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Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,177
Registered: ‎07-12-2011

@m0rgan I do the same thing. When I make a purchase on line I remove my credit card, it certainly doesn't hurt.


@m0rgan wrote:

I would also remove any credit cards that may be stored on her computer.  I always remove my credit cards after each and every purchase just to be sure.  It is a pain but a bigger one to have cancel credit cards and bank accounts.  I remove from QVC, Walmart, Target, Amazon and anywhere else I can.  Someone tried to use my credit card on Amazon and they caught it but it was still scary.  It means you have to have your credit card next to you when you purchase and then remove again when item is shipped.  Worth it to me!


 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,776
Registered: ‎03-30-2014

Can you set up double authentication for her?  Where they message a numeric code to enable login?  Handy for anything important-bank accounts, Amazon, CC, medical

 

Also make sure no one at all keeps her CC #.  Even here.

Frequent Contributor
Posts: 126
Registered: ‎05-04-2022

This has happened to me many times that a message pops up flashing from Microsoft that my computer has a virus call this number right away and pleae dont shut your computer down

beleive me all you have to do is just shut your computer down do a security check

 and you are back in business.there is no way they can get any personal information from you just as long you didnot call the number or let them log on 

to your computer.you donot have to change any passwords or any thing else,

had this happen for years and never had a problem with any of my personal info. taken from me.

 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,618
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@cheriere 

 

Since she called them, they now have her phone number. Tell her not to answer calls from any number she doesn't recognize. Also, open her Programs and Features screen. Click on where it says Installed On, so the most recent date is first. Check to make sure nothing questionable was recently installed.

 

programs features.jpg

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,785
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

OMG that happened to me last month.  I won't go into all the details, but I had to cancel all my CC and bank account #.  I went to the geek squad at Best buy and they scrubbed my computer, then to the bank, got new account number.  It took me 2 weeks to get everything back in order.

I usually don't fall for this stuff.

I was looking up a receipe and when the ingred. said continue, I did and my screen came up with xxx and to call microsoft.

I let the scammer into my computer, but called the bank on my phone and thats when he hung up.

Long story short, its a nightmare, but sounds like your mom hung up in time. just keep a watch on her accounts.

I'm proberly your moms age, in my late 80's. 

She is lucky she has you to help her, I had no one so it was a terrible day, but I got it all taken care of. 

He even got into my phone, but I don't have info on that like most people put everything on their phone.

Best buy was so good to me.  The charges to do what they did cost about 200.00.  The person was so nice and could see how rattled I was, she waived the charges.

She said, this happens alot, not just to the elderly, but to everyone. I'm lucky I didn't have a stroke, so much I had to take care of at the time.

Keep an eye on her accounts.

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,660
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@m0rgan wrote:

I would also remove any credit cards that may be stored on her computer.  I always remove my credit cards after each and every purchase just to be sure.  It is a pain but a bigger one to have cancel credit cards and bank accounts.  I remove from QVC, Walmart, Target, Amazon and anywhere else I can.  Someone tried to use my credit card on Amazon and they caught it but it was still scary.  It means you have to have your credit card next to you when you purchase and then remove again when item is shipped.  Worth it to me!


Thank you for saying this because I just went through this with my mom's accounts.  The only that she refused to allow me to remove was those in which auto payments were coming out of...she's afraid of having some services cancelled.  However, I think we should be able to call and have them set up again.  I even insisted she change the old aol email password she still uses.  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,660
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@Still Raining wrote:

Can you set up double authentication for her?  Where they message a numeric code to enable login?  Handy for anything important-bank accounts, Amazon, CC, medical

 

Also make sure no one at all keeps her CC #.  Even here.


Yes, when I went to change her banking password I made sure there was a double authentication set up.  She didn't like it much, lol, but I don't think she really understands how persistent these scammers can be. 

She has a notebook where all of her former passwords are stored I went through and changed too.  Boy were there some crazy ones.   Most I would've never been able to figure out had it needed too lol.  I let her I pick the new ones, which were still much harder than any I've ever chosen, and wrote them on the new pages.

 

For some strange reason though, her medical password was unable to be changed!  It kept saying she would have to contact the office and sign some sort of paperwork.  They're not in until Monday, so I pray that nobody will figure this out.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,660
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@forego wrote:

This has happened to me many times that a message pops up flashing from Microsoft that my computer has a virus call this number right away and pleae dont shut your computer down

beleive me all you have to do is just shut your computer down do a security check

 and you are back in business.there is no way they can get any personal information from you just as long you didnot call the number or let them log on 

to your computer.you donot have to change any passwords or any thing else,

had this happen for years and never had a problem with any of my personal info. taken from me.

 


I've never had this happen on my iPad.  But mom uses the HP and unfortunately did call the number unknowingly.  She didn't give them access to the computer...she says.

I just cauget the last part of the phone call where she told them she wasn't paying and hung up after I told her it was a scam.  I went ahead and changed most all of her passwords and removed her cards from the places she allowed me.  I'm going to call the places she didn't want the cards taken from because of auto payment and see what they say.

 

I pray everything goes well.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,837
Registered: ‎05-20-2023

@Estellee wrote:

@cheriere I am not certain but I think as long as your mom didn't give them access to her computer remotely which probably wouldn't happen unless she agreed to pay the ransom. If she has any payments stored on her computer I agree to change her passwords, it wouldn't hurt! If you would, let us know what happens, this is a learning experience.


@Estellee 

 

If they were able to shut her computer down, they HAD access.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,660
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@Caffeina wrote:

@cheriere 

 

Since she called them, they now have her phone number. Tell her not to answer calls from any number she doesn't recognize. Also, open her Programs and Features screen. Click on where it says Installed On, so the most recent date is first. Check to make sure nothing questionable was recently installed.

 

programs features.jpg


Thank you so much for letting me know about doing this.  I NEVER would've thought to check here.  Will do this immediately.  Thanks again.❤️