WARNING:Security alert: Bogus tech-support phone calls
“Hello. This is Microsoft Tech Support. Your PC has notified us that it has an infection.”
The call is a scam — an extremely prevalent one. Here’s how it works and what you need to know to stay out of the trap.
Scams come and go, but this particular one seems to have staying power — and it’s spreading quickly. It’s now so common, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center) issued a Jan. 7 special alert, “New twist to online tech support scam.”
Windows Secrets reader Scott Brande was recently on the receiving end of a typical tech-support con. Recognizing it for what it was, he carefully documented the attempted snow job, then sent in his notes as a service to all Windows Secrets readers.
His narrative, plus the resources I’ll list at the end of this article, can help you — and the people you care about — avoid falling prey to this malicious tactic.
Scott’s description of how the scam played out:
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