When Microsoft Calls, Don’t Answer

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Callers are once again trying to scam consumers with fake computer security threats, ExplorerNews.com says.

The caller will say he’s working for Microsoft, which has detected a problem with your computer, and that he’s prepared to provide a fix — for a fee. Says ExplorerNews.com:

One tactic is to get the victim to open the Windows Event Viewer, which has a log of any errors that Windows has detected. Unless you just recently installed Windows, your Event Log is bound to show some errors (very normal), which can be made to seem scary to nontechnical users.

The scammer might also tell you your computer hasn’t been updated lately, that some security feature is turned off, or that you installed something incorrectly.

Computers are like cars. There are some basic things you need to understand to keep them working properly, and a lot of under-the-hood stuff you probably don’t know — or need to know. That’s why you find a trustworthy tech, or a good mechanic.

Never believe these cold callers, because they don’t fit the bill. Straight from the source: “You will never receive a legitimate call from Microsoft or our partners to charge you for computer fixes,” Microsoft says.

Microsoft recommends you take down the caller’s information and report it to the authorities. Don’t give any financial information or turn over remote control to your computer.

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