14 DAY TRIAL // Tech support scam attempts have grown at an alarming rate lately, and Microsoft has finally decided to take action against companies and individuals performing this illegal activity by sending them to court.
The first entity that's being sued by Microsoft is Omnitech Support, a company which allegedly called customers and offered to fix a number of issues with Microsoft software which weren't actually affecting their computers.
As Microsoft notes in a detailed blog post today, Omnitech not only that offered to fix problems that never existed, but also created some security issues by installing malicious software on customers' computers, in an attempt to get access to personal data and even steal passwords and financial information.
In most of the cases, Microsoft says, these scammers actually claim that users' computers are infected with malware and offer their services to clean their files and remove the infection in exchange for a small fee.
While scammers usually leave computers untouched but claim to have fixed them, there are some who also deploy malware or malicious software that can be used at a later time for different purposes, such as stealing personal files, passwords, and financial information.
65,000 customers complaints received since May
Microsoft says that it noticed an increase in the number of fraudulent attempts to offer tech support using Redmond's name and trademark.
"Omnitech utilized the Microsoft trademarks and service marks to enhance their credentials and confuse customers about their affiliation with Microsoft. Omnitech then used their enhanced credibility to convince consumers that their personal computers are infected with malware in order to sell them unnecessary security services to clean their computers," Microsoft says.
At this point, it's not yet clear how many people actually fell victim to this kind of scams, but since Omnitech ended up getting sued by Microsoft, it's probably an indication that quite a lot of people were tricked into believing that their computers were infected.
How to avoid such scams
Microsoft recommends users to refuse paying for support when someone contacts them directly and to avoid paying for any software or services.
In most of the cases, scammers are also asking for a fee or subscription that comes with the service, so the company says that it's better to hang up. Never, but never give access to your computer to someone who claims to be a representative of Microsoft or any other tech support company, and try to write down information provided by the caller to report them to authorities.
Obviously, you should also avoid disclosing personal information and credit card details to someone who calls you offering support services in exchange for any fee.