Apparent email scam

[silvermapper]

I wish to draw to your attention an email I received yesterday purporting to be from Henry_Tech, Subject: HP Helpdesk in apparent response to a topic I posted earlier here: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-and-Copying/Scan-image-only-using-HP-Scan-and-Capture/...:

Hello silvermapper,
You've received a private message in the HP Support Forum.
Be alert for fraudulent messages
Be alert for scammers who may be posing as HP support representatives. Only call numbers from people who have a label next to their screen name. If you think you have received a fake HP Support message, please report it to us by clicking on the blue "Report Inappropriate Content" button above the message in the Private Message portion of the Community. Thank you!
From: Henry_Tech
Subject: HP Helpdesk
Note:
Dear Customer,
We really appreciate for your concern regarding your HP Product. But its hard to provide you the appropriate solution for this issue in community. In order to get easy and hassle free HP Technical support for you peripherals. Kindly call +1-888-242-9613 (US/Canada) & +44-020 3289 7008 (UK) for assistance.

I contacted the UK telephone number. The person who replied seemed rather vague about my issue and asked me to go to my computer. He gave me a .url to enter. I realised, then, that he planned to take control of my PC. I informed him I would not allow him to do that, but would be willing to follow his instructions. The 'phone went dead following a few minutes more conversation.

I post this message in case it was not a legitimate email and telephone number. I should not wish others to be tricked.
http://uk.whocalledme.net/PhoneNumber/02032897008 has an entry telling of a similar apparent scam yesterday .

I should welcome advice on where better to send this information.

With regards
Bob Hawkins

[kevin-t · Accepted solution]

@silvermapper

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We have taken the appropriate action on this user's account.

[oursteve]

Just recieved a similar message regarding my problem:

Beware of fake HP Support

Be alert for scammers who may be posing as HP representatives and only call numbers from people who have a label next to their screen name. If you think you have received a fake HP Support message, please report it to us by clicking on the blue “Report Inappropriate Content” button above the message. Thank you!

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HP Helpdesk

From: Help-Tech02

Sent: ‎01-02-2018 08:40 AM

Add Help-Tech02 to Friends Ignore Help-Tech02 Report Inappropriate Content

Dear Customer,

We really appreciate for your concern regarding your HP Product. But its hard to provide you the appropriate solution for this issue in community. In order to get easy and hassle free HP Technical support for you peripherals. Kindly call +1-888-242-9613 (US/Canada) & +44-020 3289 7008 (UK)for assistance.

Thanks & Regards
HP Helpdesk.

Reply Delete Message

[danny-r]

@oursteve

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We have taken care of this user.

[Giulio93]

I have just received the same e-mail from help-techie.

Dear Customer,

We really appreciate for your concern regarding your HP Product. But its hard to provide you the appropriate solution for this issue in community. In order to get easy and hassle free HP Technical support for you peripherals. Kindly call +1-818 660 0765 (US/Canada) & +44-020 3289 7008 (UK) for assistance.

Thanks & Regards
HP Helpdesk.

Please fix this because I was about to follow the instructions.

[StewCall]

No 'apparent'  about it. I'm not sure action has  been taken by HP.

I just received the same messages today  and 'almost got got' by this scam scumbag. How did he get my email in the first instance? Isn't it supposed to be 'private'?

[Bob_Headrick]

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@StewCall wrote:

No 'apparent'  about it. I'm not sure action has  been taken by HP.

I just received the same messages today  and 'almost got got' by this scam scumbag. How did he get my email in the first instance? Isn't it supposed to be 'private'?

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The scammers create a fake user account, then send you a private message.  The message gets delivered by the HP system to your email address, although the scammer does not see your email address.  You can find the original message by clicking on the envelope in the upper right when you are logged into the forum.

Please do that, and click on the subject line to open the message.  At this point there is an option to Report Inappropraite Content.  Please  click on that and report the message to the moderators so they can deal with the user.  I will also send you a message and ask that you forward me a copy of the scammers email.

[EddyK]

I'm not sure if these kinds of regulations are already in place but why can't we forbid usernames with keywords such as "helpdesk" or "tech" or "HP"? 

And then usernames with less suspicious keywords can be subject to monitoring under the moderators. 

IDK maybe the forum already has these capabilities but I've been receiving quite a few of these "HP Helpdesk" messages. 

[Bob_Headrick]

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@kem579 wrote:

I'm not sure if these kinds of regulations are already in place but why can't we forbid usernames with keywords such as "helpdesk" or "tech" or "HP"? 

And then usernames with less suspicious keywords can be subject to monitoring under the moderators. 

IDK maybe the forum already has these capabilities but I've been receiving quite a few of these "HP Helpdesk" messages. 

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I will be sending you a request in private messageing, I would like to get copies of the fake users messages.  

[Tinkwinks]

I received one of these today and promptly reported it.