Telephone scammers call you by name

I received a call last night asking for me by name. The person on the phone claimed to be from Microsoft and advised me that there were viruses on my computer that they could help me remove.

I was aware of this scam and hung up. If you get a call like this – hang up!

Here’s a link to PC World Magazine describing the scam. https://www.pcworld.com/article/230431/microsoft_warns_of_internet_phone_scam.html

Microsoft offers the following advice:
Be wary of unsolicited calls related to a security problem, even if they claim to represent a respected company.
Never provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller.
Do not go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue.
Take the caller’s information down and report it to the police.
Ensure you have the latest security updates for Windows and all programs running on your PC.
Always use a strong, unique password and change it regularly

I just called the OPP who said anyone who is contacted should call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Chris Keen