Windows keep calling me

Microsoft has referred the cases to the Federal Trade Commission, which had its own investigation underway and presumably still does.

A lot of people are. This includes, recently, calls to the Puget Sound area unless the scriptoids have only now realized Microsoft is actually based nearby. Average loss? See the archive of his regular GeekWire columns. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. NBC News Logo. Covid Politics U. News World Opinion Business. Share this —. Note: Performing serious recovery methods like resetting your device can be a bit time-consuming, but this may be your best option in some situations—for example, if fake error codes and messages pop up continually, all but preventing you from using your device.

Run a full scan with Windows Security to remove any malware. Learn how. Apply all security updates as soon as they are available. For more info, see Update Windows. Change your passwords. Learn how to change your Microsoft account password.

Call your credit card provider to contest the charges if you've already paid. Let them know what happened; they'll probably want to cancel and replace your affected cards to prevent the scammers from using them again. Help Microsoft stop scammers, whether they claim to be from Microsoft or not, by reporting tech support scams at:. Microsoft Support Global Customer Service. There are several forms of tech support scams, all of which aim to trick you into believing that your computer needs to be fixed and you need to pay for technical support services.

The classic cold-call scam. The scammers call you and claim to be from the tech support team of Microsoft or another company. They offer to help solve your computer "problems". Scammers often use publicly available phone directories, so they might know your name and other personal information when they call you.

They might even guess what operating system you're using. Once they've gained your trust, they might ask for your user name and password or direct you to a legitimate website to install software that will let them access your computer to fix it.

If you install the software and provide credentials, your computer and your personal information are vulnerable. Although law enforcement can trace phone numbers, cybercriminals often use disposable mobile phones, spoofed caller ID, or stolen mobile phone numbers. Treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism. Don't provide any personal information. Warning: If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Support, hang up.

We do not make these kinds of calls. Tech support scam websites make you believe that you have a problem with your PC. You may be redirected to these websites automatically by malicious ads found in dubious sites, such as download locations for pirated software, videos, or music.

These websites may use a fake blue-screen or other system error, or a fake Windows activation dialog box to convince you that there's a problem with your PC that needs fixing. All these techniques are meant to persuade you to call the specified tech support number. In contrast, the real error messages in Windows never ask you to call a tech support number.

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