I've posted about this previously but thought this might be a good time for a reminder. With the world news spiraling out of control lately, scammers are keen to take advantage of vulnerability arising from our fear and uncertainty.
If you receive a pop-up on your computer or a telephone call saying there is something wrong with your computer that needs to be urgently fixed, it is a scam perpetrated by imposters who often claim to represent Microsoft.
In April 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) posted a brief but helpful consumer alert entitled Hang up on tech support calls at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/04/hang-tech-support-calls?utm_source=govdelivery.
Meanwhile, keep these tips in mind:
- Do not respond to unknown callers. Just hang up.
- Do not let any stranger or unverified caller take remote control of your computer.
- Never share your password with any caller, ever.
- Do not provide sensitive information (SSN, bank account number, date of birth, etc.) to any unknown caller.
- If you do get a call, file a complaint with the FTC at ttps://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
- Limit the amount of personal information you post on social media.
For additional information, see the Microsoft support page at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4013405/windows-protect-from-tech-support-scams.
