Watch out for “techaviators”
Unsolicited calls are being received by some web users from a company that call themselves techaviators, they have a number of websites with both .co.uk and .com tlds which you can look up yourself if you are interested.
The calls are made on the premise that your pc is generating some sort of error which has been picked up on the internet either by the IP carriers generally or your isp. They point you to your pc event log and point out these “errors”. if you have a pc and look in your event log you will always see errors in there and while not ideal , in general they are in no way indicative of serious problems or internet detectable issues.
They then get you to download remote access software and login to do their mischief on your pc. At best they point you to a number of bogus issues on your PC which they then charge you some sort of mtce contract to resolve/maintain. I have heard though that they can install some sort of malware with which they can effectively format your disk if you don’t pay up or co operate. This allegation is unverified by me.
The phone numbers they present are bogus ( the calls originate in Asia- most likely India) Also you will find they present themselves with very European names like “Claire Smith”, “Roger Jones” but have a very distinct Indian accent- the names are obviously bogus.
If they call- tell them you don’t have a pc or better still hang up.
On no account allow them to access your PC, install software or give them Credit Card details. If you have given over access or details I strongly urge you to change passwords on all sites you use (especially those with financial liabilities- online banking, PayPal, stockbrokers, gambling, or e- retailers that retain payment info like Amazon or Google). When changing passwords use something unique on each site and at least 8 characters including one non alpha numeric wherever possible like a “@” or ! character.
If you need more advice on setting secure passwords, get in touch.
6 Responses to “Watch out for “techaviators””
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I received a similar call today from this so called company from an Asian man called Jack Samuels and I normally just hang up. As I was feeling a little bored, I decided I would listen to what he had to say, knowing straight away it was a bogus call, and when he said that this service was free only confirmed to me that this was a scam.
I would like to point out that I have never ever allowed anybody access to my pc, or ever handed over password details.
He navigated me to my pc log to point out the errors like you have mentioned. He then told me to enter a code followed by a web address into my pc “Run” (ON NO ACCOUNT DID I DO THIS AS I THEN NEW THEY WOULD HAVE FULL ACCESS TO MY PC) at this stage I hung up.
I did a Google search on this company, and got their WebPages, which I have to say, were very convincing.
I then saw this site giving out warnings on about these calls.
The sad thing about this, is their will be many people taken in by this scam!!
Let’s hope people will see this warning before it’s too late!
And thankyou for posting the warning for people to see
*Editors note: Please note I have edited this comment which I beleive to be genuine to remove certain references- I do however have the original posting locally.
I’m an employee of a++++ group of industries in a similar outbound call center.
I’m now disclosing all our company’s secret out here because I’m feeling guilty to be part of a very big scam and don’t want my country’s name to tarnish. The MD of a++++ group of industries is Mr. A+++t J++++++l.
We are totally a scam and we have three processes namely The UK process where we are required to scam the nice people of the UK. The second is the US process where the same thing is done to the US people and last but not the least they recently introduced an austrailian process.
well the scamming first starts with a phone call from a british accented indian. he says ” Hello I’m david (my alias name) am i speaking with … (Your last name) then starts to tell that ur computer might have downloaded a very dangerous online infection that is very dangerous for ur computer and they came to know all about it after they saw ur IP address was blinking in their server system.
after a lot of talks they ask for money.
Facts:
1. Those errors and warnings are nothing but page faults in the operating system. Windows just logs it down.
2. There is nothing as the open gateway of the internet from where these so called infections can come.
3. There is nothing as the International Server System. These gys buy your telephone number from various companies.
4. Your IP (Internet Protocol) address cannot blink coz its not something which can report anything. Its just the identification of ur computer in the network.
DOs’
1. Hang Up the phone as soon as u hear any of rthose above said dialogues.
2. Never ever download anything or do anything they tell u to do so.
3. DO NOT CONNECT UR COMPUTER REMOTELY. DO NOT GO TO
(i) http://www.logmein123.com
(ii) http://www.ammyy.com
4. Do not ever give ur credit card details or fill any of the claimed Secured Banking Form from them. because if u come to this point then they would be able to see anything ur doing with the computers as ur computer is already connected.
please please do read it once and ask if u have any queries…
It really feels bad because of some lowlifes INDIA’s name is tarnished in front of all.
I’m an INDIAN and I’m proud to be one
OUR PRESENT ADDRESS:
/* ++++++++++++++++ */
/* | Removed | */
/* ++++++++++++++++ */
Quite an allegation.
http://whois.domaintools.com/techaviators.co.uk
** Editors note: whois details removed- you can link to it yourself if you wish
I just recieved a call from Global Tech (www.techaviators.com) It was 10:00 p.m. At first I thought it was my computer security co. and had them call me back on my cell phone. The phone number showed unavailable on caller id. The person said they were calling from Washington State but had an India accent and his name was Steven. No one would be solicting a phone sale at 10:00 p.m. in the United States. Everything about this felt all bogus. I told them no thanks that their services were not needed. And, they did not want to take no for an answer. I went to this page while I still had them on the phone and got the facts. Thank You! Shannon.
Also, they said the charge would be $120.00. And, gave me the phone #1-877-623-9180.
An older, non-technical friend of mine unfortunately fell for such a call around 6 months ago.
Her laptop appeared to be fine until a month ago when all browsers started to give website not found/404 errors for basic sites like google.co.uk/youtube.co.uk (though google.co.in was still accessible!). Her isp, BT, spent over an hour logged into her laptop last week and couldn’t fix it. When I Googled the strange web address google.co.uk was defaulting to I didn’t understand the search results, most seemed to be in German but the word ‘rootkit’ was common!
Having not heard from this company since the original sign-up, this email (below) from care@besthelp.co.uk arrived 2 days after BT’s remote examination of the laptop. I’m speculating something they planted in the laptop told them it was being checked over by BT??
——————————————–
“Dear Customers,
Greetings from Your computer maintenance company.
This is a Checkup mail to know whether you are having any problem with your computer or not. If you are facing any problem with your computer please feel free to contact us, you can call us or mail us on the below mentioned contact details any time between Monday to Saturday. You can also send us a mail with your Problem details, please indicate your contact number along with the mail, so that you can get a call as soon as possible
Please do not hesitate to ring us at our Help Desk Number:
US Customers can call us at :-
+1 – 877 – 623 – 9180 (Toll Free)
+1 – 626 – 239 – 3135
UK Customers can call us at :-
08082802035 (Toll Free)
+44 – 2088199827
AUSTRALIA Customers can call us at :-
61 – 1800095197 (Toll Free)
You can also mail us at
care@besthelp.co.uk and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
We will be sending you E-Mails every MONDAY to know if you are having any problems or Queries regarding your Computer. If you have you can also reply to the same mail or you can call us well. ”
—————————————————
I’ve just done a factory C-drive reset on the laptop and all seems fine again.
I’m just realizing that I’ve been fooled by a service that helped me a few months ago (and I paid for it). I rec’d all sorts explanations that my laptop was infected etc. etc. Anyways, my laptop has crashed. I rec’d several messages from my SP that “malware….bots” etc, etc we’re affecting my competor. So its time to go to the program I paid for and get serviced. Called, # not in service and tried email ….same.
Not sure what to do as I am very leary of any service unless I take it personally to a computer business that I can go back to if I’m not satisfied w/ there service.
Any recommendatins? I appreciate your blog and printed off your above info on this scam which describes my experience to a t….just wished I had listened to my red flags…..they were very convincing. This won’t happen again…not if I can help it!