[AusNOG] Windows Virus people [slightly OT]

[David Walker]

On 12/08/2011, James Williamson <lists at jimiw.net> wrote:
> You might want to try ACMA's list of allocated numbers -
> http://web.acma.gov.au/numb/openAccess/inquiry/viewAllocationSearch.do

The full database looks to be Australian only.
I don't know much about VOIP but if it's an overseas call that's the
end of that right?

On 12/08/2011, Andrew Yager <andrew at rwts.com.au> wrote:
> Just had an interesting call from Microsoft Windows Support telling me my
> computer had a virus.
>
> I told them that the Kernel was missing and it kept restarting.
>
> They have given me a phone number to call them back on - does anyone have a
> good way to find the carrier who holds that number to alert them to their
> customers "dubious" activity? It's quite obviously a VoIP service - sounds
> like an ILBC codec at one point (at least).

99% probability it's from India. 1% margin of error ...
Probability of getting the service yanked 0% right?

Unless it's an "obvious" scam nothing will happen ... if it's anything
like the web ...
Do it anyway ...

Looking forward to the day that Microsoft start being pro-active about
doing that for you on your behalf ...

You could report here:
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/reportascam
At some point this might reach critical mass and there's some
diplomatic communication (Julia drops in for a chat and "oh, by the
way") ...
... from here it certainly looks like the Indian government doesn't
have the same regulatory framework/interest as the Australian.

Not unexpected minor twist ...
http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/862103

They're (Telstra et al.) doing a dis-service to Australians by cold
calling us and asking us to verify ourselves by divulging personal
information - and further prompting us with our year of birth ...
When we ring them they get that stuff right ... apparently they can't
swap the ends around and see the incongruities. I know why they do it
but it doesn't make it sensible. It's easy for them.
Australians are being conditioned by Australian corporations to expect
to be cold-called and asked private details on the phone ... in my
experience we're also being Pavlovianized by the obvious disgust of
the corporations when we don't want to play ball.

Every time Telstra have one of their machines phone me asking for me
to key in my birthdate and whatnot I hang up and phone them back ...
... so I condition myself to have my bullshit meter on eleven ...
... and their CSRs laugh at me when I explain why ...
... well they actually get quite dismissive ...

If only we had some prior art from say the internet or something they
could study and think about.
Like moms and dads getting stung and the last ten years of
corporations saying they will never email us and do such and such ...
effectively nullifying any trust relationships in that sphere and
getting the susceptible to turn their bullshit meter on and to leave
it on ...

Perhaps they need to employ someone who's studied computer science or
military history or something ... or been on the internet at least
once ...

Further reading:
http://lists.ausnog.net/pipermail/ausnog/2011-July/010872.html

Best wishes.