How to avoid scams using the Microsoft name
Cybercriminals often use well known company names such as Microsoft and Amazon in their scams. They believe it will convince the people they contact to give them money or personal information. Whilst they generally use e-mail to try and trick people they have recently been using the phone instead.
Some of the common scams using the Microsoft name are found below.
You have won the Microsoft Lottery.
Microsoft requires credit card information to validate your copy of Windows
Microsoft sends unsolicited e-mail messages with attached security updates
Someone from ‘Microsoft Tech Support’ calls you to fix your computer
Firstly Microsoft never send unsolicited e-mail or telephone customers to request personal or financial information or to offer to fix a computer.
Anyone receiving an unsolicited e-mail or phone call claiming to be from Microsoft which requests personal information or financial details or to click links should immediately delete the e-mail or hang up the phone.
There is no Microsoft Lottery, this scam often targets Microsoft customers and those who have fallen prey to it and lost money should immediately report it to the police. You can also send the police report to Microsoft and they will use it to help the police and law enforcement globally catch the criminals who send these messages.
Microsoft never requests credit card information to validate anyone’s copy of Windows. Microsoft never collect information that can be used to identify their customers, information such as name, e-mail address or other personal details.
Microsoft does not send unsolicited communications in any form about security updates. The only people who receive email messages about security incidents or updates are subscribers to their security communication programme. However cybercriminals have taken advantage of the programme by sending fake messages appearing to be from Microsoft , some include malware containing a virus, some send people to websites to download spyware or malware.
There are some genuine security communications from Microsoft, they do not include software updates as attachments rather they refer customers to the website for full and genuine information about updates and incidents.
These genuine communications are also on the Microsoft website.