Thanks useful information: 
Yesterday, Telstra's Bigpond email had a wide outage and when I tried to access my email, Outlook asked me to provide my password, etc. Stupidly, instead of just accepting that my PC would have the latest password stored, I input the password that was scratched down in the "secret password" notebook. Of course, it was wrong, so I was locked out of my email. I checked with my wife and she was having the same problem but did not enter her password. Her problem resolved a few hours later.
Anyway, when my wife's email was working again and mine was not, I decided that I should get my email password reset. I Googled "Bigpond Email Help"and the second site that came up was a box saying: "Contact Bigpond Email Support for Email Issues Call : 1-300-363-942. Bigpond email is a reliable webmail service provided by Telstra to its users. Even telstra has the technical support team for providing technical support services to its Bigpond email users."
(I should have read that ad more closely and picked up on the grammar issues.)
When I called that number, the Indian gentleman asked for access to my computer (which telstra does on occasion), my email address, and the day and month of birth (not the year thankfully). I allowed this. He confirmed that my email password was correct but I was being hacked from overseas and then offered me three firewall options ranging up to $599. He showed on the shared screen some computer dialog boxes that supposedly showed other computers using my system. He told me that my existing firewall was not effective against these threats and nor was my anti-virus software. He insinuated that I may have been hacked while looking at pornography (presumably to make pornography viewers feel more vulnerable - Not guilty, your Worship). He asked how many devices use my wi-fi (presumably so that he can sell additional software). He was well spoken and reasonably convincing but it was very suspicious to me so I said that I would call them back. The Indian gentleman said that I could call him back and gave me his name, Adam Words .
A call to Telstra confirmed that all that I needed was to reset my email password. Now, I have given strangers acces to my computer, my email address and at least part of my date of birth. Not happy.
I feel really stupid. I consider myself to be tech-savvy. I work in an industry where information barriers are part of my everyday life. My employer is constantly training us against phishing exercises, etc. I amazed myself by being almost taken by this sting.
Anyway, no harm done. I have changed banking passwords, etc. Just a note to let others know to be aware.
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Originally Posted by John King
