Microsoft Scam

Just to update this post, I am pleased to say that due to the volume of complaints received by my mother's bank, they accepted the payment was taken fraudulently and in their words "clawed her money back"
I am so relieved that they didn't get away with it, though am sure they did in many thousands of cases!


Today I was at a softplay date with @mediocre_mum when my mum phoned.  She said she'd just been called by "microsoft" saying that she had viruses on her computer and they could help clean them up.  She was suspicious and said no thank you and immediately rang me.  I confirmed she had done the right thing, it sounded suspicious and I would ask twitter.  Which of course I did, and lots of my lovely friends on there agreed it was definitely dodgy and not to be trusted.  
I rang her back and she said its OK she's on the phone to them now!  Chrissie immediately looked suspicious, like you could get hold of Microsoft that easily - at minimum email enquiry first?  When mum called back she explained she'd rang AOL to see how these people called her, they told her to phone Microsoft direct, she googled and hit the first number she sees, genius, she is now calling the spammers back!!!!!!!   
£200 later she rings me saying she has given "Microsoft" control of her computer, it was an Indian Call Centre - double head desk from Chrissie and I - and they are cleaning it up for her!  So she has paid, not by Paypal or Credit Card it transpires, but from her debit card.   The card she used has since said they cannot refund as it wasn't a fraudulent payment since she gave number!  Yet more genius! Credit to Chrissie her concern was not to panic my mum any further, but we are at a loss what to do without our laptops to hand!
I could go on, yes I know I already have, but thanks to phonecalls, emails, texts and tweets, all kicked off due to twitter, I felt more in control!   Doubt she'll see the money back, but hoping thats the end of any scamming!  She is now in the hands of her security provider who, last I heard, confirmed this company had done nothing except take her security off her system!


For now just want to say huge thanks to my twitter mates, you all know who you are, and offer a couple of links to confirm that this is a huge viral scam and please tell everyone you know about it.  


Advice from Microsoft on the matter
Similar story with audio of them confronting!

They appear to be preying on the older people, my mum is 68, my FIL has had 3 calls and he is approaching 90!


Do we need to resurrect the old Grange Hill "Just say No" - on a tangent with that but its been a long day!


Thanks for listening and tell everyone you know!
Annie x