Update 27/07/09: QLD Police had put out a press release sometime in April.

Whatever you do, do not give out any details to anyone that rings you out of the blue and says they can fix your computer. Especially if they want you to go to the site soc321.com.

They will ask you to view your computer’s event viewer log and count the number of ‘errors’ and ‘warnings’ logged. This list will naturally be big… there is nothing unusual in that. It is not proof of problems with your PC.

They may also ask you to sign up for 2 years service and take your credit card details. This is a con to get personal details.

They will ask you to give them access to your computer, so they can ‘fix it’. Fix it they do, but in their own way. They fix it by installing a trojan, worm or other computer nasty that will collect bank details or make it so they can take over your PC anytime for their own nefarious deeds…

This is a form of social engineering. Just because they have ‘proof’ of their legitamacy (they might give you a number to call where the operator will ‘confirm’ their authenticy) they are not what they seem.

If you get a call from them, string em along. Take the mickey out of them. Waste their time. Hang up by all means. Just don’t give them anything!!

Please see the following articles for further information:-

The Age, Ask Chris- New scam targeting Australian Internet users

Whirlpool-phishing over the phone?

Digital Host-Fake tech support call scam – supportonclick, systemrecure and logmein123.com

ctaspley.wordpress.com- Support On Click (aka reading the fine print)