Security scare - beware!

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

Went to Kroger today, when I checked out the cashier gave me a website to get an additional 50 fuel points. Went on website (I always double check I am on the website I am trying to get to) and up comes a page and I hear "Your computer has been infected, all of your banking information and credit card information has been taken. Please call blah blah blah" I immediately turned off my computer - thought to myself "I have Norton software through computer how can this be?". Waited awhile, turned computer back on and everything was okay - OMG! I thought I was going to have to get a new computer for trying to get 50 stupid fuel points with Kroger! Tomorrow I'm calling the manager and telling him what happened. I ran a Norton scan on my computer to make sure everything was okay. Should I be worried, or do you think it was just a prank site?

SusieQ_2 · ‎03-27-2012

I'm far from being tech-wise but I suspect it was a scam. I also suspect there was a place they wanted you to click to have the problem resolved. The kind of thing where if you had clicked, you'd be having huge problems now. The sad thing is, many people panick, and click before they realize what's happening.

You did the right thing, imo, but to be safe I wouldn't be going back to the website in question. It was good you called the store too, but I doubt it was the website that was to blame. Glad you're still here to tell the story!

eta- I noticed now you said there was a number they wanted you to call (so glad you didn't). I had a similar situation on my phone and there was a button to click--which luckily I did not. I should have read more closely, I hope my post wasn't confusing!

dex · ‎03-09-2010

@hoosieroriginal I think the danger would have been if you made that call.They would ask for money to clean the virus.

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

I think if you google this, it shows that this is a scam.

I know many times when I'm on my cell phone playing a game, I will get something on the very bottom of my screen blinking about my phone being infected or running out of memory and I'm supposed to click a link to get everything cleared up.

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

@SusieQ_2 wrote:
I'm far from being tech-wise but I suspect it was a scam. I also suspect there was a place they wanted you to click to have the problem resolved. The kind of thing where if you had clicked, you'd be having huge problems now. The sad thing is, many people panick, and click before they realize what's happening.

You did the right thing, imo, but to be safe I wouldn't be going back to the website in question. It was good you called the store too, but I doubt it was the website that was to blame. Glad you're still here to tell the story!
@SusieQ_2- Pretty sure if I had panicked and called the phone number they wanted me to, they would have gotten information that would have put me at risk - I have always heard if this happens, immediately turn your machine off, which I did. whew!

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

NCIS had a show last night about this -- it's called ransomware.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

happycat · ‎09-18-2010

Well, I don't know, but I have Norton too, and it is up to date. And last week, as soon as I turned my computer on, a porn site came up, then I got a message that sounds like yours and to call some number. I shut my computer off too and haven't had anymore incedents.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Sounds like you did all the right things - turn the computer off ASAP. When back in, do every scan imaginable to make sure there are no viruses or malware.

I can't even imagine how scary that would be. I try to keep my computers as safe as I know how. That is why I wonder why something like that can get through to some computers. is it a lack of anti-malware? It's concerning.

Anyway, hope all is ok.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

The few times I've made the mistake of clicking on something not good Norton has always blocked it.

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

@chickenbutt wrote:
Sounds like you did all the right things - turn the computer off ASAP. When back in, do every scan imaginable to make sure there are no viruses or malware.

I can't even imagine how scary that would be. I try to keep my computers as safe as I know how. That is why I wonder why something like that can get through to some computers. is it a lack of anti-malware? It's concerning.

Anyway, hope all is ok.

@chickenbutt - exactly - how can that happen when you have a Norton system on your computer? It was really scary! It's my only form of entertainment since I don't have cable TV anymore!