Scammers Exploit Windows 10 Upgrade Rollout-What You Need to Know

>>Many thanks to Kari for his input<<

ZDNet warns of Windows 10 email scam; encrypts data for ransom
http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...tag=TREc64629f

Scammers Exploit Windows 10 Upgrade Rollout
What You Need to Know

If you’re still waiting for your Windows 10 upgrade, you’re not alone. But, don’t be fooled if you receive an email purporting to be from Microsoft, with an attachment for you to “upgrade now”. It’s a virus, and if you run it, your files will be encrypted, and a ransom for decryption required to be paid in Bitcoin.

If you’re trying to upgrade to Windows 10 and it fails with a screen pop up telling you to call for tech support, don’t call the number. It won’t be a Microsoft number you’ve called. It’s likely a scammer, trying to make money off you to “fix” your problem. Chances are, there’s some spyware/malware/adware on your system which triggered the popup. You’ll need to get your system clean before attempting the upgrade again.

If you’ve gotten the popup and already called the number, it’s recommended you take some additional steps:

Did you use any email login information? Change your password NOW.

Did you let them remote into your computer to “fix” things? Change ALL your passwords, and do that from a clean computer, NOW. Even if your hard drive data is encrypted, they had potential access to your encryption/decryption credentials. Your computer has been compromised, and the only sure solution is to full-format (not quick format) your hard drive, and reinstall the operating system.

Did someone talk you into paying for a service which Microsoft provide for free? Notify your bank and cancel your credit/debit card. You might even put a fraud alert on your account through credit monitoring services.

Sad to say, but scammers are always ready and willing to exploit every situation that comes around, including the Windows 10 upgrade rollout. If you’re not sure about something, research it, post here in TenForums, and someone will be able to help you sort things.


Here are some tips and links for assistance if you think you may have been scammed:

• If not absolutely sure you are talking directly with MS support, ask them to call you back and check the validity of the phone number. You can find the Microsoft official Global Customer Service phone numbers here:

http://support2.microsoft.com/gp/cus...cpickshow=true.

Select your country from the list and call the number shown; ask if the phone number calling you or which you'd like to call is indeed their official support.

• Microsoft will never try to sell you an extended support plan or extended warranty. If the "support" you are talking to is trying to sell you something, it's a sure sign of an ongoing scam.

• If you have reason to suspect that the scammer's activities have compromised your Windows sign-in MS Account, and you simply cannot or do not want to discard it, be sure to check that the account security contact information is up-to-date and set up Two-Step Verification if it’s not already on. See tutorial:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...-turn-off.html

• If you can discard the MS Account email but don’t want to lose your inbox content and OneDrive files, this procedure is quite easy and fast, and allows you to keep all your email messages and OneDrive content in a new MS Account:

1. Switch to a local account tutorial:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

2. Sign in to your MS Account; remove your computers from trusted devices tutorial:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

3. Create a new account alias tutorial:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...dd-remove.html

4. Make the new alias primary tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ss-change.html

5. Remove the old primary alias, your original MS Account email, tutorial:

See step 3 above.

6. Switch your local account back to an MS Account, this time using the new primary alias tutorial:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

That’s it! Your Windows 10 sign-in MS Account is now changed, and all your email messages and OneDrive files are still intact.

Well done Simrick! A good and informative post.

Agreed, very informative simrick

Kari said:

Well done Simrick! A good and informative post.

Dude said:

Agreed, very informative simrick

Thanks Dude, and thanks Kari for your input!

Excellent piece of info.

DeeC said:

Thank you Simrick, for all this information. I don't have another computer to use but I am going to call the MS phone number you provided. I wish it were easier to talk to them. I feel like kicking myself!!

You're quite welcome. Sorry you got scammed. Please be sure to call AmEx, change passwords, and get that computer scanned with my suggestion in your thread.

Oh my gosh I would really be mad if that happened to me. The world is filled with scams these days.

I signed up with Internet Support for my pc about 9 months ago. The company has become extremely suspect in my eyes after watching them install a copy of MS Office using what I now find out is illegal software, I know the name of it, but cannot publicise. I contacted them when I had to reinstall 10 due to some problem or other and asked them to reinstall MS Office. After several attempts to get a reply they 'came down the tubes' and installed MS Office. This is when I noted the illegal software and mentioned it in here to a member who gave me some really startling info on this illegal stuff.

Since then I have contacted this company called Micro PC Support of Hounslow, Middlesex to get the MS Office correctly and legally activated. Since installation, I am getting the attached message when opening Office. I spoke to the police who advised Trading Standards, and eventually spoke to Trading Standards in Hounslow who advised me to send a recorded delivery letter to the company Secretary/Director, which I did. They also stated that they are going to visit the company concerned.

As the Company are allegedly Microsoft Accredited I also emailed and called MS UK, but I have no idea what they are doing about it.

As it stands, I have a copy of MS Office awaiting activation, MS said they want £50 to correct the issue but I said no, I have already paid the company for activation and the fact that they did it illegally, is not my fault. MS hung up.

This is the company, dont touch them with the proverbial barge pole.

Micro PC Support, Ved Court, Alexandra Road, Hounslow, TW3 1LS