Microsoft Scams

This past month I have been contacted about three different types of scams related to Microsoft products. The scams are not originating from Microsoft but from scammers that are using fear to take advantage of businesses or individuals based on the Microsoft products they use.

3 Types of Microsoft Scams

1. The first scam has been around for some time and basically goes like this. Either through a pop-up/browser tab in your web browser or sometimes through a phone call a person states they are from Microsoft and they are notifying you that you have some issue with your operating system (usually stating you have a malware infection) and that they can help you with this issue. Depending on if they called you or notified you through your web browser they ask you call them, click the link or do certain things (giving them remote access to your computer). The end result is they gain access to your computer and then want money to solve your problem.
2. The second scam is a variation of this and we had one client fall into this scam this past month. They were having a problem with cancelling a Microsoft service (legitimate service) they had signed up for a couple years back so they went on the internet and typed in keywords for how to cancelling the Microsoft service. In the search results they found a number which they thought was the Microsoft Customer Support number. It was not and when they called the number the person represented themselves as a Microsoft employee and that they need remote access to the computer to cancel the service. Once the person had remote access to the computer they told the person they has a virus and that they would have to pay for the removal of this before the service could be cancelled.
3. Third Microsoft scam variation, is fairly new and this is actually the first time I ran into it. A client of ours received an email telling her that if she did not upgrade from Windows 7 before the end of life date for Windows 7 (which is January 14th, 2020) she would loose all her data (documents, pictures etc). They wanted her to call them so they could assist her with the upgrade and she would not loose all her data. Of course this is not true, just because Microsoft will not support Windows 7 after January 14, 2020 does not mean you will loose your data.

In all these scam variations, Microsoft does not call you or contact you in any other manner to let you know you have a virus or other issue on your computer(s).

Also, you usually don’t have an issue with your computer until you call them, follow the link they included or give them remote access to your computer. Once you do follow their instructions, especially giving them remote access to your computer, you will have issues.

So please do not fall for these or other scams. Remember none of these large companies like Microsoft, Cisco, or other large tech companies monitor your devices or contact you related to virus or other issues.

If for any reason you think it might be real then do not call the number or click on the link provided but instead contact the company directly (with support emails or numbers provided on their website) and verify that their is an issue. Lastly, never let anyone remotely access your computer unless you actually know who they are and they are with a legitimate company.