Microsoft ended technical support for the Windows 7 operating system on January 14, 2020. Fraudsters are now also taking advantage of this fact.

The most important thing about Windows 7 support in connection with fraudsters in brief:

  • Scammers pose as Microsoft employees.
  • The Windows 7 operating system is used as an excuse
  • If you fall into the trap, you could lose hundreds of euros.

The fake Microsoft employees are not a new scam. We have reported on this again and again. What is new, however, is the fact that scammers are reaching out to consumers due to the discontinuation of Windows 7 support. They claim that they can help consumers switch to a new version of Windows.

This is how the scam works:

Well-known scam in a new guise: Fraudsters have now used the “Windows 7” operating system as a pretext and are pretending to be Microsoft employees on the phone.

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The police examined the following case on January 23, 2020: An alleged technical support from Microsoft misled a couple from Bakum. Through this scam, the fraudsters caused damage of over 12,000 euros.

The previously unknown fraudsters had initiated a fake pop-up window on a website that pointed to a Windows 7 security update. A support number there prompted the injured party to call and so the disaster began. During the course of contacting the alleged helper by telephone, remote access occurred. In this way, the perpetrators had access to the victim's computer. During the course of the phone call, bank transactions occurred that caused the above-mentioned damage. The required TAN numbers were obtained by fraud during the conversation.

Contacting potential victims can also be made directly by calling them. The fraudsters in this scam use the well-known company name to create trust and thus obtain sensitive data.

As happened in another case on January 22, 2020: A wage worker received calls from an alleged Microsoft employee during which remote access software was installed. Within a short time there was damage of over 3000 euros.

Since Windows 7 users have no longer been provided with updates since last week, we would like to expressly point out this scam. The perpetrators take advantage of the fact to install supposed security updates in order to gain access to their victims' computers, sensitive data or online banking.

We would like to recommend the following tips and advice when dealing with similar situations:

  • Reputable companies do not contact their customers without being asked. So if an alleged employee contacts you without you asking: hang up, delete the email or close the browser.
  • Under no circumstances should you give out private data, assets, TAN numbers or similar.
  • Microsoft error and warning messages do not contain phone numbers.
  • Do not allow unknown callers access (remote) to your computer.
  • Do not download any software in connection with such contact.

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If you have fallen victim to this scam:

  • Disconnect your computer from the internet and shut it down.
  • Change passwords from a non-infected PC.
  • Have your PC checked by a professional and delete the alleged remote maintenance program.
  • Contact your bank or the payment services whose data the perpetrators stole.
  • Report it to the police.
  • You can also report the attempted fraud to Microsoft: www.microsoft.com/de-DE/concern/scam

Further information can be found at https://www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/betrug/falsche-microsoft-arbeiter/

Article image: Shutterstock / Atstock Productions / spacedrone808

 


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