Beware Telephone Scam! "Microsoft" Says Your Computer Has a Virus
By Greekgeek
A Common Computer Fraud
I just received a scam phone call, and I want to warn you so you don't fall for it. The scammer pretends to be from Microsoft or some other legitimate company to trick you.
Even if you wouldn't be fooled, please warn friends and relatives (especially elderly ones) who might not be aware of scams like this. Victims of this fraud could suffer anything from identity theft to having their computer hijacked and used to send spam or viruses without their knowledge.
"Your Computer Has a Virus"
Here's my transcript of this scam phone call.
[Heavily-accented Indian volce]: Hello? Hello?
Me: Who's calling, please?
Him: IT Solutions. We are calling to warn you that your computer has been infected with a virus.
Me: My computer has a virus, eh?
Him: Yes, your computer has a virus.
Me: Where did you say you were calling from?
Him: IT Solutions.
Me: No, I mean, where is your company located?
Him [after I asked several times]: The United States.
Me: Where in the United States?
Him: New York. [My caller ID showed "Bellevue, WA."]
Me: And what's your company's phone number?
Him [Says number far too fast to understand].
Me: Whoa, too fast. Please say your phone number slowly so I can understand it.
Him (after dodging the question a few more times): 717-310-3925. [My caller ID showed 425-998-1533.]
Me: You say my computer has a virus. So, what kind of computer do I have?
Him: I'm sorry?
Me: If you know my computer has a virus, then you should know what kind of computer I'm using. What kind of computer do I have?
Him: Windows NT or Windows 7. [He guessed the most common operating systems, but I never use Windows.]
Me: Nope. This is a scam, and I'm reporting it to the police. Goodbye!
How This Scam Steals Your Information
Actually, I didn't call the police. I called the Washington State Attorney General's office, since the call appeared to be from Washington. The operator said that the number my caller ID showed was probably fake, too. These scammers are usually off-shore and have ways to reroute the number.
She also said she had just dealt with another "your computer is infected with a virus" telemarketing scam in which the fraudster claimed to be calling from Microsoft. In that case, the victim let the phony company install malicious software on her computer.
Malicious software lets a stranger do the following over your internet connection:
- Access all information and documents stored on your computer
- Track your typing so that they can log all your passwords, credit card numbers, or anything else you type
- Monitor your purchases, your email, your web browsing
- Control your computer without your knowledge, using it to send viruses out to everyone on your email contacts list
- Lock you out of your computer and damage or erase its contents
Usually they'd rather not erase your hard drive, since it's more useful to turn your computer into a "zombie," operating or accessing it remotely without your knowledge. Huge networks of "zombie" computers are pressed into service by scam companies for all kinds of purposes! The "zombie" computer's real user cannot tell their computer is serving another master, except perhaps by the fact that the computer seems to have slowed down slightly.
Looking online, I saw more reports of people being scammed by telemarketers claiming to be calling from Microsoft with, "Your computer has been infected with a virus." I'm sure the real IT Solutions isn't connected with this scam: my telemarketer just borrowed a respectable company's name to sound more convincing.
If you've been a victim of this scam, look up your state attorney general's website and search for a "fraud report" or "consumer complaints" area. Here's some useful links below (I reported this call to both of them):
Where to Report Phone Fraud
- National Do Not Call Registry
The U.S. National Do Not Call Registry allows you to register your phone number. U.S. telemarketers are legally required to check this list; if they call numbers on it, they're liable for prosecution. Enforcement isn't great, but every bit helps. - FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection - Consumer Information
The Federal Trade Commission doesn't resolve individual consumer complaints, but if there's enough reports of the same fraud, they may be able to go after the scam and shut it down.
Comments
I got the call. I told them I have several computers and asked for the IP address of the infected computer. They gave me an IP address that wasn't even in the USA!
My friend got this call too. He acted surprised that his vintage Apple Macintosh was infected. The caller still kept trying to get him to install remote desktop. LOL.
This is a worldwide scam - we have it in the UK. I have had the call, as has my mother-in-law. Our callers had Indian accents too. Both of us challenged our callers, as you did, and got rid of them quickly. As for all the phishing emails - well, that's another hub!
Pente: I was actually browsing the web with a tablet (again, not Windows) when I got this call. Of course, I didn't tell HIM that.
Judi Bee -- yep, Phishing is a whole other kettle of...er...fish. I'm still stunned by how many people fall for it. A few years back, my online community's admin, an intelligent and (I thought) computer-savvy bloke, actually gave his social security number to a phishing site pretending to be Paypal. He gave them everything, even his social security number, without noticing the URL included a typo! And he was a smart man. Since then, I've stopped taking it for granted that all my friends and relatives are able to discern frauds like this.
Thanks for the heads up! Very informative article. And I agree with the author, warn families and friends so they know. This scam may be obvious by now but it's still very deceiving for those who are not aware.
By the way, I got a call like that, too, and I saved the number, you know, for future reference. It came from 425-998-1533. It's amazing because it happened about 2 months ago. I didn't really think it'd still be happening till now but I just looked up the phone number online and found this page http://www.callercenter.com/425-998-1533.html. Don't you think it's about time peoplebe more vigilant and cautious about anonymous calls?
The way a lot of these scams work is (a) they're nearly untraceable, since the phone number is a redirect hiding where the call really came from, and (b) even if only a very small number of people fall for it, they can still turn a profit.
scammers are losers ,let them go get a job. Are people still falling for scammers these day?
Unfortunately, this IS a job. They make huge amounts of money from grandparents and other people not tech-savvy enough to realize that "Microsoft" isn't the real Microsoft.
I think most people, by now, have realized all the tricks scammers are using to steal sensitive information. Thanks for warning us though. Voted up
Well, I didn't know about these scams... Thanks a lot... I am following u..
I have received the same call in England. That just shows how bad it is. He told me to turn my cpu on. When i lied & said it was in bits having a new soundcard fitted, he hung up!
Daffitt 4 months ago
Very well written article. It's refreshing to see more people with common sense about their computer security issues. Well done Greekgeek.