X

Microsoft: Tech support scams a 'growing global problem'

Social engineering attacks such as fake tech support calls are easy, effective and occur across all platforms.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Joshua Goldman
tech-support-scam

Tech support scams have a common attack plan. 

Microsoft

Tech support scams by email, fake websites and error warnings, malware and unsolicited phone calls are an effective way to trick people into giving up personal information. And it's only getting worse, ZDNet reports

In 2017, Microsoft customer support services received 153,000 reports from customers in 183 countries who ran into or were victims of tech support scams. That's up 24 percent from 2016, according to Microsoft Windows Defender Research Project Manager Erik Wahlstrom.  

Approximately 15 percent of these customers lost on average between $200 and $400 in the scams, Wahlstrom said. Last December, scammers tricked people into paying $25 for fake security software. In the same month, Microsoft received a report of a tech-support scam in the Netherlands that resulted in the emptying of 89,000 euros (about $109,000, £78,000 and AU$143,000) from a bank account. 

The problem isn't limited to Windows' users, with scammers attacking Mac OS, iOS and Android users as well. To that end, Microsoft has made partnerships in all areas -- law enforcement, telecom, web hosting and financial networks -- to take on the problem. But customer education remains key, Wahlstrom said.