Scam phone calls from Microsoft and your ISP
A number of Trading Standards organisations are warning of a new phone based scam whereby thieves attempt to get credit card numbers, computer access and other personal information from victims.
The scammers operate by calling you and telling them that their computer system is infected or running slowly and that it will be "severely damaged" or "damaged beyond repair" unless they purchase security software and or online support from the caller's company. They may even offer to fix your machine free as part of your broadband connection service provided by your Internet provider.
Victims are persuded to pay for bogus antivirus software which is usually infected with Trojan viruses that allow the scammers access to the victims PC. Other variations get the victim to access a web site and enter a pin number which allows the scammer remote access to the PC, where they can install fake security software which then allows them free access to the infected PC in the future.
If you receive such a call, just hang up as there is no way that the scammers can firstly find your PC on the Internet, then link it to you and then find your phone number.
Within the last few days we have had several clients call in and describe strange phone calls they have been receiving – A man with an accent calls and says there is “an error with Microsoft,” and if you don’t fix it soon, your computer will crash.
THIS IS A SCAM! If you get a call like this, hang up immediately. If you have not opened an incident ticket for support with Microsoft, they do not contact you via phone.
If you begin a conversation with the mysterious caller, he or she will ask if you are in front of your computer to test how fast it is running. Their goal is to get you to log into a website while on the phone, giving a hacker remote access to your entire system. The hacker uses the access to infect your computer with malware and take as much personal information as they can, including banking information.
If you ever receive a suspicious phone call, we advise that you HANG UP with the caller and further investigate their claims before giving them access to your computer or other personal information. In today’s digital world, discretion is key.
Example scam phone call from customer during the week – one of many
Hi
just got a call from some Indian lady called Amy basically she wanted access to my pc telling me that Microsoft had sent her something saying my pc was infected with loads of infections she gave me a web address which I googled and found it to be a scam. When asked she wouldn't supply me with any details like phone number or address just this website I asked her if she worked with Microsoft she said yes asked her what dept she said IT I asked for her managers name she said Michael Parkinson i asked to speak to him and asked what he wanted to do to my pc he said fix it Is aid its not broke but insisted that it was full of infections.
I said its not he said it is and it will crash at this point Ii told him that he was talking rubbish he said how could I be so sure I told him I worked for Microsoft in the IT dept in Dublin and I had checked him out and there is no Michael Parkinson working there he hung up so people beware this maybe a new company for their scam.