tech support scam

People all around the world are receiving calls from scammers claiming that they are owed a refund by tech giant Microsoft.

Recently,  I received yet another scam phone call claiming that my Internet service was about to be disconnected because my computer was sending out viruses.  The call was supposedly from Australian telecommunications giant Telstra. 

While browsing the web, a “critical alert” message may suddenly appear that claims that your Mac has been blocked and you must urgently call a support number to seek help.

People continue to receive scam phone calls claiming to be from the technical department of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as Telstra.

“Critical Alert” message that may appear while you are web browsing claims that your computer has been blocked due to virus and spyware infections and your personal information is being stolen. It urges you to call a listed support number immediately to get help with the problem. The page that triggers the popup appears to be part of the Microsoft website and features Microsoft logos, banners, and links.

Tech support phone scams have now been targeting Internet users around the world for a number of years. Despite widespread publicity about these scams, they continue to gain new victims every day.