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NO, Microsoft or Apple are NOT Contacting You!
A
friend was at her wits end after she realized she had given a hacker access to
her computer and everything on it. She was in the middle of getting plane
reservations when a high pitched alarm screamed and flashed on her home
computer. She
thought she'd hit a wrong key or did something else wrong. The message she got
was very official looking, so she followed the instructions on what to do. She
got very good step-by-step instructions from Microsoft. It even told her how to
lower the volume as they fixed the problem since the noise alone was stressing
her to the point that she couldn't think clearly.
Once she got the volume down,
the
person at the other end was asking her questions about her system, as well as
other things like accounts and numbers, things that couldn't possibly be
connected to fixing the problem. She realized she'd been scammed and hung up the
phone immediately. Her husband came home about then and immediately pulled the
plug on the computer and took it to be (electronically) scrubbed and repaired.
These scams keep working over and over again,
although
I hadn't heard of a screaming alarm before. I have had urgent popup messages on
my computer, but not an audible alarm. Even though we consciously know that we
should be vigilant at all times when using our computers, phones and tablets, it
just takes one unguarded moment to cause a heap of trouble. This happens on
Microsoft machines as well as Apples. There have been so many cases recently,
that it is worth repeating:
No,
Microsoft and Apple will never call, text, or email you unless you contacted
them first.
There is absolutely no way they can tell when your machine needs service or
repair.
No, Social Security, Medicare, and the IRS will never contact you this
way, either.
Do NOT automatically respond to unsolicited calls, texts or emails.
Do NOT click on anything in an unsolicited email or text, or open an
attachment. If you think it is from someone you know, call the person first
to be sure they sent it to you.
Click on the flier below for more easy to remember tips.
A
friend was at her wits end after she realized she had given a hacker access to
her computer and everything on it. She was in the middle of getting plane
reservations when a high pitched alarm screamed and flashed on her home
computer. 
She
thought she'd hit a wrong key or did something else wrong. The message she got
was very official looking, so she followed the instructions on what to do. She
got very good step-by-step instructions from Microsoft. It even told her how to
lower the volume as they fixed the problem since the noise alone was stressing
her to the point that she couldn't think clearly. 
the
person at the other end was asking her questions about her system, as well as
other things like accounts and numbers, things that couldn't possibly be
connected to fixing the problem. She realized she'd been scammed and hung up the
phone immediately. Her husband came home about then and immediately pulled the
plug on the computer and took it to be (electronically) scrubbed and repaired.
although
I hadn't heard of a screaming alarm before. I have had urgent popup messages on
my computer, but not an audible alarm. Even though we consciously know that we
should be vigilant at all times when using our computers, phones and tablets, it
just takes one unguarded moment to cause a heap of trouble. This happens on
Microsoft machines as well as Apples. There have been so many cases recently,
that it is worth repeating:
No,
Microsoft and Apple will never call, text, or email you unless you contacted
them first. 