Individuals are receiving an increased number of these types of scam messages and phone calls, officials said. Scammers use fake browser pop-ups or unsolicited phone calls to trick victims into believing their computer is infected or compromised.
Scammers then try to gain remote access to your device to install malware, steal personal information, steal financial information or demand payment for nonexistent problems.
Individuals are reminded to never call phone numbers from pop-up messages, don’t give out personal information, and to hang up immediately if a scam is suspected.
How the scam works
A full-screen pop-up or a “locked” screen message appears that looks like a legitimate Microsoft alert, often with a siren sound.
This message instructs you to call a provided phone number to “fix” a serious issue, like an IP address being used for illegal activity or a virus being found.
If you call the number, a scammer will try to convince you to install remote access software to give them control of your computer.
Once they have access, they’ll pretend to find problems on your computer, steal your personal data and demand money, often in the form of cryptocurrency or gift cards.
How to protect yourself
Never trust unsolicited contact.
Microsoft will never contact you by phone or email to offer technical support.
Don’t call numbers from fake pop-ups. Real Microsoft error messages do not include phone numbers to call.
If your screen is locked or you’re on a call with a suspected scammer, unplug your network cable or turn off your Wi-Fi to cut off their access.
Report the scam to law enforcement.
If the browser is frozen, try to close it or force-restart your computer by holding the power button.
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