Yes, Virginia, it is a Scam

To paraphrase an old saying; you can take the girl out of journalism but you can't take a police reporter's instincts out of the girl.
Or something like that.
For the past couple of years, I've been the target of a known scam that makes my blood boil. While it's garnered regional and national publicity, I decided to investigate and write about it myself. After all, knowledge is power and if what I am sharing prevents even one unsuspecting computer user from falling prey to bogus telephone solicitation schemes, I've done my job.
The type of con I'm referring to typically occurs when someone with an Indian or nondescript North American accent claiming to be from Microsoft or Windows Systems calls you out of the blue. The next thing you know, they're telling you there's a "problem" with your computer.
I can't tell you much more than that based on personal experience because that's where I usually use some extremely colorful language to end the call.
According to Microsoft (my link text), however, the perpetrators "offer to help solve your computer problems." Once they've convinced you to let them do so, the cybercrooks "attempt to steal from you and damage your computer with malicious software including viruses and spyware."
The callers identify themselves as representatives of the following groups or organizations:
- Windows Help Desk
- Windows Service Center
- Microsoft Tech Support
- Microsoft Support
- Windows Technical Department Support Group
- Microsoft Research and Development Team (Microsoft R&D Team)
As a result, Microsoft advises the public to "treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism." Recipients of such calls -- including those from anyone claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support -- should end them without granting the caller access to your computer or divulging personal information.
"Although law enforcement can trace phone numbers, perpetrators often use pay phones, disposable cellular phones or stolen cellular phone numbers," Microsoft notes the portion of its website devoted to online security and privacy. "It's better to avoid being conned rather than try to repair the damage afterwards."
In spite of repeated warnings and calls for public awareness, so-called tech support scams have been pervasive for several years.
In a 2012 blog (my link text), Consumer Education Specialist Nicole Vincent of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the agency "cracked down on a massive international scam" that "played upon people's fear of computer infections and hackers."
The perpetrators of that particular scam allegedly called the victims claiming to be associated with legitimate companies including Microsoft, Dell, MacAfee and Norton.
Collectively, they were accused of fooling "tens of thousands of computer users" into believing something was wrong with their machines and then charging each victim $130 to $300 for bogus repairs.
U.S. residents should report these and other phone scams to the FTC. For information about resources available in other countries, visit the section of microsoft.com dedicated to online security and privacy.
Until next time, "That's life..."