888-558-2612

I opened a view video file about repairing a wireless doorbell and my PC froze with a warning screen accompanied by a female voice recording to stop and call this number since my Microsoft Edge was infected. I had to reboot several times to eliminate this scam from freezing my computer

Got a warning infection notice to call this number immediately to prevent identity theft  msg was from web page  no co. info.

Call this number to unlock my computer,,what a scam..   I just turn computer off and reboot ,,IT is O.K. now...I call them back too let them know I am  with the  FBI and would be knowing on their door...

My mom tried to open a video about cleaning the computer keyboard. This video redirected us to a Microsoft security page that claimed the computer had downloaded a Trojan. This site froze the screen with a pop-up and a female voice recording, and it prompted us to call this number to remove it. Restarting our Mac removed the page and the freeze. Overall, it seems like a typical tech support scam made a little scarier by a loud voice.

I got the same message mentioned, when I one of my co-worker was trying to open a page from my computer . Thanks to your comments , I was able to get it out of my way, turning off and on again my computer. I was in panic first but since I remembered my friend went to the same situation a decided to check the supposed Microsoft  phone # listed with Google and took me to this page....Thank you to all of you for writing a report..it really helps to avoid from been a scam' s victim.

Was in MSN, opened a vedio to view a hawk and cachoo bird,  computer froze, window opens with voice of women, saying Stop, stop, virus, etc, tried to get out, had to shut down and restart 6 times to get rid of it.. wanted me to call this number, saw it was spam,
[***]..

I was watching same video same thing happened

As above, but can’t reboot.  Can only turn off.

Amazed that MSN does, sees nothing.. right on the front page, when I opened a new window, and start right off dealing with Spam or something worse.. was in a good mood, then have to deal with idiots...

Try to Right click the window symbol and reboot

The morning of 11/16/17 opened window that was emailed to me and computer froze and screen popped up instructing me to call Microsoft at 888-558-2612.  The call was answered by Chandan Bhakti who informed me I had been hacked and my computer had been damaged and I needed to install a Apple firewall.  I had tried to reboot the computer several times, but the same screen kept appearing. He instructed me to go to Walmart and purchase Apple ITunes cards specifically for use for applications.  He told me I would be refunded 80% by Microsoft. I asked him for proof of who he said he was and he gave me his credentials.  He had me to look him up on Google and it verified he was who he said he was.  His Microsoft ID number was 1388.  We could not complete the transaction yesterday, and when he called me today from his number, 844-895-4222 he showed me screens that appeared to be from my computer that showed many files damaged.  He said I needed to get activation key from Walmart that would cost over $1,000.  When I attempted to pin him down on that, he showed me on the screen a very official US ID with a US government seal.  His name and ID number which was ag 54348, which he described as his agent number.  I told him I wasn't making further decisions today, so he said he would call me tomorrow.  So far, I am out $800 and realized too late that I have been scammed!

Quote:

He had me to look him up on Google and it verified he was who he said he was.

How did he tell you to search, a different name or company name ?  I Googled the name you gave and got absolutely nothing verifying "Chandan Bhakti" from Microsoft. How did you verify it was him?
It would be useful to see those "credentials", so others will know the process of how to recognize a scammer's phony credential display.

Quote:

he showed me screens that appeared to be from my computer

How did he do that? If it was a website, can you give it, so it I can get it removed?

Quote:

he showed me on the screen a very official US ID with a US government seal.

Did you give him access to your computer or was it some website he sent you to?

Microsoft is not Government affiliated, so thats a clue its a scammer right there, second is Microsoft don't mix security products with Apple nor do they accept Apple ITunes cards as a form of payment.

Message from Microsoft:

Quote:

Remember, Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support. Any communication we have with you must be initiated by you.

Cybercriminals 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 ask you to go to a legitimate website (such as www.ammyy.com) to install Remote Access software that will let them access your computer to pretend to fix it. Once you do this, your computer and your personal information are vulnerable.

Do not trust unsolicited calls. Do not provide any personal information. Do not allow them access.

