[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I ran some kind of advanced scan that took 15 minutes to do.

I hope you didn't run a scan that the guy on the phone told you to run. If so, you might have just installed ransomware, and they'll be able to control your computer and shut it down any time they want until you pay them. And then they can do it again. And again. And again.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I hope you didn't run a scan that the guy on the phone told you to run. If so, you might have just installed ransomware, and they'll be able to control your computer and shut it down any time they want until you pay them. And then they can do it again. And again. And again.

No. I had no idea whom I was talking to so I just acted really stupid which is for me sometimes rather easy.

[Bill14564]

I spend a lot of time visiting sites but haven't seen a hacking popup in several years, either:
1. You all are visiting some really sketchy sites;
2. I've been extremely lucky and should probably by more lottery tickets; or
3. An adblocker (I use ABP) might help block hacking popups too

[coralway]

Stay away from the porn

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by coralway

Stay away from the porn

I was looking at the Will Rogers' quote about some animal eating a bull. Or something like that. It was in a frame of some kind. I mean the quote.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

No. I had no idea whom I was talking to so I just acted really stupid which is for me sometimes rather easy.

It’s a very common reaction to something startling and unexpected. I am not sure what to suggest for you but I wish you the best and I’m learning too from the many suggestions here.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Velvet

It’s a very common reaction to something startling and unexpected. I am not sure what to suggest for you but I wish you the best and I’m learning too from the many suggestions here.

That was my reasoning. And this person might be targeting others in the Villages and elsewhere. He had an Indian accent.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

That was my reasoning. And this person might be targeting others in the Villages and elsewhere. He had an Indian accent.

It's someone working in what's known as a "boiler room operation." They probably are in India, or Pakistan. They're not targeting locations. They have no idea who you are, or where you are. And they don't care. You clicked on something that sent a bit of data into your hard drive, and at some point, a series of commands (or another click) triggered the ransomware notice. Calling the number validates you as a willing victim. Now they know your phone number (caller ID), and they know you click on things you probably shouldn't click on.

If it happens again, shut your computer off without clicking on anything, or calling anyone. Then unplug your computer and your printer (data can store in your smart printer too). Then call a computer repair company nearby (there are a few around) and have them deal with it. Make sure they create a full backup and boot drive of your computer on a thumb drive AFTER they've cleaned it up. It'll probably cost you a couple hundred bucks - which is what it'd cost the first time you call the number on the pop-up warning. If you pay the pop-up people, they'll do it again, but next time it'll cost double. And they'll keep doing it, until you realize that whatever was on your hard drive, wasn't worth paying more for. And you throw the computer away and buy a new one.

[barbara828]

Absolutely

[MplsPete]

Or, just buy an Apple computer.

[banjobob]

Never respond to those types of scare notices. all are hackers

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I was looking at the Will Rogers' quote about some animal eating a bull. Or something like that. It was in a frame of some kind. I mean the quote.

Based on what you described, I believe the webpage that you visited was a fraudster’s website. The visual and audio warnings you observed are part of the features of the webpage similar to a pop-up advertisement on a legitimate website.

Fraudster’s like this typically are an organized crime organization in a foreign country, not someone sitting in mom’s basement.

The FBI classifies this kind of internet crime as call center fraud. The link below is to the latest annual FBI report on internet crime. Call center fraud is covered on page 16. Your scam was the tech support call center kind. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year to this kind of fraud according to the report.

https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/Annual..._IC3Report.pdf

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

Or, just buy an Apple computer.

OP’s issue was not an actual computer virus. Apple owners can still be victims of call center fraud.

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

That was my reasoning. And this person might be targeting others in the Villages and elsewhere. He had an Indian accent.

These kinds of frauds by organized crime groups have shotgun strategies, not targeted to smaller geographic areas. It’s a numbers game for internet OCG’s.

You went to a criminal’s webpage; they did not come to you. (In case you are interested, those kinds of webpages are likely constructed by some skilled website programmer who is crowdsourcing open information from across the internet.)

Recognizing how these kinds of criminals commit their frauds is the best defense from becoming a victim.

[jojo]

That happened to me when I accidentally miss-keyed Ninite, the safe site for downloading programs. Bells went off. The screen was flashing and blaring. I knew immediately why it happened. I instantly shut down the computer. That's all I did and I have had no problems with the computer since.