MS Windows “survey” scam?

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I just received a phone call from areacode 855. Caller ID read “Toll Free Call”. He called me by name, and when I asked him how he got my number, he said it was on my “Microsoft account”. He then said they were conducting a survey, then added that they were receiving some strange messages and information from my laptop. I pushed back and said “you’re not receiving anything from my computer, and don’t call me again”. Then I hung up.

Is there anything to this? Or were my suspicions well founded.

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I am quite sure that you just hung up on our Justice Department. You can expect an IRS audit next.

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Hmmm (Russ), yes they were well founded, Microsoft never makes unprompted calls of any kind nor does anyone call on their behalf and if you think about it, only your ISP is capable of knowing exactly what is coming and going from your computer, though having Windows 8 linked to a Microsoft account does give them unprecedented “snooping” power, but there’s no way in Hades they are ever going to call you and let you know they have that power!

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Thanks, F.U.N. I feel better now (I guess).

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Jtezell: It was a scam.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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You can copy and paste this into a Google search and find the articles.
Thousands falling for Microsoft tech support phone scam – KSHB-TV
Microsoft tech support phone scam hits DC area – DC News FOX 5 …
Microsoft’s calling? Beware of this scam – Philly.com
BBB alerts residents to Microsoft tech support scam
Have you fallen for the Microsoft support phone scam? » maravis.com
Fake Windows tech support calls continue to plague consumers …

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Thanks, shipdog7. Usually I wouldn’t have thought twice about the call I received, but he never mentioned “virus” or “malware”. It was the “strange messages and information” he said MS was receiving from me that made me wonder. A variation on a theme, I suppose. In any case, I do appreciate your response.

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I work for a major credit card company. I cannot tell you how many phone calls I have received because people got the same type of phone call, then have several hundred dollars charged by some company, usually foreign, for “tech support”. Often all they do is install and run Malwarebytes Anti-malware or other free program then tell the unsuspecting person that all the tracking cookies deleted are viruses, and they have now disinfected their computer.

scam.

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SCAM!

Contrary to “miztrniceguy” I believe most of them are actually trying to install malware, not help you!

The malware allows them to control your PC to:
-add it as part of a botnet for targeted denial-of-service attacks,
-use it to send spam,
-install worse malware, trojans, hijacker and lockers to try to force you to pay for their services

These guys always try to sound professional just to fool the unwary.
They can walk you thru various Windows debug panels and claim that normal, harmless things are signs of major infections.
They try to play on your fear and uncertainty.

Hang up, or lead them down a path for half an hour, so they waste their time spinning their wheels with you, instead of ripping-off someone else.

Be safe!

brino

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Sorry brino, I wasn’t clear with my answer. Yes, a scam for sure, and typically install malware. My point was many of them also run MBAM ( or pretend to) to make i appear they are actually legit.

SCAM!

Contrary to “miztrniceguy” I believe most of them are actually trying to install malware, not help you!

The malware allows them to control your PC to:
-add it as part of a botnet for targeted denial-of-service attacks,
-use it to send spam,
-install worse malware, trojans, hijacker and lockers to try to force you to pay for their services

These guys always try to sound professional just to fool the unwary.
They can walk you thru various Windows debug panels and claim that normal, harmless things are signs of major infections.
They try to play on your fear and uncertainty.

Hang up, or lead them down a path for half an hour, so they waste their time spinning their wheels with you, instead of ripping-off someone else.

Be safe!

brino

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