Call from "Microsoft" Saying Your Computer is Infected

[Lord Tyrion]

I just got a call from an "unkown" number. They said they were with Microsoft and they told me my computer had been infected. I got scared at first, but then I got suspicious. I asked how he knew my computer was infected and he said the "research department" found out. He wanted me to follow a set of instructions, but got off the phone when he couldn't answer my questions.

I looked online and it looks like it was indeed a scam. Apparently it's a scam to access your computer or to get you to buy some shady programs:
Avoid Phone Scams | Cybercriminal Tech Support Scam | Security Threats

So if you get this call, hang up!

Has anyone else gotten these calls?

 

[king family fan]

I just got a call from an "unkown" number. They said they were with Microsoft and they told me my computer had been infected. I got scared at first, but then I got suspicious. I asked how he knew my computer was infected and he said the "research department" found out. He wanted me to follow a set of instructions, but got off the phone when he couldn't answer my questions.

I looked online and it looks like it was indeed a scam. Apparently it's a scam to access your computer or to get you to buy some shady programs:
Avoid Phone Scams | Cybercriminal Tech Support Scam | Security Threats

So if you get this call, hang up!

Has anyone else gotten these calls?

I too got a call like this about a week an a half ago.

 

[Neesy]

I just got a call from an "unkown" number. They said they were with Microsoft and they told me my computer had been infected. I got scared at first, but then I got suspicious. I asked how he knew my computer was infected and he said the "research department" found out. He wanted me to follow a set of instructions, but got off the phone when he couldn't answer my questions.

I looked online and it looks like it was indeed a scam. Apparently it's a scam to access your computer or to get you to buy some shady programs:
Avoid Phone Scams | Cybercriminal Tech Support Scam | Security Threats

So if you get this call, hang up!

Has anyone else gotten these calls?

Yes and thanks to that my son's computer is now sitting idle up in his room.

When the scammer could not get any money out of my [special needs] son, he was rotten enough to put a password on his desktop computer upstairs, so Josh cannot get back into his computer at all.

I was at work and thank goodness my own desktop computer (which is right by our house phone) had a password, as Josh allowed this numpty to take remote control of his computer!


Dammit - I hate those dishonest, devious, money grubbing scam artists!

(I was supposed to take Josh's computer in today to see if the guys at our computer repair place can access something, but I will wait until Josh is home from work, so he can carry it to the car).

Edit: this actually happened last August believe it or not and it is only recently that Josh has asked if we can take his computer in for servicing - he is always on the internet on his phone anyway.

 

[Moderator]

I just got a call from an "unkown" number. They said they were with Microsoft and they told me my computer had been infected. I got scared at first, but then I got suspicious. I asked how he knew my computer was infected and he said the "research department" found out. He wanted me to follow a set of instructions, but got off the phone when he couldn't answer my questions.

I looked online and it looks like it was indeed a scam. Apparently it's a scam to access your computer or to get you to buy some shady programs:
Avoid Phone Scams | Cybercriminal Tech Support Scam | Security Threats

So if you get this call, hang up!

Has anyone else gotten these calls?

I've had a number of calls about that, too. I usually tell them, "Hmmm...that's very interesting since I use a Mac." The next thing I hear is click.

 

[blunthead]

I've had a number of calls about that, too. I usually tell them, "Hmmm...that's very interesting since I use a Mac." The next thing I hear is click.

 

[Sigmund]

No calls. Yet. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[KingAHolic]

I don't trust any calls that come in. I say I'll call them back

 

[GNTLGNT]