We just wanted to make you aware of a scam that is going on at the moment.

It works like this.

You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft and they are calling to help you fix the problems you’ve been having with your computer.

They will then talk you through some “diagnostic checks” before directing you to their website so they can install some remote control software on your computer so they can logon and help.

Once in control of your machine they install fake anti-virus software and pretend to “clean up” the PC.

After this they’ll want you to pay for the service and sign you up for their “support contact” and ask for your credit card details.

As you can imagine the card details are then used elsewhere and sometimes the “anti-virus software” is actually a keylogger which they can then use to plunder more information such as user names and passwords.

The Guardian wrote a good piece on this recently (as part of a series of articles about it) , there is also the story of a Microsoft UK employee, whose Father fell for the scam and Computer Active recorded one of these calls and placed it on their website so others are aware of exactly what happens.

This scam works so well because it’s all very convincing, from the phone call to the “diagnostic checks” through to the installation of the software from their website.

Microsoft will NEVER call you directly in this fashion, especially to provide support.

Any unsolicited phone call should be treated as suspicious, especially when they ask for credit card details.

If you get a phone like this hang up.

If they repeatedly call you then your telephone service provider can block the number they use.  

If you’re still not sure get in touch and we can check it out for you.

Always treat any unsolicited contact with suspicion.

Please pass on this information to anyone you feel may benefit from it.

As always if you aren’t sure about anything that looks even vaguely suspicious please get in touch.