The Microsoft Internet Phone Scam

Your phone rings. Whether it is your cell phone or a landline, you answer it, thinking it’s a family member or friend calling. However, do you ever stop to think that it might be a scammer on the other end? Well, maybe you should consider the possibility the next time you answer the phone.

Yet another phone scam has surfaced, and this one is known as the Microsoft internet phone scam. The Microsoft scam begins with a criminal posing as a computer-security engineer. This supposed do-gooder calls you at home and convinces you that your computer is at risk from a security threat.

How many of us are concerned about our computers and have one or more antivirus software applications installed on our computers to protect them from viruses, Trojans and spyware? When you get a call saying your computer is at risk, you will probably take the time to listen to the caller's spiel because you don’t want to be adversely affected.

As you continue your conversation with the illegitimate computer-security engineer, he will proceed to tell you that he is providing free security checks. He convinces you even more that he is a legitimate professional because he claims to represent a legitimate company and uses telephone directories to refer to other potential victims by name.

Once you, the victim, have been convinced that your computer is at risk, the scammer provides you with techniques and products that will solve your problems; however, those solutions come with a cost that is passed on to you. Many victims unknowingly download malicious software to their computers, while other victims purchase this software and give their credit-card information to phishers.

Since the Microsoft internet phone scam has emerged, Microsoft has surveyed 7,000 computer users in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland. Of these 7,000 people, 15 percent admitted to receiving calls from scammers, and 26 percent of the calls from the scammers originated in Ireland.

Twenty-two percent of the victims of the Microsoft scam indicated that they followed the scammers’ instructions, while the majority of respondents – 79 percent – admitted that they suffered financial loss because of the Microsoft scam. The average amount that each person lost in the Microsoft scam is $875.

While it is sometimes difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, it’s important to stay on your toes during these types of phone calls. The Microsoft scam seems to target individuals whose main language is English; however, it is only a matter of time before the Microsoft scam is translated into other languages and passed on to other countries and more unsuspecting victims. In the meantime, Microsoft is trying to educate the public to prevent others from becoming victims of the Microsoft internet phone scam. To protect yourself, Microsoft recommends these actions:

• If you receive an unsolicited call related to a computer security problem, be very suspicious – even if the caller claims to work for a respected company.
• Never, ever provide your personal information, including credit card numbers and bank information, to unsolicited callers.
• If an unsolicited representative calls you and wants you to visit a website or install software on your computer, don’t do it.
• If something seems to go to be true, it probably is. Take down the caller's name and information and pass that information onto the police so that they can check into the matter further. The caller could have been legit, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Microsoft also advises consumers to do the following on a regular basis to protect themselves against scams:
• Use up-to-date versions of Windows and any software applications
• Install security updates regularly
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly
• Use a firewall and make sure you have antivirus software that is up to date
• Microsoft is currently providing a free antivirus product that is available at www.microsoft.com.
• For those of you who think you may have already been a victim of the Microsoft scam, this is what you need to do:
• Change all your passwords, including your email password and the passwords for any financial accounts that you review online.
• Scan your computer for viruses and find out if any malware has been installed on your computer.
• Contact your bank and credit card companies so that they can be on the lookout for any out-of-the-blue or bizarre transactions.

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