Posted by Hallie on November 24, 2015 at 18:02:25:
In Reply to: Re: I got a call from Microsoft tech support posted by LLK on November 24, 2015 at 17:27:30:
: : : : : : I got a call from Microsoft tech support. They said they detected a problem with my Windows operating system. They fixed it, but now my computer seems even slower than in was before. Any ideas?
: : : : : Whoa! You say you got a call from Microsoft tech support. Are you sure it really was Microsoft that called you?
: : : : Well, they said they were from Microsoft support. Why wouldn't they be?
: : : Why wouldn't they be? Because they could have been somebody that wanted to get into your computer to get your passwords and such. Did they try to take control of your computer?
: : Yes, they remotely took control of my computer. They said it was normal procedure. They seemed to know what they were doing and they fixed some things that were wrong.
: Talking control of your computer may be normal tech support procedure, but they could still be up to no good if it wasn't actually Microsoft tech support that called you. Here's what I'm thinking. Somebody could be calling random numbers and saying they were Microsoft and that they had detected a problem with your Windows operating system. Well, "everybody" has trouble with their Windows operating system so such a trick would work a lot of the time. Once they have a way to get control of your computer they could search for your passwords and bank accounts and such. If you have a virus detection program on your computer, I'd run a scan right now.
Right. It's a known scam. The caller, who usually has an Indian accent, will often say they're discovered a problem on your computer with something called your EventViewer. He will say they noticed your computer has EventViewer problems and they have to have remote access in order to fix them. Well, their are always errors in the EventViewer. It is normal in such a complex operating system. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that you are lucky they didn't offer to fix the errors for a price and ask you for a credit card number. The bad news is if they didn't ask for a credit card number, they may have been looking for passwords on your computer. Or, they may have planted malware on it. You may need help in trying to find out if they did anything to your computer.
Good luck to you and let this be a warming to all. Microsoft is not going to call you. They just don't do that.