I keep getting phone calls from foreigners saying that something installed last year has been hacked yet my webroot says my computer is OK. They also blocked my email page telling me to call a certain number and when I noticed and Indian or middle eastern accent, I hung up because I have had bad experiences with those people. I have windows ten and webroot would let me know if anything was wrong. Should I just ignore this thing since webroot has been scanned and says nothing is wrong?
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Hi mardancy
Welcome to the Community Forums.
You are very wise to be cautious
THIS IS A SCAM!! Neither Microsoft nor any other company sends emails, pop ups, or phone calls of any kind advising that you may have a problem or an infection.
If you clicked on any links, allowed them to remote into your computer, or went to any websites please Submit a Support Ticket ASAP. (Now would be a good idea....)
If you would like more information, read on (After submitting that Trouble Ticket.....)
NEWS ARTICLE: Tech Support Scams are on the rise.
Microsoft never issues this type of warning or email or anything of a sort! Please see the following link for Microsoft's official word on this:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
"Neither Microsoft nor our partners make unsolicited phone calls (also known as cold calls) to charge you for computer security or software fixes.
Cybercriminals often use publicly available phone directories so they might know your name and other personal information when they call you. They might even guess what operating system you're using.
Once they've gained your trust, they might ask for your user name and password or ask you to go to a website to install software that will let them access your computer to fix it. Once you do this, your computer and your personal information is vulnerable."
Also see Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/msname.aspx
For more information here's what the United States Federal Trade Commission has to say on the subject::
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams
"In a recent twist, scam artists are using the phone to try to break into your computer. They call, claiming to be computer techs associated with well-known companies like Microsoft. They say that they've detected viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into giving them remote access or paying for software you don't need.
These scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about viruses and other threats. They know that computer users have heard time and again that it's important to install security software. But the purpose behind their elaborate scheme isn't to protect your computer; it's to make money."
This scam is common and has been around for quite a while. Here is a good Webroot Blog article from April 2013 by Threat Researcher Roy Tobin.
http://www.webroot.com/blog/2013/04/30/fake-microsoft-security-scam/
Also add a good free Ad Blocker like the ones suggested below:
For Internet Explorer Ad Block Plus: https://adblockplus.org/
For Firefox uBlock Origin: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/?src=ss or Privacy Badger:https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/privacy-badger-firefox/
Google Chrome uBlock Origin: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en or Privacy Badger: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp
Regards, Baldrick
Welcome to the Community Forums.
You are very wise to be cautious
THIS IS A SCAM!! Neither Microsoft nor any other company sends emails, pop ups, or phone calls of any kind advising that you may have a problem or an infection.
If you clicked on any links, allowed them to remote into your computer, or went to any websites please Submit a Support Ticket ASAP. (Now would be a good idea....)
If you would like more information, read on (After submitting that Trouble Ticket.....)
NEWS ARTICLE: Tech Support Scams are on the rise.
Microsoft never issues this type of warning or email or anything of a sort! Please see the following link for Microsoft's official word on this:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
"Neither Microsoft nor our partners make unsolicited phone calls (also known as cold calls) to charge you for computer security or software fixes.
Cybercriminals often use publicly available phone directories so they might know your name and other personal information when they call you. They might even guess what operating system you're using.
Once they've gained your trust, they might ask for your user name and password or ask you to go to a website to install software that will let them access your computer to fix it. Once you do this, your computer and your personal information is vulnerable."
Also see Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/msname.aspx
For more information here's what the United States Federal Trade Commission has to say on the subject::
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams
"In a recent twist, scam artists are using the phone to try to break into your computer. They call, claiming to be computer techs associated with well-known companies like Microsoft. They say that they've detected viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into giving them remote access or paying for software you don't need.
These scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about viruses and other threats. They know that computer users have heard time and again that it's important to install security software. But the purpose behind their elaborate scheme isn't to protect your computer; it's to make money."
This scam is common and has been around for quite a while. Here is a good Webroot Blog article from April 2013 by Threat Researcher Roy Tobin.
http://www.webroot.com/blog/2013/04/30/fake-microsoft-security-scam/
Also add a good free Ad Blocker like the ones suggested below:
For Internet Explorer Ad Block Plus: https://adblockplus.org/
For Firefox uBlock Origin: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/?src=ss or Privacy Badger:https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/privacy-badger-firefox/
Google Chrome uBlock Origin: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en or Privacy Badger: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp
Regards, Baldrick
"I keep getting phone calls from foreigners saying that something installed last year has been hacked yet my webroot says my computer is OK. They also blocked my email page telling me to call a certain number and when I noticed and Indian or middle eastern accent, I hung up because I have had bad experiences with those people. I have windows ten and webroot would let me know if anything was wrong. Should I just ignore this thing since webroot has been scanned and says nothing is wrong"
Is your email page working now? If not, reboot your machine, try your email page and please let us know what's happening NOW.
Is your email page working now? If not, reboot your machine, try your email page and please let us know what's happening NOW.
Hello mardancy, Welcome to the Webroot Community Forum. :D
It's a scam as Baldrick posted. I just received the same type of phone call this morning at 9 am. Amy Murphy showed on the caller ID. When I answered they stated they were from Microsoft. I just hung up. Good link to keep on your desktop as I do: http://800notes.com/ Just fill in the number that is on your caller ID and it will tell you what type of call it is.
It's a scam as Baldrick posted. I just received the same type of phone call this morning at 9 am. Amy Murphy showed on the caller ID. When I answered they stated they were from Microsoft. I just hung up. Good link to keep on your desktop as I do: http://800notes.com/ Just fill in the number that is on your caller ID and it will tell you what type of call it is.
It works now. LOL
I have also received phone calls like this in the past. It seems to come in patterns. I will get calls for a week or so, then nothing for months. Then it will start up again for a week or so, then stop. Etc. etc.
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