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Microsoft Imposter

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Microsoft Imposter Reports & Reviews (289)

- Ithaca, NY, USA
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Pop ups appeared on laptop, including audio messages instructing me that laptop had been compromised and was disabled. Said not to shut down computer, and gave a number to call to speak with a Microsoft engineer. I was told I had been hacked, and that the hacker (located in China) had a pending charge of $5,000 on my credit card to Porn Hub for child pornography. I was then told I was being transferred to my credit card company and they convinced me I needed to make a total of $5,000 of duplicate charges in order for the charges to be canceled by the credit card company. After purchasing $5,000 worth of Target, Home Depot gift cards, I was told I needed to secure the remaining $2,500 in available credit by buying more gift cards. All the while being told my phone line may not be secure, to stay on the line, etc. I then purchases $2,500 more in gift cards from Lowe's and gave all gift card numbers to the caller. They were instantly redeemed and once I realized I had been scammed several hours later, called the companies I'd purchased gift cards from, they had already been redeemed.

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- Middle Village, NY, USA
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purchased Microsoft Office software at the Apple Store, together with a new Mac laptop. When attempting to enter the software product key to download the software, was directed to a website (http://office.comsetup.net/error-vr94sh8e-s/) with an error message, prompting me to call a toll-free number ((856) 886- 0597) to resolve. When I called the number, a technical support person got on, asked that I download software so they can have "control" over my laptop, and then said the software I purchased at the Apple store was not the right one for the Mac.

they asked for an additional $600 for the software upgrade, told me it would take an hour, and that they would also be installing 'security software' on my computer. They then attempted to bill my credit card, but it got declined. They tried several times, then asked to see my bank account to verify details (I didn't show them), then asked for a different credit card (I didn't give it to them). They then accused me of "stealing".

I have since removed the TeamViewer software they installed to control my computer, and went directly to the Microsoft website to download my purchase.

There is risk here to Microsoft.

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My mother was using the Firefox web browser, shopping online when suddenly she could not use her mouse and a fake Microsoft Windows Defender message was displayed. A looping vocal message kept saying that her "computer was infected with a virus, do not close this message before calling 1-888-912-6739 or the computer will be locked down and her computer will spread the virus to the Microsoft network". My mother is not technical & called me on the phone, worried. I told her this sounded like a scam and DO NOT call that number & DO NOT click on anything. She kept telling me her mouse did not work. Over the phone I asked her to take screenshots of her desktop with her phone so I could better understand what she was seeing. It was clear that two applications were open (Firefox web browser & Bitdefender Antivirus). I then told her how to press Ctrl + Alt + Del and go into Windows Task Manager to close the "Firefox task" (closing the Firefox Web Browser). Once she did this the false Windows Defender popup went away & she gained access to her mouse. I then instructed her how to run Windows Update & how to run a Bitdefender scan (her antivirus application is Bitdefender). She was stressed out so I told her not to use Firefox until I can get over to her house to investigate and to clean the Firefox history/data/cache. I reported this incident to the FTC & Microsoft.

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- Twin Falls, ID, USA
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Pretended to be Microsoft support after my computer "froze" while online. Messages on screen warned me not to close out or i would lose data, that my Microsoft key was pirated. Wouldn't let me run a scan or self diagnose. Called customer support number. Guy identified himself as Steven Smith. Told me my financial info was used internationally at 4:23am to illegally purchase child pornography. He said 7 Chinese hackers were on my computer, and my phone line was hacked. Asked what financial institutions I used and asked for Capital One, my credit card, customer service line. He told me he would connect me to Capital One on a secure line so they could put high security on my account for 48 hours. The line he used to connect me to Capital One was 832-650-4564. After I learned the Capital One rep was a fraud (filed in a separate ScamPulse.com report), Steven Smith called me back on that line and told me i was talking to the wrong person. He told me to download an app so he could access my phone remotely and he would credit me the money Capital One scammer stole from me, via Cash app. I hung up on him.

