The Brandenburg consumer advice center warns against alleged Microsoft employees who pretend to want to help consumers.

Fake Microsoft employees – The most important thing to start with:

  1. Scammers pose as Microsoft employees and install software on their victim's computer.
  2. The consumer advice center warns of rip-offs by fake Microsoft employees. They convince their victim and install malware or remote control software.
  3. End any alleged support discussions immediately and do not install any software!

Various scams are currently circulating again to help consumers with alleged computer problems. As a result, the rip-offs only want the consumer's data and their money. The consumer advice center advises: end alleged support conversations immediately and do not install any software.

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The Brandenburg Consumer Center (VZB) is currently again receiving increasing complaints from consumers about tech support scams. Alleged Microsoft employees try to gain access to the computer by telephone or via fake warning notices on the PC.

Alleged Microsoft call: rip-offs targeted consumer advice center

In the last few days, VZB itself was affected by such a call. The caller stated in broken German that the employee's computer had been hacked and that third parties were trying to misuse the IP address. The employee would be part of a Microsoft security company that helps troubleshoot the problem.

The caller then asked the VZB employee to open the event viewer on his computer. The error messages listed there should show him the urgency of the call. According to descriptions from affected consumers, it is known that the rip-offs then try to get the consumer to install remote control software. Callers use this software to try to plant malware or access personal data.

Also beware of pop-up PC support

Consumers are currently also contacting the VZB and are informed of an urgent need for action through a pop-up window while visiting a website. Consumers call the provided phone number and are in turn asked to install remote control software.

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Those affected will then receive invoices for the correction of the alleged computer problems as well as for supposedly concluded maintenance contracts.

The aim of the scams: steal money and data

“All of these scams have a common goal: to grab consumer data and get money,”

says Michèle Scherer, Digital World Consultant at VZB. The help offered is always just a pretext. According to Microsoft, it does not send unsolicited emails nor do employees request personal data by phone or on their PC.

“We advise everyone affected to end such calls as quickly as possible,”

continued Scherer. Under no circumstances should consumers disclose personal information or allow remote control of their computers.

“If the alleged support staff have already gained access to it, consumers should immediately disconnect the PC from the Internet and change passwords and access data,”

advises the consumer advocate. It is also important to have your computer checked for malicious software by an expert. here how those affected should proceed .

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If you are not sure whether an alleged invoice is legitimate or how to proceed, you can also contact the Brandenburg Consumer Center individually:

  • in the consumer advice centers, make an appointment on 0331 / 98 22 999 5 (Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or online at www.vzb.de/termine ,
  • Telephone advice on 09001 / 775 770 (Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1€/min on German landline, mobile phone varies) and
  • Email advice at www.vzb.de/emailberatung

About the Consumer Center Brandenburg eV
The Consumer Center Brandenburg eV (VZB) is the most important representation of the interests of Brandenburg consumers in politics and business. It offers independent consumer advice, information and education on numerous topics: market & law, travel & leisure, finance & insurance, food & nutrition, digital & telecommunications, energy, building & living. She also advises on German-Polish consumer law.

In addition, the VZB warns companies that violate applicable law to the detriment of consumers and educates the public about consumer rights, rip-off scams and savings tips.

In keeping with the topic: 67-year-old spends 8 hours on the phone with “Microsoft” scammers

Source:  Brandenburg Consumer Center
Article image: Shutterstock / By Andrey_Popov


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