Windows 10: Possible hacking scams

Just in the last couple of days, a laptop that my husband was using had several popups. One is one of the red screen alerts and another was an automated recording with a place to put your Microsoft user id and password. In the recording it kept saying that my laptop had a security breech that contained pornographic content and it was stealing all the information on my laptop including pictures, financial information, passwords, and personal information. It also said if I clicked out of the window my computer would be shut down and all information stored on that computer would be lost. It gave the number of 855-202-6733 to call immediately for an operator to help walk us thru to get rid of the hack/virus and to protect the computer. When my husband called the number, all he got was a busy signal. He did this before he let me know about any of this. We ended up having to shut the computer completely down, unplug it, and reboot it an hour later where we immediately ran a deep detailed security scan of the computer. I'd like to know if this is truly a scam or if it is real and I just happened to do the right thing by shutting down the computer and then running the scan. We have Norton security software as MacAfee does not seam to work with Microsoft Edge and was constantly giving us false warnings and alerts. With MacAfee, we also had a computer crash due to their programming that had been hacked as well as was harassed with phone calls and emails stating our computer was under attack by people who did not speak good English and were very belligerent with us. We finally had to contact our state's office that deals with harassment of this sort after we started logging the number of calls and emails we'd received. I do not trust MacAfee.


Thank you for your patience and I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this issue.


Ela Johnson

:)

 

Possible scam?

Hi Thomas,

I can understand the situation you are going through. To help you further, we need the following information.

• Which Microsoft website have you visited?
• What is the phone number that you have contacted?
• What is the make and model of the computer?

I suggest you to refer to the links for more information on possible scams.

Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-privacy/msname.aspx

HOW TO: Report the Microsoft phone scam

HOW TO: Report the Microsoft phone scam

@ bhringer, thank you for bringing this to our notice.

Please get back to us with the above information.

 

Possible hack

I received a message when I signed on to my computer that I was possible hacked and personal information retrieved. Was given the following number to call 800-364-7125. Is this a scam?

 

possible scam

That's a scam!
Do not allow access to your computer.

Just hang up on those scammers.

Microsoft doesn't call you if you didn't ask them to call you.

Do not trust unsolicited calls. Do not provide any personal information.

Please read:

• Avoid tech support
  phone scams

• Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/help/spam-scam-hack-faq

• Tech Support Scams – Help & Resource Page

• Tell Your Relatives: No,
  Microsoft Won’t Call You About Your Computer

• The “Tech Support”
  Scammers Called HTG (So We Had Fun with Them)
• Beware of Phony Tech Support Scams

Video from Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit:

Don't Be a Victim of Tech Support Scams





Report phone scams

• 
  Help Microsoft stop cybercriminals by reporting information about your
  phone scam.
  
• 
  In the United States, use the
  FTC Complaint Assistant form.
  
• 
  In Canada, the
  Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can provide support.
  
• 
  In the United Kingdom, you can report
  fraud as well as
  unsolicited calls.