Microsoft is advising Windows 10 and 7 users to be extra careful as increasingly sophisticated scamsthat are taking place could lead to major financial losses. The company says it continues to be aware of an increasing number of attacks that are trying to trick users into handing over personal data and credit card details . They do this in a number of ways. One of them is by sending fake technical support alerts . This scam is nothing new, but Microsoft is warning Windows users about the latest techniques that criminals are using.
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The latest trick that scammersuses a pop-up window that suddenly appears on the computer screen. The scary message says that the computer has been hacked and provides a technical support number that directs users to a fake call center.
If the user calls this number, they will be asked to pay to get help for their computer, which they don't actually need.
Mary Jo, a Microsoft executive , says that tech support fraud has evolved to include an infrastructure that allows pop-ups to appear to consumers that look very professional.
Microsoft says it receives about 6,500 complaints from people who have been scammed for supposedly providing technical support, but that number has decreased from previous years, when there were as many as 13,000 reports per month.
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The company's research shows that three in five consumers have encountered technical support fraud in the past 12 months.
Unfortunately, about one in six consumers who come into contact with criminals believe them, resulting in hundreds of dollars being lost.
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Microsoft has provided advice on avoiding scams
- Microsoft does not send messages, emails, or make phone calls to request personal or financial information or to provide technical support to fix your computer. Any communication with Microsoft must be initiated by you.
- If you see a pop-up or error message with a phone number, do not call the number. Error and warning messages from Microsoft never include a phone number.
- Download software only from official Microsoft partner sites or from the Microsoft Store. Avoid downloading software from third-party sites, as they may contain malware.
- Microsoft technical support will never ask you to pay for support in the form of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, or with gift cards.
Source: Express.co.uk
