Microsoft Phone Scam Gets More Believable

Date: 2011-06-23 10:42:23

According to a recent article in the Idaho Press-Tribune, virus phone scammers may be making their phone ploy much more believable.

Dale Dixon, the president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau, received a call from a user who was working on his computer when a fake virus warning popped up. He recognized it as a scam and turned off the computer. His phone then rang and someone with a foreign accent, claiming to be from Microsoft Support, was calling to help fix the problem for a fee.

Dale then spoke to the owner of a local computer repair company, who told him they have been hearing of this same thing.

It will be interesting to see if this truly is a new level of the old scam, or just a creepy coincidence. It is possible for this to work: If the malware first mines your computer and finds a phone number, it can alert the "Call Center" telling them when to call you. This will of course most likely be immediately after the fake pop-up appears on your screen.

No legitimate company monitors for viruses and calls when they happen. If you get a pop-up like this, get your computer checked by a local professional you trust. The best way to find a good local computer repair person is by asking friends and other business who they use. Don't trust ads in the paper. If you do try someone from an ad, do a little research first. It's worth the time to drive to their office and see what it looks like. Also keep in mind the the big box electronics store technical support does not always have the best trained personnel.

Category: Hoaxes

Subcategory: Phone