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Austrian police warn of ‘Microsoft phone scam’

The Local Austria
The Local Austria - [email protected]
Austrian police warn of ‘Microsoft phone scam’
Microsoft has nothing to do with the scam. Photo: APA/MAURITZ ANTIN

Austria’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) is warning people of an internet scam in which crooks are posing as employees of the company Microsoft.

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The scammers phone people up and explain to them in English that their computer or laptop is infected with a virus, or that their license has expired.

They claim to be computer security experts who can fix your PC, and ask you to give them remote access so that they can harness your personal data.

After this an error message may flash up on your screen, and the ‘expert’ will ask for money in return for protection from the malware that they pretend is on your machine.

The BKA is advising people to put the phone down if they get a call like this, and emphasises that no legitimate IT security professional would ever call people in this way.

Never hand over your credit card or bank details, and if possible get the caller’s details and report any instance of this scam to the police.




 

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