Windows 10: genuine or scam message posing from Microsoft to cleanup my computer of viruses and...

This screen popped up on my Desktop running Windows 10 with a message from Microsoft Edge to clean up my computer of viruses and phishing software with instructions "Not to turn off the computer otherwise data will be lost, and security compromised."

I called the Help Desk on this screen number 1-866-393-7989 twice. got different operatosr and both said they were from Microsoft. I turned off the computer and restarted but the screen was still there.


Is this genuine or a scam message posing from Microsoft to cleanup my computer of viruses and phishing software ?


I cannot minimise or delete the screen which is frozen with the alert.

:)

 

I think im being scammed by www.****.com

Hi,

Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

First of all you should disconnect your computer from the internet and perform a full scan on your PC for any harmful files.

Any other form of customer communication about Windows 10 upgrades is not a genuine Microsoft initiative or content.

Be vigilant about protecting your devices against fraudulent scams, such as:

• A fraudulent email providing you a link or attachment that claims to start the Windows 10 installation process.
• An unsolicited internet pop-up attempting to guide you through the installation process.
• A phony phone call from someone posing as a Microsoft employee, who offers to assist with an upgrade to Windows 10 or to “help” with any other Microsoft product.

If you are already a victim or are targeted by one of these scams:

• Do not follow the instructions, click on links, or open attachments. If you received the information by email, delete the message.
• Report the fraudulent communication to Microsoft:
  https://support.microsoft.com/reportascam
• Go to
  Microsoft Safety & Security Center for information and resources dedicated to helping keep your PC safe from threats, including viruses, malware and phishing attempts.

You may follow through from the link below: Refer the post by Bill.

Tech support phone scams

Hope this helps. Get back to us for further queries. We are happy to help!

 

ROGUE MICROSOFT SUPPORT COMPANY EXTORTING MONEY AND PUTTING VIRUSES ON COMPUTERS

You are dealing with a well known scam.

Tech Support Scamming through
unsolicited phone calls, browser pop-ups and
emails from "so-called Support Techs" advising "your computer is infected with malware",

“All Your Files Are Encrypted" and other
fake "alert messages" has become an increasing common scam tactic over the past several years. The scams may involve web pages with screenshots of fake Microsoft (Windows) Support messages, fake reports of suspicious activity, fake warnings of malware
found on your computer,
fake ransomware and fake
BSODs all of which include a tech support phone number to call in order to fix the problem. If you call the phone number (or they called you), scammers will talk their victims into allowing them remote control access of the
computer so they can install a
Remote Access Trojan in order to steal passwords and other sensitive personal information which could then be used to access bank accounts or steal a person's identity.

These are a few examples.

• Fake Your computer is locked screenlocker...contact a Microsoft technician
• Microsoft Help Desk Tech Support Scam
• Microsoft Office Activation Wizard Tech Support Scam
• Fake Windows Defender Prevented Malicious Software Scam
• Your Windows has been Banned Scam
• Windows has been blocked due to suspicious activity Tech Support Scam
• Microsoft Security Essentials Tech Support Scam
• 1-844-879-7840 Suspicious Activity Tech Support Scam

Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls, display pop-up alerts in your browser to call a support number or send unsolicited email messages to request personal or financial information or
to fix your computer.

• Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently
• Is that call from Microsoft a scam?
• Tell Your Relatives: No, Microsoft Won’t Call You About Your Computer
• Microsoft calling? Mind the tech support scammer!

Closing the web browser and then relaunching it usually eliminates the bogus warning message and is the best way to deal with these scams. If the browser freezes or hangs, you may have to close it with

Windows Task Manager by selecting End Task or just reboot your computer...see

Tech Support Scams use new Tricks to Hold Browsers Hostage. Afterwards, be sure to

refresh (clear) your browser's cache.

If the scam involves unsolicited phone calls from someone claiming to be an
employee affiliated with Microsoft or Windows Support advising your computer is infected with malware,
not answering any questions and hanging up the telephone is the best way to deal with phone scammers.

For more information about how these scams work and resources to protect yourself, please read
Beware of Phony Emails & Tech Support Scams...there
are suggestions near the bottom for dealing with scams and a list of security scanning tools to use in case the usual methods do not resolve the problem or you allowed remote access into your computer.

Reporting Phone Fraud and Tech Support Scams:

• Reporting Phone Scams
• FTC Complaint Assistant
• Report a technical support scam to Microsoft
• How to Report the Microsoft phone scam
• How to recognize and report scams
• WhyCallMe Complaint
• How to report fraudulent e-mail messages that use the
  Microsoft name and logo
• Action Fraud: UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime

 

Scam

Hello,

A well-known trick used by cybercriminals is to show a pop-up that appears while you are browsing the web. These pop-ups show messages and phone numbers which misleads you into revealing sensitive personal or financial information, paying for fake antivirus
software, or may install malware and viruses on your computer.

Reminder: Do not call the number in the pop-up. Error messages and warning messages from Microsoft never include a phone number.

You may help stop cybercriminals by reporting information about a technical support scam.

If you have allowed a cyber criminal to access your computer, you may take these steps:

• Change your computer's password, change the password on your main email account, and change the password for any financial accounts, especially your bank and credit card.
• Scan your computer with the Microsoft Safety Scanner to find out if you have malware installed on your computer.

You may read more information about avoiding scams that use Microsoft's name fraudulently by going
here.

For more information about Internet safety and security, kindly click this
link.

If you have further questions, feel free to ask us.