Here is more information on what to look out for with telephone and web pop-up scams and how to report them:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx

Microsoft's fight against the scammers:
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/201 ... -support-scams/

Quote:

From Microsoft:
If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be from Microsoft and felt it was a scam, you can help us stop these fraudsters by reporting all information about your interaction with them.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/reportascam/

You have a Microsoft operating system, yet he told you that you needed to install an Apple firewall?  Or you have an Apple system and he told you that you Microsoft would refund some money (why would MS refund money, shouldn't they have collected the correct amount immediately?).


Thanks to Slim, another registered poster here and computer whiz:

Since the scammers accessed the computer, they probably did one or more of the following:
• Disabled the anti-virus software
• Added nasty malware to the computer
• Copied the Contact List (so they can spam/email your soon-to-be ex-friends)
• Copied any financial data or passwords they could find
• Compromised your ID on Facebook or other social site(s), and perhaps on shopping sites.
• "Zombied" the computer, so it would respond to THEIR commands sent via internet
• Deleted some important files
• Asked for money to repair the damage they caused

What can you do immediately after such an attack?
1.  Pull the cables on the computer, or otherwise disable it, so it cannot access the internet.
2.  Change ALL  passwords stored on the computer.
3.  Run FULL malware scans on the computer, in "SAFE" mode!
4.  Change the passwords again, particularly if the malware scans showed anything.
5.  Inform your bank and credit card companies.
6.  Sign up for credit monitoring, and check the status frequently
7.  Backup non-executable personal, data files to an external storage device.  (Executable files might be infected).
8.  You may have to bring the computer to a local repair shop, and tell them the story.
9.  Tell friends what happened, so they can be aware of strange emails from you.
10.  Connect to the internet only AFTER all the above have been done.
11.  Change the passwords on all online accounts.  Even better - access a "safe", uninfected  computer, and change your online account passwords RIGHT NOW.

NOTE:
If your computer set a "Restore Point" while it was infected, any "System Restore" you make will re-infect your computer.  Suggest you delete any potentially infected restore points and avoid setting such restore points until after your computer has been thoroughly cleaned!

You fell for one scam, and might be susceptible to others mentioned on this site:
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/facts.html
Read that info to educate and help protect yourself!

Honest computer companies do NOT cold-call people, or cause popups from websites to tell them their computers need fixing!

Some scammers even have websites, and falsely advertise they are associated with popular software packages or computer companies; so do NOT believe a "we will fix your computer remotely" site, and allow them access to your computer!

Read the info at these links.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cold-Call-Tech ... on-150170.shtml
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/portal/mmpc/shared/ransomware.aspx

Lesson:
If your computer needs fixing, bring it to a local repair shop

If they call back tomorrow, you might mention you looked them up and reported them here.  Your post will cost them some money, others will read it for months to come.  Not as good as getting your money back, but at least you won't be taken for more and your post does help other people.  Oh, and be prepared for some bad language, scammers do not like this site, or any other site that exposes them.  Thanks for posting.

Wow, you had $800 just lying around to give a scammer?!

I fell for it..initially. went so far as to call them. They got into my computer and started doing all kinds of stuff. Something just didn't feel right so I started googling. I immediately shut down my computer.  They called back twice and I disconnected the calls.  I cant believe I was so stupid!

the number and warning box appeared on my screen with the female voice saying that my personal info had been compromised and to call that number. A Microsoft webpage also appeared in the background. I used task manager to shut down Edge but it kept popping up when i us ed the browser. I then ran a full system scan of 1.5 million files showing no threats whatsoever. I rebooted but now it still comes up. I clicked on a link to a music video on a news story by a country singer who wrote a song about NFL kneeling. I will keep trying rebooting until issue resolved. if not will try system update to an earlier date.

I got the same message.  The way I got it off was to press Ctrl  Alt  Del all at the same time. A list will come up. Press Task Master .  When Microsoft Edge come up, click on end task. That should remove it.  That's all. Any time I get a screen freeze, this is how I remove it.

Ditto to all of the above. I was freaked out for a minute till I saw the part where they wanted the username and password. Called the number and some East Indian guy answered "Tech Support". I hung up and the dude called me back like 5 seconds later saying I'd been hacked and he needed to access my computer remotely. It's a shame that some people may actually fall for this.

Very good instructions. I followed what you said, and that eliminated it.  Thanks !   I picked up this evil scam while visiting a website for a local winter festival.