Microsoft Security Essentials Alert popup Tech Support Scam Call 8/4/2015 Read more about Tech Support Scams Malwarebytes official blog here https://blog.malwarebytes.org/tech-support-scams/ Tech support scams are a million-dollar industry and have been around since 2008. Every single day, innocent people are tricked into spending hundreds of dollars on non-existent computer problems.There is no sign of these scams slowing down despite several actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission. Perhaps even worse, companies right here in North America are now pulling the same tricks and taking advantage of existing and prospect customers replying to online ads. Toll-Free Numbers (TFN) for fraudulent tech support companies fake warning Located in India but also in the US, these companies heavily advertise on popular search engines as well as websites with high traffic. People call them for assistance and get fooled with similar techniques employed by Indian cold callers. Another source for these companies comes from some of their existing customers or customers of parent companies sent to them. The remote technician upsells the customer who only came to activate their software but ends up forking hundreds of dollars on “Windows support”. Fake pop ups claiming your computer is infected (reminding of FakeAV) are used by scammers to reel in innocent victims. The ‘technician’ requests to have remote access to your computer (taking control of it) and may use one of the following programs. Teamviewer GoToAssist Logmein Note that these applications are perfectly legitimate, however, it is important to remember that that scammers are also using this software too Malwarebytes has put together a blog with helpful pictures to help show the public more about these scare tactics these scammers use to trick you below are some breakdowns and images please see the links https://blog.malwarebytes.org/tech-support-scams/ Netstat Scam https://blog.malwarebytes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/015_netstat.png?w=564 Stop Services Scam https://blog.malwarebytes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/002_msconfig.png?w=564 Tree Command Scam https://blog.malwarebytes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/011_dir_tree.png?w=564 Network Access Protection Scam https://blog.malwarebytes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/017_network_access_protection.png?w=564 A technical support scam (often abbreviated tech support scam) refers to phone fraud that claims to be a legitimate technical support service. It can either begin by a cold call, usually from a legitimate-sounding third-party like "Microsoft" or "Windows" or it could begin with an unsuspecting user searching for commercial technical support via a popular search engine such as Bing or Google.[1] Remote desktop software is used to connect to the victim's computer, and the scammer then uses a variety of confidence tricks that employ various Windows components and utilities (such as the Event Viewer), third-party utilities (such as rogue security software),[2] and reference sites like Wikipedia or summaries written by security companies[3] to make the victim believe that the computer has issues that need to be fixed, before proceeding for the victim to pay for "support". These scams usually target users, such as senior citizens, who are unfamiliar with the tools used in the process, especially when initiated by cold calls.[2] In English-speaking countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, such cold call scams have occurred as early as 2008, and originate primarily from call centers in India.[2]