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Dial Up hacking scam???

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  • 06-03-2006 12:31pm
    #1
    MunkyHed
    Registered Users Posts: 337 ✭✭


    Hi folks,
    A friend of my parents recently have been caught by a company for a 480 Euro bill for dial up internet usage. They use the net very little and when they asked this company what are the charges about, the company said that their user name and password had been hacked and used by others for internet. They made my parents friend pay the bill!!!!! Now details are sketchy at the moment as they don't even like to talk about the ordeal! I think they were registered with tele-2 but thats not confirmed...
    Anyone had a similar story.. i think its unbelievable to be honest. I'll try to find out more.


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    #2
    b0bsquish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 459 ✭✭b0bsquish


    im not sure what the story with tele-2's internet packages are, but if its the same as eircom, you can only dial into your internet account (username/pass) from the number you gave them when you signed up. Was more than likely a dialler in there own pc that dialed the numbers, either way not a good way to run up a bill :(


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    #3
    liamo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭liamo


    Unfortunately, it's a common enough problem. My in-laws got hit for a similar amount when one of them managed to install a dialler that changed their default dial-up connection to a premium-rate number in The Dominican Republic or somewhere like that.

    On the bright side, with the installation of broadband the problem goes away.

    Of course, it's very much a user-education issue. If the user is clueless enough to permit the installation of a dialler, then the introduction of broadband just makes it easier to download other rogue software.

    Oh well. C'est la vie.


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    #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 91,863 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    liamo wrote:
    Of course, it's very much a user-education issue. If the user is clueless enough to permit the installation of a dialler,
    Sorry but unless they are on windows XP SP2 it will happen every time unless you have tweaked it and/or have installed extra applications to prevent it happening. And even with Windows XP SP 2 and all the patches you still have to be careful.

    And lets not forget that on dialup it's painfull trying to keep windows patched,

    And how many home users be able to troubleshoot when windows update keels over or gets picky for some reason ??
    http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=836941
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885819
    http://www.kbalertz.com/kb_836985.aspx
    etc.
    and a lot of the solutions just point back at the windowsdate page you are trying to fix. /RANT

    €ircon/your telco also get the lions share of the call charges, in the UK you have a resonable chance of getting your money back unlike here. Legally speaking the telco has already paid the fraudster and so you owe the telco the money so not much you can do.

    Rock ---> you <--- Hard Place


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    #5
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    MunkyHed wrote:
    Now details are sketchy at the moment as they don't even like to talk about the ordeal!

    very common, they were probably accused of looking at porn and embarassed in order to facilitate the extortion of their cash .

    Whether they have a remedy depends on the country that was dialled, is it one of the ones on this list (the list at the end) or not ????

    If not a country was it a premium number ??


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    #6
    the Guru
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,362 ✭✭✭the Guru


    If this hijacking happened via Eircom net , they have to wave the bill 1 time only, contact there customer support.

    if its happens a 2nd time its your own stupidity, and they will not offer you anything back


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    #7
    Skyuser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,680 ✭✭✭Skyuser


    The company actually said it was a hacker and STILL charged them, that's crazy.


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    #8
    azezil
    Registered Users Posts: 11,397 ✭✭✭✭azezil


    b0bsquish wrote:
    but if its the same as eircom, you can only dial into your internet account (username/pass) from the number you gave them when you signed up.
    There are some older subscription accounts you can use from any line, they operate on a username / password basis, if they've one of those accounts, yes it could have been hacked.


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    #9
    MunkyHed
    Registered Users Posts: 337 ✭✭MunkyHed


    It seems it was a trojan dialler alright.. i still think it's unfair of the telephone company to catch them for the bill. As mentioned above it should be waved once but if it happens again then fair enough. I'll find out which company for sure this evening. They actually havent even turned on the computer since this happened, they're so afraid they'll get hit with another bill! I've an awful feeling that they have windows millenium installed as well.. not the most secure platform around. What a ball of sh*t!


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