01223968402

Received a rather suspicious call today. It began with a chap named Bob Williams on the other end, with an accent that really reminded me of someone Asian. He claimed that my computer was bombarding them with error messages and that he was ringing me up to assist with fixes. Naturally, I couldn’t resist asking how he had my number, to which he casually responded that they can decipher it from my IP address. He went on to assert that they operated from a Microsoft-approved help centre over in California, and apparently, I was already a customer of theirs from the Worldwideweb. He recited my card details back to me, claiming they had that information on file. From here on, it went downhill; he wanted to charge me $159.95 for a lifetime service, which I outright refused. When I declined, he audaciously threatened that he would deduct the fee of $159.95 directly from my card since he already had the information. In a panic, I promptly called my bank to cancel my debit card-it was utterly absurd. Feeling quite unprepared for this turn of events, he turned quite rude and somehow disabled my internet settings. Since that day, I’ve struggled to connect online. I've taken the matter up with Trading Standards; they're currently looking into it. Additionally, I contacted my local police about the company, which operates under the name www.click4protect.com, and their number is 01223968402. To further complicate matters, I have a family member who's a solicitor, and they are prepared to delve into this issue more thoroughly. I went a step further than others by letting them direct me to install software called TeamViewer on my computer, which permitted them to access it at will. They proceeded to run msconfig and eventvwr from the 'start' menu, displaying numerous error messages and inactive Windows services. Claiming that my system was sluggish due to undetectable viruses-Trojans, they called them-he warned that my computer could crash at any moment. He inquired about my McAfee software, asking if I had an active payment plan for it. Subsequently, he handed me over to a supervisor named Kevin Smith, who seemed more knowledgeable but not exactly trustworthy. He even gave me a 'direct line' at 01223968402, saying they needed to remotely install three programs to rectify my issues. They claimed they would install: 1. Advanced System Protector 2. Advanced System Optimiser 3. Advanced System Email Backup All supposedly offered for a lifetime at the princely sum of $300.00 without charge. The promised services included managing my Outlook, updating my Windows licence keys, enhancing all files and folders, refreshing Internet Explorer, updating Microsoft Office, and offering lifetime unlimited technical support. The impressive-sounding support was available 24/7, with Kevin Smith's direct line still being 01223968402-all for just $159.95 for lifetime access. Here’s what I’ve concluded: - It’s crystal clear there’s no legit operation moored in California, and I suspect their names are merely aliases. After doing a spot of research, I found their headquarters based in the UAE: Head Office 14747 N Northsight Blvd Suite 111, PMB 309, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, USA. All personnel I spoke with communicated in English but with a noticeable accent, even slipping into their native language while software was downloading. - At best, they might be a company masquerading as sellers or resellers of PC security software, with zero affiliation to Microsoft. - More likely, they’re eagerly after your £159.95, promising nothing in return. - Worst-case scenario? They could be aiming to pilfer your card details or whatever else they find on your account, and even install malicious software that jeopardises your identity or online banking security. I must admit, I wasn't particularly anxious about them accessing my computer, as it’s merely a notebook used for casual browsing, devoid of any sensitive information. Hopefully, my experience proves valuable to you all, saving both time and money. Best wishes, Jerry George

Just had a rather dodgy call from someone with an Indian accent who claimed to be from Click4protect. Naturally, I did some digging on the company, and while they seem to be a legitimate outfit, I suspect this chap was just piggybacking on their reputation. He started off with the classic line about a virus infecting my device, insisting that he could help me sort it out-clearly underestimating my intelligence! When I pressed him for a contact number, he gave me 01223968402. Then, when I asked for his name, he audaciously said it was John! Yeah, right! I called that number back and, lo and behold, it was indeed 'John' from Click4protect who answered. He refused to accept that I’m armed with one of the top-rated antivirus solutions available, insisting that this phantom virus could sneak past it all. I've shot an email to the actual company just to cover my bases. Who knows; there could be some truth to it after all. I plan to dig a bit deeper into this and will keep you updated on any findings.

Got a call claiming to be from Microsoft, but it felt dodgy to me. Definitely had a whiff of a scam about it.