Beware Telephone Scam! "Microsoft" Says Your Computer Has a Virus
 

A word to the wise for the old PC philospher....

They're at it again! I'm getting call after call.

If you receive a call from anyone purporting to be from Microsoft or authorized by Microsoft, stating that they have a report that you have viruses on your PC and that they need to connect to your PC - Hang up!

If you are concerned about viruses:

• Call Microsoft Support yourself,
• Run your virus protections & Malware protection software (you have these, right)?,
• Bring your PC to a reputable local PC Tech,
• Find a reputable online tech support company.

The key is that YOU make the contact and that YOU DO NOT respond to anyone contacting you.

These sycophants want to get on your PC, at the least to charge you big dollars for nothing or at the worst to harvest your data!!!

Do not fall for this scam...you could pay dearly!

Please pass this on to those you worry may be hooked in this scam.

A typical experience is detailed at the following link - Beware Telephone Scam! "Microsoft" Says Your Computer Has a Virus

I don't answer my phone unless I know who it is. That's what caller ID is for.

Agree that is why I like Comcast. These scammers keep coming back same guys same phone numbers . It begs the question why the NSA can just shut them down:D

I put this out for warning people who I think may be susceptible to this type of scam. Not everyone needs a warning.

Thanks for the warning, people get scammed all the time warnings are good.

Various people I know who work at Microsoft say that if you get a phone call a letter bogus. That emails saying its from Microsoft it is usually not from them either. Some alerts from outlook team come via email but any email asking you to do the remote connect your computer or click link are a big danger.
The email is the one most people fall for. Microsoft has access to your computer unless you have unclicked the update function and will give you a popup that asks you to ok update installs. My husband asked my son if he should respond to such an email and after the roll of the eyes he got a resounding NO, that he should click the update icon on the computer and it would update automatic.

I received one of those calls last week. I was told to go to my computer immediately. While trying not to laugh out loud, I said that I was on my way to it. I then sat down for about 5 minutes when the caller finally asked me if I was at my computer. I told him that it was at my friend's house and that I would be there in about 10 minutes. As he hung up, he was yelling at me!

Had a call like that, too. Caller claimed I got virus on my computer and my system was about to crash unless he fix it. I said NO and hung up. I knew it was a bluff call. He said he was from Microsoft. But I got a Mac.

I reported the call to Report Phone Number to CallerCenter.com and the FTC in an attempt to shut the scam down. I hope that others will report suspicious calls, too.

and if one has the time or inclination, just play along.
Act as though you bought in...say you are going to your pc, then as they give direction just act as though you are doing what they say. Then when they do not get a result, insist you are doing exactly as they directed...then ask if the virus is stopping them from fixing it? And play as long as you have the time or they are dumb enough to follow.

btk

PS of course you would be making no inputs to your pc what so ever!!

That sounds like a good idea to me. Tie them up for however long you possibly can and they can't be scamming someone that might fall prey. I once received a call from someone trying to sell me something and I just let him go on with his spiel and laid the phone down. After about 5 minutes I picked it up and he was gone.