IMO… DELL COMPUTER owner database has been hacked
I got a phone call tonight from someone representing themselves as with Dell computers and telling me that my Dell laptop computer was sending out “errors” and they could help me fix it..
I can normally outsmart these people .. I ask for the MAC address of the computer that they claim they are claiming that there is a problem with.. that normally gets them to hangup on me and go away…
Since this particular call stated that it was a DELL LAPTOP that was the problem.. I asked for the Service Tag number… which is on the underside of Dell’s laptop computers… I checked my laptop and the service tag number of my laptop did not match…
So I walked downstairs and looked at Barb’s and asked the woman to repeat the Service Tag number.. and the number she rattled off… MATCHED BARB’S LAPTOP… In reality, with her computer … anything is possible … upgrades not done or just about any other issue is possible.
I have owned various Dell computers for some 20+ yrs and have never had them call me about computer issues.. giving me the correct Service Tag… both spooked and confused me… I told the woman calling that she had caught me in the middle of eating dinner and that I could call her back… She said that the 800 number listed on my cell phone would not receive calls… when is the last time you heard about a “800 number” that was not for inbound calls ???
Got off the call and called Dell… apparently this is a on going SCAM that Dell is aware of… apparently they ask for your credit card and promise to “FIX” what is wrong with your computer for a promised “modest charge” and then your credit card number gets stuffed with charges..
What I was told by Dell was to call the FTC 877-382-4357 and file a complaint.. which I did.
IMO, the only way that they had both my cell number and the Service Tag off of Barb’s laptop and knew the model number of the laptop is for them to hack Dell’s customer’s database… Since my name and cell number is not in Barb’s computer.
Filed under: General Problems
Wow Steve and Kandiapple. Thanks for sharing and alerting us. On the conversation eavesdropping aspect. In addition to maybe playing pharmacist a few days a month, I manage my mother’s rental property. There is nothing about my property management on any social site, but I’e gotten Facebook ads for professional property management sites. Listening to my phone calls seems to be to be the most logical way to me that I was targeted with these ads.
C-Net news may know something too. Shut her computer down until you can update and check virus, etc (darn, sorry, you know all that stuff).
I’m all on Apple products, but it happened to me once and it completely disabled my my computer, even after shutting down and powering back on (I don’t use restart unless it’s a software update). All I could get was a black screen with a tiny square with the “fear notice” and a number to call.
Well, Steve, I hope it all works okay! Personally I would rent or borrow a computer for a few weeks just for communication purposes, or until you are satisfied that the problem is solved.
INVASION OF THE CONVERSATION SNATCHERS:
I got weirded-out the other day too. I was talking with my daughter on the phone about using her local “sell-it-fast” type app/site when I go back up to MN (to get some things in my storage unit sold). If we’d had that conversation over FB messenger or any other type of messenger, social medium, etc, depending on our settings, we’d see ads pop up related to the conversation all over the place. Same with shopping right? That’s a common-knowledge advertising method these days — to collect information on your viewing habits and go after you with ads. When you go to settings and change it, it doesn’t last long. Soon you’re in advertising grab-space once again.
Well, I was on FB the next day and an ad popped up for a “sell-it” type site to join that is in Ft. Myers (I’m in Naples, so that’s close). I was puzzled! Was it a co-ink-y-dink or is someone hearing our phone conversations that is in the ad/Internet business? There was no texting, just a short phone conversation between two IPhones. ??????? I felt really weird when I saw that ad. Now it’s all over my pages, of course.
I actually want to use it (lol).