Summary
This article will help you avoid tech support scams.
Details
Tech support scams are a common problem in some places of the world. This article will help you determine if you are a victim of a tech support scam, and how to avoid them. The majority of the following list of links and descriptions were compiled by SpiritX MS MVP:
Avoid tech support phone scams
http://www.microsoft.com/security/onlin.e-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams
Avoid fake tech blog scams.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/feedback/forum/fdbk_commsite-mods/question-about-re-adding-moderator-removed-links/7214ed69-e72e-4acd-837a-71aa57de5481
Email and web scams: How to help protect yourself - includes what to do if you
think you have been a victim of a scam.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-scams.aspx
How to recognize phishing email messages, links, or phone calls
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-sympto.ms.aspx
In USA you can contact FBI, State Attorney General, local law enforcement and
consumer watch groups. Arm yourself with knowledge.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center
(NW3C), funded in part by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
No, Microsoft would not call you unsolicited. Nor would they know if any errors
existed on your computer. So those are frauds or scams, to get your money or
worse to steal your identity.
Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently - Microsoft does not make
unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/phishing/Msname.aspx
Hoaxes and Scams.
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu_sc_virsec_master?ws=support#tab3
Microsoft Consumer Support Center.
https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/default.aspx?altbrand=true&SD=gn&LN=en-us&st=1&wfxredirect=1&gssnb=1
Microsoft Support.
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support#tab0
Microsoft - Contact Support.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/contact-support
Email and web scams: How to help protect yourself - includes what to do if you
think you have been a victim of a scam.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-scams.aspx
How to recognize phishing email messages, links, or phone calls
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-sympto.ms.aspx
In USA you can contact FBI, State Attorney General, local law enforcement and
consumer watch groups. Arm yourself with knowledge.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center
(NW3C), funded in part by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
No, Microsoft would not call you unsolicited. Nor would they know if any errors
existed on your computer. So those are frauds or scams, to get your money or
worse to steal your identity.
Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently - Microsoft does not make
unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/phishing/Msname.aspx
Hoaxes and Scams.
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu_sc_virsec_master?ws=support#tab3
Microsoft Consumer Support Center.
https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/default.aspx?altbrand=true&SD=gn&LN=en-us&st=1&wfxredirect=1&gssnb=1
Microsoft Support.
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support#tab0
Microsoft - Contact Support.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/contact-support
If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this article or ask a question on the Microsoft forums.