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Alert

Microsoft takes action against tech support scammers

Dec 19, 2014 1:36AM PST

[VIDEO]

"Imagine your mother receives a call from a fast-talking "computer technician" and before she knows it, the technician has convinced her that her computer is infected with a virus and for $600, they will "fix" it. This scam happens more often than you might think!"

Tech support scams are not a new phenomenon. Scammers have been peddling useless security software for years, tricking people into spending millions of dollars on non-existent computer problems. However, today's scam artists have added a new twist — using a so-called "technician" to gain access to a person's computer. These scammers claim to find non-existent computer viruses and infections then con people out of their hard-earned money for bogus tech support; in addition to stealing personal and financial information or even installing new malicious software. Since May 2014, Microsoft has received over 65,000 customer complaints regarding fraudulent tech support scams.

Goiing after the scammers ..

Continued : http://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2014/12/18/microsoft-takes-action-tech-support-scammers/

Related : Microsoft sues tech support scammers for trademark violation, false advertising

Discussion is locked

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but...but... what about our "Do Not Call" list?
Dec 21, 2014 8:24AM PST

A good example of how useless the Do Not Call list has become. The bad guys are way ahead of government technology. Another example - my wife answered a call from one of these scammers recently, and the caller ID read MY OWN NAME AND NUMBER!
My wife usually gets the calls from "Windows technicians", but last week I was finally home to take the call. "A problem? Which computer?; I have 7. Hey, you guys must be spying on my computer, aren't you? Don't you know spying is illegal? I finally let loose and told him I know he's full of $--t, but he wouldn't give up. So I continued giving him a hard time until he started mumbling profanities and then hung up on me!
It's good to know Microsoft is trying to combat this scam, but unfortunately it won't be enough.

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air horns work
Dec 23, 2014 5:08AM PST

air horns come in handy when you get those type of calls.

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Will this really help?
Dec 31, 2014 8:52AM PST

I dunno; I can't believe that this kind of scam is limited to a few easily targeted large companies. Well, I can always hope that Microsoft can make a dent. On the other hand, I truly enjoy keeping these guys on the phone and having a little fun when I have time, wasting their time and maybe saving someone more easily duped.

I did have one thing happen though, that made me furious. I once had trouble with a Xerox printer driver. I called Xerox and, after a few fruitless attempts at a fix, the Xerox tech transferred me directly to "Microsoft". I was suspicious when they wanted to take control of my computer and then told me about the exorbitant fee they wanted to "fix" it. After more questions, they admitted to not actually being Microsoft at all, but some third party support company. I contacted Xerox again to complain about the shady transfer. They assured me that this was not standard practice, but I never did find out just how something like that could happen from a big, legitimate company.