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My computer froze and a pop up screen appeared saying to contact Microsoft that many users were hacking into my computer. The business said they were going to transfer $1000 into my banking account. Actually, they transferred my own money from my savings account to my checking account. They deposited zero dollars to my account. All this information was on my computer. After my computer was down for over and hour, I called them and said should I turn the computer off and I was told that wouldn't work. They said I would have to buy gift cards for them to remove all the programs from my computer. I took pictures of all gift cards and sent them to the number they provided. I bought gift cards from... (2) $500 gift cards from Target, $1500 from Giant Eagle, $1500 from Buehlers and $1500 Giant Eagle.

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I was on my computer browsing some vacation information. I clicked to open up a PDF file and all of a sudden the computer locked up and kept repeating that my computer is hacked. The phone number for Microsoft came up and they said they could see my computer was locked down. They told me I had to give them remote access to my computer so I did. They showed me all of the people accessing my computer, they asked about the credit cards I had saved and asked if I do online shopping. They told me they were going to contact my bank with this information. They asked me for the phone number to my bank. The rep I was speaking to told me the number is on the back of my card. He said he will put me through to my bank on a private line so I hung up and called the bank myself. When I spoke to the bank rep they told me there were no suspicious charges. I called Microsoft and no one answered but then someone else called me back, when I answered they said they were a Huntington rep but I told them I had already spoke with someone from my bank and I hung up. The first Microsoft rep called me back and ran a scan on my computer, I could see it happening on the screen. He told me they could unlock my computer for a fee. All of a sudden my computer camera came on by itself, I could see myself on the screen. I turned the computer off and put tape over the camera.

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If you get a message on your computer from Microsoft about your system being hacked and gives you a number to call to clear it, do not call it. They ask for your banking information and the minute they did that, I called my bank and had to freeze my account and open a new one. The minute Jacob Miller found out we were talking to our bank, he hung up.

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While attending a class via Zoom, a message popped up telling me that my computer has spyware and to call immediately to resolve. I was warned not to shut off the computer or exit the warning, as the computer will be unusable.

This happened to me in February 2020 and I fell for it. Less money today, but more knowledge. I know this was another scam,

I have pictures and a recorded video, but all are too large to attach.

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just got a text stating Dear customer, thank you for your subscription. "MICROSOFT office business 365" is active on you account USD-299 has been debited from your account and will reflect on your banks statement within 48 hours. If you fifn't place this order. Please call us back on 1-562-571-6926. microsoft you really need to figure out ways to stop these imposters

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I was using my laptop and a computer service was helping me with a problem. After we were finished, I checked me email and found a thank for a payment for a payment for Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection for $349.99. I did not authorize this, download it or do anything with Microsoft.

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On Jan 6,2022 I received an email from Micro-Soft Surface Pro. There was no return email address, company name nor address but a phone #434-403-2459. There was an invoice #517870 with a price if 4,063. I called the phone # and gave rep invoice # as he requested. I told him that I had not requested a purchase and didnt know what this item was. He said it was a laptop, I said I already have a laptop and order another. He said let me check your info, he confirmed my name and address which he gave to me. He said oh but I see the billing address is different from the shipping address. So I asked for shipping address, he it's to he shipped to a friend of yours in Mexico. I said I don't have any friends in Mexico he replied are you sure. I said yes and this is a a scam, so I'm going to report this to my local BBB. He said they can't help you, you just need to give me a little info so I can cancel this,l order and get this scammer on alert. So I said no, you just need to cancel this order and I am reporting this to BBB. Again he said they won't be able to help you only I can. So I said I don't know who you are you may be a scammer. Somewhere here I asked what form of payment did the person use, he said you won't be charged until you receive it, we have three forms of payment for you debit, credit card and check. But I am not paying for anything. He said that's why I need more info to cancel this order. I said no and that I was ending this call and reporting this issue. Oh I did ask him for his name he said my name is Bruce Willis my # is 6241, and I am a level 7 Microsoft technician. I hung up after that.

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They pretend they are from windows support.

