[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Sweet

My computer telling me "CRITICAL ERROR, CAN'T FIND HARD DRIVE, HARD DRIVE ERRORS, NO SPACE FOUND ON HARD DRIVE...."



Computer Owners, BEWARE.....Possible Online Scam

While online last night - out of the blue- I received a pop up "Java License Agreement".... I thought it was a hoax, so I clicked "do not agree"....it proceeded to tell me that if I didn't agree, that all my files and programs "may not work unless you agree to the Java License Agreement User Terms".... so I sat there and read several pages of the Terms....nothing seemed out of place, so I thought this may be a Java update process? I hit agree, not wanting to loose files or access to programs. POOF!!! Out of no where, a "Quick Defrag" icon appears on my desktop and then all the crazy error messages about NO HARD DRIVE FOUND, CRITICALLY LOW DISK SPACE, CRITICAL ERRORS FOUND ON HARD DRIVE, MUST RUN DEFRAG.... (it really had me believing that I had major system problems and was about to loose my hard drive but when I checked my "system", it told me I had 190 GB free of 223 GB... that didn't show low disk space, I was really befuddled then!)

I have NEVER seen this "Quick Defrag" icon or function on my computer before..... but I thought it had something to do with my System and Security Alerts? OHHHHHH I WAS SO WRONG!! I hit the defrag button, it quickly ran through a few "system errors found" and FAILED nearly every one.... then , here's the catch, it said I needed an ADVANCED DEFRAG and that I MUST PURCHASE the Advanced plan!!! At that point, I knew I'd been had!!! This was a scam and it appears I'd been hacked with some malicious software, etc (sorry, I'm not a skilled Tech like Linus or Orgranic....just a pissed off computer owner) It appears to be a scam to get your personal information and checking account info, etc. I'm not sure, but what I am sure of is all this crap happened AFTER I agreed to the Java License Agreement pop up window.... I refused to purchase anything, and proceeded to trouble shoot all these damn Critical Errors and everything shutting down on me. The Quick Defrag kept telling me that the only way to fix things was to PURCHASE their Advanced Plan. I was in panic mode, thinking my hard drive was crashing.....(don't get me started on the "Extended Warranty" from Best Buy which seems to be a "Gotchyer $80 and Ran With It" Plan!)

Well, my smart Roomie reminded me that I could "Restore" my computer to an earlier time. I did this, and low and behold! It removed that damn Quick Defrag thing.... and so far, I haven't had a problem. NOOOOO critical errors makes for a very happy Sweet. Thanks to a smart Roomie!!....who knows I just wanted to dump my coffee all over my computer and run over it with his truck!

I just wanted to warn everyone of the possible scam to get your information and checking/credit cards. It appears to be nothing but a scam and there was NEVER anything wrong with my hard drive. I hope no one has to deal with the frustration and that I did to find this out.

Virus. It sounds like a virus and likely got onto your system via a cookie or in the shadows of other, legitimate software on your system. Once it's cleaned off, you should be fine. Just be careful where you go online and what you click on. FB and Myspace are notorious for transmitting them.

You are absolutely right, though. The goal is to get your information. Good for you for not doing it.