The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes
Last week I received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Customer Service at Microsoft. He informed me that my Windows computer had a virus because they were seeing constant downloads coming from my home.
The caller said that I needed to download special virus protection software onto my Windows computer to get rid of the virus. He instructed me to go to a website where I could download software that would delete the virus and protect my computer in the future.
SCAM!
I politely informed the caller that I didn’t have any Windows computers at my home (not true), and he hung up on me.
Last month I heard a similar story from a friend who was called by someone claiming to be from Microsoft and asking her to download software onto her computer. Fortunately she was skeptical and refused to do it, then asked me if it was a legitimate call.
Don’t fall prey to scammers who want you to download software onto your computer! Once this software is on your computer, the criminals will have full access to and control of your computer. Instead of removing a virus, you’ll be adding one when you download scammer’s software onto your computer, potentially filled with tracking capabilities to expose your Internet activity and anything else you do on your computer.
The spammers will ask you to pay to download this software and may also ask for your personal information, credit card numbers, passwords and user ID’s. Don’t pay them money or give them any information.
But how can you know when someone is trying to scam you?
Helpful advice is available at Microsoft Avoid Phone Scams page, including what to do if you were fooled by the scammer into downloading software and/or revealing personal information.
A computer expert named Jérôme Segura received one of these scam Microsoft Phone Scam calls last year and actually played along with the caller to see how the scam worked. His experience is a frightening example of what could happen if we cooperate with these criminals.
Segura allowed the caller access to his virtual computer and was savvy enough to record both the telephone conversation and his computer screen during the call. His blog post, Phone scammers call the wrong guy, get mad and trash PC, details what happened when he allowed the criminals to take over his virtual computer.
He gave the scammers remote access to his virtual computer, where they showed him files they claimed were harmful viruses. They offered to download software to fix the problems and then opened his PayPal account on his computer.
When Segura didn’t enter the correct credit card information, the caller wiped all of the files from his computer and deleted the software enabling the computer to connect to the Internet.
To help people identify and prevent being lured in by these scammers, Segura created this Tech Support Scams – Help & Resource Page, including sections on tricks of the trade, damage control and fighting back.
Featured Tweet
@wonderoftech @EgoiPlatform @Twelveskip thanks 🙂 Feel free to check this guide I compiled as well: http://t.co/86cHIZ365y — Jérôme Segura (@jeromesegura) June 17, 2014
Your Thoughts
Have you ever had someone try to scam you with tech support? Had you heard of this Microsoft Phone Scam? Do you know anyone who fell prey to a scammer? Let us know in the Comments section below!
*****************
Wonder of Tech News
Due to an unusually hectic summer schedule, I will be publishing articles at The Wonder of Tech two days a week instead of three. Rather than posting on my previous Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule, I will be posting new articles on Mondays and Thursdays for the summer.
Correction: My posting of articles may be less frequent this summer, provided the tech news slows down…
Thank you for being a loyal Wonder of Tech reader!
Brilliant read thank you for sharing this. I have had this call a few times over here in Scotland now. I saver the fact that I know they are getting nowhere near my computer and see how long I can keep them on the phone for just for my own amusement. My brother-in-law took this a step further when asked to go into his computer he told them he’d be right back after he had got a screwdriver! Unfortunately there are people out there who buy into this scam. There aren’t really many things out there to educate people that in reality the internet cannot always be trusted. You should always question what you are seeing and heading on it and seek help from someone who is perhaps more technically minded.
Hi David, Very funny about your brother-in-law who said he was getting a screwdriver when the caller asked him to go into his computer!
You are very right, there are people who are fooled by this scam, otherwise it wouldn’t keep happening. The only way to stop these scammers is to educate people to be skeptical of callers asking for access to their computers. I hope this article helps people learn not to trust these calls and protects them from the damage that these scams can cause.
I had this very call a few nights ago. I played along with him but was saavy enough NOT to go anywhere near my computer. At a function this weekend I Iearned that several others had the exact same call. I feel sorry for those who fall for this scam. Sometimes it is very hard to know what is legit and what isn’t. One can’t be too careful.
Hi Pat, I’m so glad you were wise enough not to trust the caller and allow him access to your computer. Yes, this scam has been around for a while but seems to have increased recently.
You’re exactly right, it can be difficult to figure out what is legitimate and what isn’t. That’s why I wanted to share the infographic and Jerome Segura’s story with Wonder of Tech readers. Becoming educated on this scam is our best defense!
Hi Carolyn,
Oh I get these all the time and I just let them know that I’m not stupid enough to fall for their crap and they ought to be ashamed of themselves. Of course they quickly hang up on me but I at least get my jab.
I guess if you’re not aware that these people are just out to hurt you you could easily fall prey to this scheme. It just continues to upset me that people are doing this and still getting away with it.
If only there were a way to stop them all but then that would mean we could lock up all crooks immediately right! Maybe some day this will happen and I hope to live to see that day. Thanks for this share though and I’ll have to watch his video when I have more free time.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Yes, unfortunately people can fall for this scheme which can cause a lot of damage, both to the computer and to their finances. I want to educate people so the scammers will be a lot less successful. Let’s face it, if everyone hung up on them like you did then they would probably stop making the calls.
It would be great if cybercriminals could get caught and prosecuted. That’s another way to stop them cold.
You know if it’s not one scam it’s another going around. I swear I get so irritated when I hear about these things. I am getting to the point where I cringe whenever I need to use a debit card or credit card both online or locally anymore. I would go back to using cash, but there are certain bills I just couldn’t pay without doing so online.
I don’t know how these people find us but they sure do, and they are persistent too. I have a feeling it’s just going to get worse and we will see more of it as the years go by. We have the internet and technology to thank for that I believe.
On a side note, I wonder if Bill Gates gets calls from these people? Wouldn’t that be ironic.
Hi Carolyn Nicander Mohr
You are observations are perfectly right. Spammers mostly target people above 45 age who don’t have much time to do all things related to their PC and easily outsource most of their techie work for the sake of quality or to save their own time. The second point is also very right that mostly people from advance nations are the target of these spammers. Because people from not much advance countries don’t have online presence or don’t have online payment system to get into their trap easily.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post that is a must read for busy online marketers and other online professionals specially
Good advice
Thank you, Jerry. I hope you’re able to avoid these scam phone calls!
“I don’t have any Windows computers” Haha, very nice strategy Carolyn; it really breaks their rhythm. Besides protecting ourselves, we ought to report these scammers to the authorities. They need to be apprehended before more people fall victim.
Hi Peter, You’re exactly right. These cybercriminals can do a lot of damage and should be reported, caught and prosecuted. Only when their chances of success are greatly diminished will they quit trying to scam innocent people.