Let’s be perfectly clear, Microsoft is making way too much money selling Windows and Office and other software to be interested in whether your personal computer has a virus infection or if it is performing poorly.
Microsoft will never call you to let you know your computer is having problems. These scammers are saying “we are from the Windows team” or “We are Windows calling” or something like that, to scare you into letting them into your computer. These fake technicians usually have a foreign accent.
Be careful when you Google for help, be sure the companies are reputable and be sure you are calling the right companies. Nowadays, you can Google “Microsoft support” and get a fake company! This is VERY common.
Do not call the numbers on pop up ads when you are browsing the internet, these are fake alerts that you have a virus.
Never let anyone remote in to your computer that called YOU. If you called a technician, this is ok but just someone calling you out of the blue is NOT OK.
If you called them and are having second thoughts then just hang up and call ME.
If your gut says no or you feel weird, hang up or turn off your computer immediately. Even if you allowed them in to your computer, they will say things to scare you into paying. Turning off the computer and calling me or someone you know and trust is what I recommend. Remember, if they are in your computer and you don’t pay, bad things can happen…
Do they steal your data? From what I have heard… this is not common but maybe, they mostly they want to get your credit card and charge you for fake services. If you did this, you can call your credit card company and they should charge back that service. Remember once they’ve remoted in and you don’t pay, it is TOO LATE. They can destroy data or lock you out of your computer!
Do they destroy your data? YES!! Usually this happens if you ask for your money back.
Do they lock you out of your computer? Yes, and sometimes they put a virus on your computer if you don’t pay or say you want your money back.
Please share this with your parents, friends and family. Anyone that you feel will benefit from this information.
The phone scams are still going on and getting worse and are more destructive than ever. These scammers rely on the fact that you do not understand what is going on and they feed on it. They expect you to NOT KNOW. And now you do.