We’ve had a lot of reports lately regarding “Technical Support” Scams.
Even members of the Police Department staff have received calls. Even stranger the IT Department (Microsoft Partner) received a call yesterday.
The basis of this scam being that someone from Microsoft Technical Support, quite out of the blue, calls your home or cell phone number and states that your computer has any number of Viruses, Malware applications, and other issues. This stranger offers to solve these problems for you – at a price (of course).
These calls seems to be blind calls. We know of people who don’t even have a computer being called.
Those who succumb to the caller are directed to a web site to download “support” software onto their computer to give the caller access to the computer – from that point, all bets are off.
The caller can at best, fix an issue or two and lock your computer up until you pay some exorbitant amount, or worse than that gain access to your personal information and everything on your computer, take your credit card information and more.
Similarly to Banks, Financial Institutions and even the IRS, Microsoft very rarely initiates technical support calls to their customers.
It’s hard enough to get a hold of them if you’re trying to call them yourself.
As with any scam, use your common sense. If someone seems to be randomly calling your phone offering you help – don’t take it.
NEVER give out your personal, computer, or finance information.
If they’re calling you, they should have your information already.
If you’re legitimately concerned about any issues with your computer, contact a reputable service technician/company and have it looked at.
Never accept random, blind support calls over the phone.
In a post of their own, Microsoft states:
If someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support calls you:
- Do not purchase any software or services.
- Ask if there is a fee or subscription associated with the “service.” If there is, hang up.
- Never give control of your computer to a third party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team with whom you are already a customer.
- Take the caller’s information down and immediately report it to your local authorities.
- Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support.
