Microsoft Tech Support Scam Still Around In 2015
image courtesy of newrivercomputing.com
This scam has been around for several years, and you would think that the whole world would know about it by now but apparently people are still being victimized by these scammers who call them claiming to be Microsoft Tech Support.
The latest phone number they are calling from is a New York area code, 212- 777-3461, and I just received one of these calls from this number on my cell phone, which btw, is on the “do not call registry” which most of us know is worthless and a waste of time. Auto-dialers, telemarketers and scammers get around that with throw away numbers that can’t be traced back to them anyway, so that registry means nothing.
What Is The Microsoft Tech Support Scam?
quoted from www.newsoftwares.net
The scam campaign employs aggressive sales and marketing strategies, combined with half-truths (mainly used to convince their victims). The scam involves a Microsoft customer receiving a phone call from countries such as India or the Philippines. The caller (the scammer) on the end explains to the customer that there is problem which needs to be fixed on their PC immediately – otherwise their PC could crash and all the data would be lost – if they want the problem fixed – the customer would have to allow the technician to remotely access his or her PC. Those who are most likely to be duped are the elderly and the less-tech-savvy. Once the fraudsters are able to gain remote access to victims PC, they usually ask for compensation to have the problem fix, if the victim refuses, the scammer may delete important system files – or other files which may corrupt Windows.
That’s basically called Internet Extortion similar to the famous FBI virus, (also known as MoneyPack ransomware)!
Now that’s not to say every person who has a thick foreign accent is a scammer. I have actually called the real Microsoft Tech Support and the “technician” had a thick foreign accent. It seems the trend with big corporations over the last few years, is to hire customer and tech support in foreign countries because, just like the big automakers who moved operations to China.. it’s cheap labor. Anyway, I couldn’t understand half of what they were saying so I hung up..lol.
Watch this video warning:
Be Aware And Stay Safe
Simply keep in mind that Microsoft, Apple, McAfee, AT&T or any other legitimate company will never call or email you out of the blue requesting your personal information or to click a link in an email to login and update your personal information online. There has been a lot of phishing emails going around claiming to be from legitimate companies you may actually have an account or do business with.
If you receive any suspicious phone calls or emails, don’t respond or provide any details. Simply save the email or phone number and then contact the business (at their legitimate phone number of course) to verify and make them aware.
Help Us Get The Word Out By Sharing This Post!
