Oh heck Growlybear Checkout El Loro's thread....... and I think he is the best person to help you... I hope you can get it sorted

Dunno Growly, sounds like they just wanted the CC details, but get her to change her passwords to be on the safe side anyway

Dunno but if she logs in three times incorrectly it'll block the log in...she can then phone, do the security questions and change the log in....or just ring the help number that is on the log in screen and get them to change it

Personally I would ring the bank & ask them..they probably have been asked it hundreds of time & maybe have actions to take already in place ...

 

If your mother has downloaded the software from the scammers tell her to switch the computer off and unplug the router. Get the computer checked out by a computer engineer to see if the software downloaded has loaded viruses on to her computer.

 

Until the engineer has sorted this out, although your mother may still be able use the computer but she must not be connected to the internet at all. If she finds that the computer is acting at all strangely such as apparently missing files or running very slowly then don't attempt to use the computer.

 

I don't know that her computer will have become infected with viruses as a result of the download but she must get this checked out.

 

Although she will need to change the bank passwords she should not attempt to do this until the computer is checked out as it is possible that the criminals will then be able to track what she has typed and therefore be able to access her accounts.

thanks everyone. She's called her bank, and they've blocked access to her internet banking until they've sent her new log in details.  She says that she hasn't ever used her debit card on line so that shouldn't need to be cancelled.  I've told her not to connect to the internet again until I can get round at the weekend to uninstall whatever the company have downloaded in the hour they had her on the phone. 

 

My main worry now is whether the company are likely to have downloaded some well hidden files that I won't find easily and which will log any data she enters in future?  I'm wondering if I shoudl just do a complete restore of her PC?    I can't believe that she fell for this! 

Thank you El Loro - our posts crossed!  You have answered my questions!  Presumably anything that has been downloaded will be well hidden away and I'm not likley to be able to find it?

Growly, that's why she needs to get a computer engineer to check out the computer because they should have the experience and knowledge as to how to search out for hidden file and the like. It's is quite possible that the Registry has been infiltrated and only an expert should start trying to sort that out. The Registry controls all the configuration settings for most programs on the computer and should never be tampered with other than by experts.

Thanks very much El Loro.  I'll give the engineer I use a ring and ask him to look at it. 

Growly, thank goodness your mother had the sense to ring you and that you had the sense to realise there was a problem. It is possible that as the download was interrupted that no harm has been done but it is money well spent on ensuring that the computer is checked out.

I gotta call from someone saying they offered software remedies

I sed i had no lappy issues

Caller sed - and i quote,

"You have problems you are not are of"

I hung up

She called back - and i quote,

"You hung up!!!"

I told her i did not want her service - and hung up again

 

I did not say f\"* you, ya f**/| shitbag wh*# of a co&* buggering sh***

LOL

 

 . . . and relax

YEs, you're right.  She rang me straight away, but it took me a while to convince her to unplug her router and PC because the nice man had told her that she mustn't touch it   Thankfully her credit card company and bank were helpful.  I rang the company back on the number they had given her; they cut me off twice, but it gave me great satisfaction ranting at them for several minute.  They did sound a little worried when I told them that I was recording the conversation and would be forwarding it with a formal complaint to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau   I don;t know how people can sleep at night when they know they are stealing money off an 84 year woman.   

GROWLY - be our guest to swear

 

 

I've already done that - a LOT

bar stewards