BEWARE of Fake Microsoft Tech Support SCAMMERS
By Linda Lindquist, Keeping Your Computer Healthy
One of the most frequent calls for service in the past year involves my clients falling victim to the fake Microsoft Tech Support scammers.
- Someone with an Indian accent calls your phone, reporting that “your computer is sending out errors. Microsoft techs are there to help you resolve the issues.”
- Your computer browser freezes with a pop-up that informs you that “you have a serious virus. If you turn off your computer, you may lose all your files. Call immediately, as Microsoft Tech Support is standing by to help you.”
- If you interact with the Indian caller, they instruct you how to let the into your computer.
- What happens if you let them in? These scammers then ask for your money ($199, $399, $799, $1199) to “remove the threats”. They download malicious software that steals your identity. If you do not pay them, they often change your login password, locking you out of your own computer.
What can you do to protect yourself from these scammers?
- If they call you – HANG UP!
- If their pop-up freezes your browser (sometimes it talks or sounds a klaxon), hold the CTRL ATL DEL keys all at once on your keyboard, open the TASK MANAGER, click on the name of your browser, and click on END TASK. This will close the scary pop-up. Do not recover pages when you open the browser again.
- DO NOT PANIC. They want you to call them and let them into your computer.
- DO NOT CALL THEM.
- DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR DIRECTIONS. If you do, you give them permission to enter your computer.
- If you did let them in, SHUT OFF YOUR COMPUTER, THEN HANG UP THE PHONE. Then call me to remove the malicious software that they downloaded to your computer.
- DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD OR CHECKING ACCOUNT NUMBERS!!
Do not fall prey to the fake Microsoft Tech Support Scammers!
