Regular IT guy

Just a guy – talking about technology … in an uncomplicated way.

Menu
  • Contact
  • Speaking
Menu

Windows PC SCAM help via Microsoft Canada

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Rick
Share on Social Media
twitter facebook linkedin email

hacker_0

Even though I moved to the “Mother Ship” here in Redmond back in January – I still get emails, texts, Tweets and Facebook Updates about someone who has had a relative / friend who has unfortunately been scammed by some FRICKIN’ A** Holes social engineering their way into their PC. The “technicians from Microsoft” are slick, say the right things, play on the fear of the individual and their lack of knowledge about technology and inevitably convinces them to either:

  • sign up for a security service that makes their system more infected and has their data and machine held hostage for regular payments
  • allows them to install malware on their system thinking that it is some sort of anti-virus
  • harvests information for identity theft and credit card scams / skimming
  • takes control of their email / social accounts to impersonate them online and scam their friends as well

It just goes on and on. It’s very infuriating and frustrating hearing about it and can be quite difficult to help them out remotely – I’d rather drive to their home and fix it personally out of principal – but that just won’t work.

What can YOU do about it? Well – first step in solving the problem is INFORMING yourself and ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS – friends, relatives, play-group friends, kids ball teams / hockey teams – just get this information out there.

The number ONE law of computer security (paraphrasing here) is “if a bad guy can persuade you to run his/her program on your computer, it’s not your computer anymore”.  This applies if you allow others to socially engineer you into installing software yourself or allowing them to remote into your system.

My friends back at Microsoft Canada have had a go at creating an InfoGraphic to help get the information out as well as what to do if you have been scammed. Feel Free to Download it, share it out, post it up on Facebook – tweet it – whatever you like – just get the word out!

MSFT-PhoneScam-Infographic-FINAL

Share on Social Media
twitter facebook linkedin email

Follow me on Social Media
twitter facebook youtube linkedin

Recent Posts

  • Moved over to Dreamhost
  • Microsoft Azure HPC goodness
  • Whats new in Azure VM Images
  • Whats New in Azure Managed Disks
  • What up with Azure File Sync

Recent Comments

  1. Farhan Sattar on New Year, New Responsibilities
  2. Frederi on Tuesdays with Corey: Seasons Greetings and Until Next Year!
  3. Leon Han on HowTo: Bootable USB Stick for OS Install
  4. Frederi on Tuesdays with Corey: Seasons Greetings and Until Next Year!
  5. Rick Claus [rclaus@MSFT] on Tuesdays with Corey: Seasons Greetings and Until Next Year!

Archives

  • January 2023
  • March 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011

Categories

  • Azure
  • Azure 4 ServerHuggers
  • Azure IT Pro News Roundup
  • CH9 Videos
  • CloudOpsAdvocacy
  • Comments
  • Community
  • Debunking Azure Myths
  • Events
  • Helpful Tech
  • How To
  • interviews
  • Microsoft
  • Networking
  • PatchAndSwitch
  • Personal
  • Presentations
  • Security
  • Server
  • TechEd
  • Troubleshooting
  • Tuesdays with Corey
  • Uncategorized
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 8
  • Workarounds

©2023 Regular IT guy