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Helpdesk scam targets Microsoft customers

22 Jul 20102 Comments

Criminals posing as Microsoft helpdesk staff are tricking the public into giving them remote access to their PCs, stealing personal and financial information and then charging customers a support fee of 185 pounds for good measure.A report in the Guardian says the scam has been running since 2008 but had recently increased in frequency. The caller informs the customer they work for Microsoft tech support and are calling to fix a virus-infected PC.  Customers falling for the scam allow the caller to remotely take over their PC and pay the ‘preventative service’ fee.  An Indian call centre has been identified as the source of the calls.

The scammers are using VOIP ( Voice Over Internet Protocol) to make the overseas calls without incurring call charges and investigators in India say they are close to shutting down the operation.

This post currently has 2 responses

  1. ron says:
    July 27, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    There are a lot of absolute idiots about firstly above all other things why would somebody want a “Microsoft” technician charge them 185 pounds to check their computer over the phone when it could probably be done at half the price by somebody locally!
    What is the point of having remote access software enabled when you go to all the trouble of putting hardware and software fire walls in place a bit like giving them your safe keys. one of the first things I do when setting up a computer that I use, is to disable & stop all services relating to remote access.support your local computer engineer you will miss him (her) when they go out of business…

  2. admin says:
    July 29, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I would do that same Ron, but it is a shame people who could genuinely benefit from remote support will miss out if the practice becomes forever tarnished by scammers.

    James West, editor

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