”Just in the last month we’ve had to repair six customer computers after they were tricked into giving control over their computer to a so called Microsoft Tech. Just remember - if you don’t know who you’re talking to, don’t talk to them," Epling said. "And don’t follow any instructions."
Cyber criminals 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 are vulnerable.
If someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support calls you:
_ Do not purchase any software or services.
_ Never give control of your computer to a third party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team with whom you are already a customer.
_ Take the caller’s information down and immediately report it to your local authorities.
_ Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support.
Microsoft has released a statement about the scams saying, “Microsoft takes the privacy and security of our customers’ and partners’ personal information very seriously. We are advising customers to treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism and not to provide any personal information to anyone over the phone or online. Anyone who receives an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft should hang up. We can assure you Microsoft does not make these kinds of calls.”
If you would like more information about this subject please contact Emerald Technologies at 923-1268.
Submitted by Garth Epling
Emerald Technologies
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