$ cat ~/notes/microsoft-is-not-calling-you.mdx
Microsoft is not going to call you
Scam calls and pop-ups got a lot more convincing this year. Here's how to tell, and what to do in the first few minutes if you already let someone in.
Every few weeks someone tells me "Microsoft called" or "Apple support popped up on my screen". It's a scam every time, and they're getting better at it. The voices sound real now, sometimes they sound like someone you know, and the pop-ups look exactly like the real thing.
Here's the short version I give people.
Four rules that catch almost all of them
- Big companies don't call you about your computer. Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and your internet provider are not watching your computer and calling when something's wrong. If they call you first, hang up.
- A pop-up with a phone number is a scam. Real warnings don't ask you to call anyone. Close the browser. If it won't close, restart the computer.
- Nobody legit needs remote access you didn't ask for. If someone you didn't call wants you to install something so they can "take a look", that's the scam.
- Gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or "stay on the line while you go to the bank" is always a scam. No real company or government office gets paid that way.
The new one: a voice you recognize
AI can copy a voice from a short clip online, so the call might sound like your grandkid, your boss or your bank. They always want money fast and they always want you to keep it quiet.
I think every family should probably pick a code word that only you know. If "they" can't say it, hang up and call the person back on the number you already have for them.
If you already let them in
It happens to smart people, so don't beat yourself up. Do these in order:
- Get the computer off the internet. Turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the cable. Don't let them back on, even if they call back.
- Call your bank using the number on the back of your card, not one they gave you. Tell them what happened.
- Change your passwords from a different device, starting with email and banking.
- Get the computer looked at before you use it for anything important again. They often leave something behind.
If you're not sure
Hang up, close it, and ask someone you trust. That's me, if you want it to be. Send me a message or use the help desk on my card, and I'll tell you if it's real.
I'm also putting together a free class on this, about 30 minutes, for people who want to walk through real examples. There's a field on the LearnIT page if you want an invite.