In the past few months, a new scam has emerged that is raking in millions to pesky hackers around the globe called the Microsoft Technician Scam. In fact, instead of being squashed, this particular problem is escalating at an alarming rate. The scam is simple; you get a call on your phone from a person who claims to be from Microsoft and they begin to rattle off a bunch of things that are wrong with your computer. Remember that Microsoft will never call anybody for any reason at random. The second red flag is that nobody can possibly know if anything is wrong with your computer unless you tell him or her.

 

The calls will generally originate from other countries and for the most part, to an average consumer, it will seem very real. Many folks without thinking get scared and really think they have a serious issue with their computer. The call will first explain what issues you are having and that it was reported through the Windows error-reporting program and sent to Microsoft. They will then walk you through various steps to get into your computer and once they are in, the hackers will deposit a virus on your system that may help them gain control of your PC. Once in your system, they will rattle off all the problems you are having and then tell you it will cost $150.00 (or some other price) to have it cleaned. The truth is, if your system is not running right, any of the solutions they offer will probably not help.

 

Anytime you are experiencing problems with your computer, call a computer repair company yourself. Do not accept the offer from anybody that calls you and tells you your system is compromised. When you call your favorite computer repair company, the tech will listen and decide what tools need to be run based on your description of the symptoms. If you ever even start the process with the scammers and then decide to abort, it is best to have your computer checked out to be sure no malicious software was deposited on your system. Remember that these guys not only want you to pay for their “service”, but they are also interested in your personal information and passwords.

 

We have been seeing a huge increase in the amount of calls people are getting in regards to this scam. If you receive a call of this nature, note the number on the caller ID. Do not give the calling party any information what so ever. Most importantly, do not allow them to enter your computer under no circumstances! You may want to forward the number you got from your caller ID to the authorities. Like I said, the criminals are usually out of the country but if enough people get the message and do not hand over their credit card or allow them into their machines, it will help to foil the scam. Forward this article to as many friends or relatives as possible. The more folks that have knowledge of this scam the harder it will be for folks to loose their hard earned money because of it.

 

Author: Joe Zelenak Staff Writer/Technician for Ring a Geek.