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My computer gave message that it was locked until I called 850-696-0724. Upon placing call I was instructed that they needed access to my computer in which I was told that my ip address had been hacked and it would cost me $200 to $400 to clear the hack and restore security to my computer,

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I received a email mail on my phone from Microsoft Accounts. Thank you for your renewal of services. If you did not make a purchase or want to cancel call 845-377-9352. I called the number. Showed on my phone as a New York number. A woman answered. Made it seem like I ordered one year of Microsoft Windows Protection for $399.99. The date was July 12, 2021. She wanted me to type in quick assist for access to my computer. I must have turned on something. She gave me a six digit code. I entered the code. My computer tried to load. I started to feel funny about it. My computer was very slow. I did not give her access to my computer. I shut it down. I told her I would call back. I hung up. She tried to call me back.

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I received this text and I don’t use Microsoft: Dear customer, thank you for your subscription. "MICR0-S0FT office business 365" is active on your account, USD-299 has been debited from your account and will reflect on your bank statement within 48 hours. If you didn't place this order, Please call us back on 1-925-270-0168.Please confirm if this is legit. I have not called the number listed in the text.

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A notice popped up on my computer saying not to shut it down and that it had been hacked and to immediately call Microsoft tech support. A recording with a women's voice kept repeating for me to not turn off my computer but to call the number (that was on the screen) I called and the man on the phone introduced himself as Rick (he later said his last name was Keller) and I had to have him confirm that he was with Microsoft tech support (he seemed slightly caught off guard/unprofessional which was a red flag but I was so panicked that I ignored this) He took me through some prompts which gave him access to control my computer (he never let me know that this is what would happen when he took me through the prompts. I just thought he was helping me unfreeze my computer) He told me that my IP number had been hacked and he showed me how many times it had been hacked and showed me that someone had tried to use it in Alaska at the same time as me (I'm in California) and that's what prompted the alert. He proceeded to show me a page with all of the information that had been leaked including my credit card password and I could see sites I had recently visited. He told me to encrypt my IP address again I would need to pay large amounts ($189 for a year of protection up to $899 for a lifetime of protection) I was seriously considering doing it for a minute but I asked a lot of further questions (mainly out of curiosity) and I got a sinking feeling I should ask around before I did anything further. So, big mistake allowing him to have access to my computer. Apparently he could have installed all sorts of things and I might have to delete my Windows 10 and all of it's content and reinstall but even that isn't a guarantee that all of the potential malware is removed. But, grateful I didn't pay him anything. Lesson learned and I hope this helps others from making the same mistake.

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I was prompted by a pop up that said it was from Microsoft. The message indicated that my laptop had been hacked. I proceeded to call the number that was on the pop up message. From there they indicated that they were with Microsoft and had me run commands on my laptop and said that my identity had been stolen. They then asked me to provide my financial institution phone number and they would connect me to them. Then they proceeded to tell me that there was a pending charge on my credit card that would be taken out with 3 hours if I didn't go purchase prepaid credit cards. I got off the phone with this so called Microsoft/credit card representative and called my credit card on my own. They guaranteed me that there were no pending charges on my card. Please be vigilant about scams like this. They almost got me. If in doubt please reach out to your financial institution on your own, do not trust this number. Please don't fall for this scam as they are very convincing.

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i had a contract with the company and at that time bob helped me with the computer... after using 2 years of services one day john dale called me and told me that my firewall is getting breached.. i trusted him and he told me to take my computer to local store or microsoft store.. as i am an old man i told him i can not take my computer so he offered the help and asked me to pay 399.99 on paypal. i payed him that money and again after 6 months he tries contacting me and left me a voicemail that somebody is trying to get in my computer.. i didnt trusted him.. and i told him that i have already payed so much money and i cannot afford more... dont talk to him as he a scammer and he is taking payments on paypal so report his paypal also... 315 636 5324

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Locked my computer wanted info to unlock threatening to lock computer permanently due to Unauthorized activity

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- Wichita Falls, TX, USA
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I received an email about a Windows Defender program purchase. The email says to call if I didn't purchase. I called the phone number and they told me to download a program to get a refund and uninstall the program. After I was finished, they said to call back with the new code and remote number. I stopped half way through the download and unplugged it from the internet. I did not call them back as requested.

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