Warning - Computer Scare

[Nell]

I was on my tablet last night when an alarm sounded and my screen switched to a pop-up message that it was infected with the Zeus Virus. An ominous sounding voice told me that my computer had been hacked, that Facebook and credit card information had been compromised and gave me an 800 number to call. The voice said that if I shut down without contacting them, Microsoft would freeze my system. The message was in a continuous loop and repeated over and over and over and over with the fire alarm sound in the background. I called the 800 number on the screen and was told that this was Microsoft Global support. She said that the problem could only be fixed if they had access to my laptop or desktop computer. When I asked "How do I know if you are really Microsoft?" Her response was to repeat that I had reached Microsoft's global support line and they could fix the problem. I told her that I would call her back. Ominous warning voice, loud alarm and scary screen message kept repeating on my tablet during this call.

I hung up, went on my desktop computer to the Microsoft official site and called the help/support number on the screen. It was a different number. The scary computer message, the ominous voice warning me that I'd been hacked - IT WAS ALL A SCAM!!! If I had let them 'help' me, they would have accessed all the information stored on my computer. The real Microsoft Global support told me how to shut off the alarm, blocked the potential hackers and cleared the malware off my tablet. And she suggested that I warn my friends.

If it happens to you, try not to panic and don't let the hackers 'help' you. Microsoft NEVER contacts you directly. When you have a problem, you contact them not the other way around. (In case you're wondering, I DO have anti-virus software.)

Lucky for me, I had attended a cyber security seminar two weeks ago where FBI agents talked to us about some of the tactics that hackers use. They didn't mention this one but it made me hyper-alert and wary. Unlucky for the hackers because I have the email address and cell phone number of two FBI agents.

All I really planned to do last night was finish reading my mystery. :-/

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Which website were you at?

[M.]

it was on mine. i shut off the computer and it went away. effective scam! i didnt call because i was darned if i'd let anyone change my system again. even microsoft!

i believe this is the time to have 2 laptops: one 'virgin' and never connected for writing, and one for daily life and emails.

[Nell]

Nancy wrote: "Which website were you at?"

I was on the Merriam Webster site doing a word game.

[Nell]

M. wrote: "it was on mine. i shut off the computer and it went away. effective scam! i didnt call because i was darned if i'd let anyone change my system again. even microsoft!

i believe this is the time to ..."

I logged off the internet but the warning was still there when I logged back on. Don't know if shutting down the computer would have worked or not. There are a lot of different scams out there.

[Skye]

I had the same scam and got very upset; it is a scam that has been around for a very long time.