Beware Of The Microsoft Windows Phone Scam

FREMONT, CA — Police in Fremont are warning residents about a scam involving Microsoft imposters who call victims in an effort to access their personal computers, police said. And it's not just happening in Fremont but all over the Bay Area.

According to Fremont police, scammers who pretend to work with Microsoft are calling victims and claiming their computers have been hacked or their Microsoft Windows certificates have been compromised.

The goal is to get victims to give scammers remote access into their computers to fix problems. But instead, the scammers gain access to all files on the computer, including personal information that can be used to commit identity theft, police said.

Scammers also obtain credit card information to pay for the fake services they provide while installing spyware, police said. Police said the scammers are very knowledgeable and sound believable.

Anyone who receives a similar call is urged to hang up and not provide any in formation to the caller.

There are many versions of this type of scam, but most originate from call centers located in other countries, police said.

According to police, Microsoft does not make unsolicited calls, nor would the company know if any errors exist on an individual computer. If those computer problems are addressed in a cold call, it is a scam to get money or steal a person's identity, police said.

Tips for avoiding these types of scams are available online.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock

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Originally published June 22, 2017.

Source: Beware Of The Microsoft Windows Phone Scam