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Microsoft Tech Support Scam

Tech support scams are an industry-wide issue where scammers use scare tactics to trick you into paying for unnecessary technical support services that supposedly fix contrived device, platform, or software problems.

How tech support scams work

Scammers may call you directly on your phone and pretend to be representatives of a software company. They might even spoof the caller ID so that it displays a legitimate support phone number from a trusted company. They can then ask you to install applications that give them remote access to your device. Using remote access, these experienced scammers can misrepresent normal system output as signs of problems.

Scammers might also initiate contact by displaying fake error messages on websites you visit, displaying support numbers and enticing you to call. They can also put your browser on full screen and display pop-up messages that won't go away, essentially locking your browser. These fake error messages aim to trick you into calling an indicated technical support hotline. Note that Microsoft error and warning messages never include phone numbers.

When you engage with the scammers, they can offer fake solutions for your “problems” and ask for payment in the form of a one-time fee or subscription to a purported support service.

How to protect against tech support scams

First, be sure to follow these tips on how to keep your computer secure.

It is also important to keep the following in mind:

Popular scam types

There are several forms of tech support scams, all of which aim to trick you into believing that your computer needs to be fixed and you need to pay for technical support services.

Phone scams

In this type of scam, scammers call you and claim to be from the tech support team of Microsoft or other vendors. They then offer to help solve your computer problems.

Scammers often use publicly available phone directories, so they might know your name and other personal information when they call you. They might even guess what operating system you're using.

Once they've gained your trust, they might ask for your user name and password or ask you to go to a legitimate website to install software that will let them access your computer to fix it. If you install the software and provide credentials, your computer and your personal information are vulnerable.

Although law enforcement can trace phone numbers, perpetrators often use pay phones, disposable cellular phones, or stolen cellular phone numbers. Treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism. Do not provide any personal information.

If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Support, hang up. We do not make these kinds of calls.

Web scams

Tech support scam websites make you believe that you have a problem with your PC. You may be redirected to these websites automatically by malicious ads found in dubious sites, such as download locations for fake installers and pirated media.

These websites can use any of the following tactics to convince you that there is a problem with your PC that needs fixing:

They can also use the following techniques to further make their claim believable:

All these techniques are meant to persuade you to call the specified tech support number. In contrast, the real error messages in Windows 10 don’t ask you to call a tech support number.

Other forms of support scams

Some tech support scams may also come in the form of malware. When run, these malware may display fake error notifications about your computer or software, similar to tech support scam websites. However, because they are programs that are installed on your computer, scammers will likely use them to perform other malicious actions, such as to steal data or install other malware.

Scammers may also use other ways to reach you, such as email or chat. These email or chat messages may resemble phishing emails; however, instead of pointing to phishing sites designed to steal credentials, the links lead to tech support scam websites.

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