a bit on the high side. Can the card people just block this one purchase?

[ChuckFickens]

I think you are getting your priorities a little wrong if you're worried about people thinking your gullible but don't seem to care that you've given full access to your computer to a untrustworthy person.