Microsoft is warning users of its popular Windows operating systems to be on the lookout for increasingly sophisticated scams that could end up being costly. There is evidence of a growing number of attacks that try and trick users into handing over personal data and credit card details via fake tech support alerts.

The latest trick adopted by scammers uses a pop-up window that suddenly appears on computer screens. The terrifying message suggests that the PC has been compromised with a tech support number listed that directs users to a fake call centre.

Once called, the user will be asked to pay for help that they don’t actually need.

Microsoft´s research suggests that three out of five consumers have encountered a tech support scam in the last 12 months.
Sadly, around one out of six consumers who are contacted via criminals are tricked into continuing with the scam, often leading to victims losing hundreds of pounds to the fraudsters.

How to avoid being targeted by scams:

• • Microsoft does not send unsolicited email messages or make unsolicited phone calls to request personal or financial information, or to provide technical support to fix your computer. Any communication with Microsoft has to be initiated by you.
  • If a pop-up or error message appears with a phone number, don’t call the number. Error and warning messages from Microsoft never include a phone number.
  • Download software only from official Microsoft partner websites or the Microsoft Store. Be wary of downloading software from third-party sites, as some of them might have been modified without the author’s knowledge to bundle malware and other threats.
  • Microsoft technical support will never ask that you pay for support in the form of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, or gift cards.

Brent Davenport also know of scammers using email, search engine optimization (SEO) and social engineering tactics to lure victims.

Please be careful, one of the first actions you can use to confirm if an email offering services is from a potential scammer is if the message is from a free email account such as gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc.

Further, you can double click on the senders email address, normally a scam email senders address will not match the address you see as a result of you performing this action.

In an effort to assist existing and potential new clients, in partnership with RND Solutions we have setup a 15min free of charge online consultation facility in the hope we can at least reduce the amount of persons & companies being scammed.

You can access this service by clicking on the link below which will take you to our booking page:-

RND Solutions – Book a Support Session (rnd-solutions.com)

Regards