CLSID Windows Tech Support Scam

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Video Summary

Spread the word, and let’s all help stop this scam!

First, you have to know that CLSID 888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062 is not unique to your computer.

This video is a little bit different from my usual offerings. Rather than providing some training, I want to help you avoid being taken in by an ongoing scam.

Perhaps you are more aware and technically savvy than many computer users. If so, please share this article with those who need to know what’s going on. I hate to see people getting sucked into scams like these.

This particular scam, often called the CLSID Scam, or Windows Tech Support Scam, has been going on for years already.

The scammers are quite sophisticated and forceful, so their efforts must be profitable. They wouldn’t keep call centers going if they were losing money.

They call on the phone and try to sound helpful like they are doing you a favor. But they are not. They are trying to trap you so that you have to pay them to escape the trap.

No, I was not taken in by their scam, but the scammers became rather aggressive in their pursuit, which is why I decided to share the story.

The video describes each of the 6 different phone calls, each from different callers, all trying to play me with the same scam.

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Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Jeffrey Kirk.

This video is a little bit different. Rather than offering some training, I want to help you avoid being taken in by an ongoing scam.

This particular scam, often called the CLSID Scam, or Windows Tech Support Scam, has been going on for years already.

The scammers are quite sophisticated and forceful, so their efforts must be profitable. They wouldn’t keep call centers going if they were losing money.

Anyway, I want to share with you what happened to me.

Don’t worry, I was not taken in by the scam, but I did play with the callers to see what would happen. And I will share what I learned so that you can defend yourself against this scam, and perhaps have a little fun in the process.

The Windows Tech Support Scam Begins

First, let me start with a little background as to how this scam caught my attention.

Because of caller ID, I typically ignore callers on my home phone that I don’t recognize, especially since I am already on the no-call list.

But one day last week I got a series of calls about 10 minutes apart all from the same number.

I generally think that robocalls don’t call back when unanswered, so I was curious what type of nuisance caller would try over and over again.

So, getting annoyed that they kept trying, I answered.

Round 1

The caller identified himself with Windows.

“Hello, this is Windows Technical Support calling. Your computer has downloaded malicious software and I want to help you clean it up. Can you get to your computer?”

That sounded like a scam to me, so I said, “I don’t believe you. Goodbye.” And I hung up.

Now, if this were a typical robocall or telemarketer-type call, my number would be marked completed. At least for this round of calls, the interruptions should be done with my number automatically recycled.

The calls did stop, but only for a little while. Later that evening I noticed the same number calling again, but I did not answer.

But, this did cause me to take notice. And I decided that if the number did call again, I had a new goal. My goal was to see if I could get the caller to hang up on me.

Round 2

The next morning the phone rang with the same number. This time, I answered.

“Hello, this is Bob from Windows Technical Support.”

He gave me the same line that my computer had downloaded malicious software and that he, very kindly, would like to help me fix the problem.

I said to him, “How do you know?” “What?”, he said. “How do you know that my computer downloaded malicious software?”

This time he hung up! I win!

Round 3

10 minutes later the phone rang again from the same number. Seriously, it was only 10 minutes!

“Hello, this is Stan from Windows Technical Support.” The same line about malicious software.

Once again, I asked him “How do you know that my computer downloaded malicious software?”

Even though it was a different caller, this time he was prepared. Perhaps my call was escalated to a more experienced scammer.

He said, “Because your computer has a unique ID.” And then he told me some hexadecimal numbers. I thought he was referring to my network card MAC address.

So, I said, “Really, how do you know my computer’s ID number?” “What?”, he said.

I repeated, “How do you know that number belongs to my computer?”

He hung up on me! I won again!

Round 4 — The CLSID Scam Round

Yep, just 10 minutes later the phone rang again from the same number.

“Hello, this is Dave from Windows Technical Support.” Though a different caller, this conversation proceeded like the last one, but when I asked how he knew the number, he asked if I would be willing to take a minute so that he could prove that he knew my computer.

“OK, sure, prove it.”

He asked me to go to my computer and bring up a Command prompt window, explaining every step of how to do that. Then he wanted me to type in A‑S-S-O‑C.

Then he told me to look for the lengthy C‑L-S-I‑D number that showed up near the end. He said it’s a unique number that only my computer has.

Then he reminded me that my computer, with this unique ID, had downloaded malicious software, and because of that, unauthorized people were trying to get access to my computer.

I laughed. I told him that the only unauthorized person I knew trying to get access to my computer was him.

But I let him proceed to read the number to me. And while he was slowly, character by character, telling me the C‑L-S-I‑D number of my computer, I had already copied the number from the command window, popped open a browser window, and did a search for that number.

I figured if it’s truly unique, there would be no search results. Instead, I found many references to the ID number and how it’s used in a computer security scam that has been around for years.

So I said, “Hey, I just googled that number, and it’s not unique. So you lied to me about that. You probably also lied about who you are, and therefore I have no more reason to listen to this scam.”

He started on some line of excuses. I said, “Don’t ever call me again.” This time I hung up.

I learned some good information, but he outlasted me this time.

The phone did not ring again that day or the next. I thought I had finally gotten rid of them.

Round 5 – 2 days later

“Hello, this is Jack from Windows Technical Support.” Blah, blah, blah.

This time, knowing where the conversation would go, I took a different approach.

I told him it’s tough to get technical support from Microsoft even when I want it, so I do not believe he’s from Microsoft.

He asked who said anything about Microsoft. He got quite defensive. I must have touched a nerve!

I said, “Well that’s right. You’re not from Microsoft, are you? So how do you know anything at all about my computer?”

His voice trailed off saying “Mother Fu…”, okay I won’t repeat it. But he called me that as he hung up.

I have to admit that surprised me. I am certain I have never been called names by someone on the phone before, especially not this phrase.

Round 6 – only 2 minutes later

This call started the usual way.

And then I said, “How would you know there’s any connection between this phone number and my computer?”

He started talking. I interrupted, “You’re not calling from Microsoft, so how do you know that the owner of my computer can be reached at this phone number? There’s no connection between the two.”

He made some reference about my mother visiting Microsoft, to which I said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” The caller gave the same “Mother Fu…” response as he hung up.

Apparently They Had Enough

I saw the same number on the caller ID one more time the next day, but the timing was inconvenient for me, so I did not answer it.

Now it is several days later. Maybe they finally gave up on me.

It’s shocking they wasted their time beyond the first call. Clearly, they couldn’t get me to provide them the access to my computer that they desired. Maybe they were using me to train their new guys. 🙂

Regardless, it’s because they kept trying that I decided to record and share this story.

Oh yeah, just so you know, the scam is to get you to provide them remote access to your computer in an effort to remove the malicious software.

The reality is that when they get access, they cause some mischief which you have to pay them to clean up.

Don’t do it!!!

If anyone calls you claiming they know anything about your computer, just hang up!

Or, see if you can get them to hang up on you. Or, perhaps you want to go for the “MF badge of honor.”

Stay safe, and if you have something similar to share on this topic, I welcome your comments.

Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this post, please like or share it. That will help others get this information.

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Have a great day!

 

Photo credits: “No Scams” by Widjaya Ivan is licensed under CC BY 2.0