Microsoft Compromise Page Received

Its a scam, Microsoft does not call anybody to activate Windows 10:

Warning: There are "Tech Support Scams" pretending to be Windows 10 Support and Activation Technologies. Please be vigilant. Microsoft never calls or emails users to inform them their license is expiring, accounts will be closed or they need access to sensitive information such as passwords or banking information. Neither should you get an email. Learn more in the following article:

PSA: Beware of Windows 10 Activation Tech Support Scams
http://www.groovypost.com/news/beware-of-window...

Report it:
https://www.microsoft.com/reportascam/


Tech support scams - Windows Defender Security ... - Microsoft
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/su...

Protect yourself from tech support scams - Microsoft Support
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/401340...

I recommend you update your password and contact your bank to let them be aware of this charge.

HI Ms. Sellers,

This is absolutely a scam. You could of been on website that got infected, and I’ve seen this before. These pop up messages are intended to scare people into paying money and giving criminals access to their computer. Just do the following the to clean up your PC.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/products/ - download the free home version (make sure you opt out of the free trial of their active anti virus while setting up)

https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

Note: These are a non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Download and install Malwarebytes and adwcleaner run the scans. Have them clean up anything that could be causing a problem. Never call or pay anyone. MS will never send you anything like that.

I hope this helps!
- C

It's a common scam that you could have ended with the Task Manager. Now you must consider everything on your computer has been compromised. Passwords, PIN numbers, financial account information. A clean install of Windows is the best option and what I would do myself. See the following and decide if you want to tempt fate not knowing what they may have installed on your computer.

From Quietman, see: I have been hacked...What should I do?
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/407147/answers-to-common-security-questions-best-practices/?p=3071944   

And this from the FTC:

Tech Support Scams
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams   

Next, follow the instructions here even if the pop up is gone.
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-tech-support-scam-popups/    

Also run this tool.

SuperAntiSpyware (Free version)
http://www.superantispyware.com/    

Please read:

PSA: Tech Support Scams Pop-Ups on the Rise
https://blog.malwarebytes.org/fraud-scam/2014/11/psa-tech-support-scams-pop-ups-on-the-rise/    

Breaking down a notably sophisticated tech support scam M.O.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mmpc/2017/03/02/breaking-down-a-notably-sophisticated-tech-support-scam-m-o/

Hello Bruce:

Thank you for responding so quickly. Due to CZone Solutions.ca not accepting American Express, the payment has not been made yet. I will follow your instructions as you provided.

Tell me please, could they have installed any nefarious tidbits on my laptop to prohibit me from utilizing it, and will the Malwarebytes clean up any possible tidbits they may have installed? Thank You So Much for your response.

They might have, if you want peace of mind, a clean install would be best, but I would at least try the following:

Click Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features
Look through the list for any entries for suspicious software installed
Select it then click uninstall

Reset all your web browsers to their original factors state

In Microsoft Edge - Click Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Microsoft Edge
Select it, click Advanced options > Reset

Reset Chrome settings to default - Google Chrome Help
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/329621...

Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings - Mozilla Support
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-fi...

Use Malwarebytes to scan and clean the computer.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/

Also use ESET Sysrescue offline scanner to scan and clean the computer, see instructions in the following article:

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/clean-virus-in...

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Hello Charlie:

  Thank You for your quick response. I will follow the instructions you have provided. I will ask you the same question I asked Andre and Bruce who also responded, if you do not mind.

Due to CZone Solutions.ca not accepting American Express, the payment has not been made yet. I will follow your instructions as you provided.

Tell me please, could they have installed any nefarious tidbits on my laptop to prohibit me from utilizing it, and will the Malwarebytes clean up any possible tidbits they may have installed? Thank You So Much for your response.

The problem is that not only do you not know what they may have installed, but what info they may have harvested. Not only do I recommend a fresh install, but more importantly as stated in some of the links I provided, every password you use on your computer should be changed. Especially including any PWs for financial institutions and the like.

No problem at all - Yes, depending on how far you followed that pop up, clicking on links, etc. It’s possible they something was left behind.

That being said, malwarebytes is excellent at finding those things. Malwarebytes antimalware definitions are updated constantly to attack malware.

You could also run a system restore:

Click on Start - and type "control panel" and click on it

Once open, search "recovery" and hit enter. When it comes up, click on recovery.

On the next page, open "open system restore"

They'll be a box that says "click for more restore points" that I would click. Choose a restore point (before this happened), and follow the prompts.

** Please note, all your files and photos, etc will be fine. Any applications (ex. candy crush) you've installed since the point you're going back to will be removed. Just a heads up **

This would bring you back to a point before this happened, and you’ll have a clean OS. You can then install malwarebytes as a precaution and see what it finds.

Hope this helps!
- C

Did you give them a different credit card? If you do have them cancel that payment.

You should also contact AMEX and ask them to put your card on a watch list (if they have one). If you provided full information for the payment, they could resell that info to other hackers for them to use to make purchases. If you want to be extra paranoid or just for your peace of mind, have AMEX cancel and re-issue your card with a new number.

If you gave them "remote control" to your computer, then yes certainly they could have installed malware, or at the very least a "back door" that gives them access to your computer at any time they want. The same is true to a lesser extent if you went to their website.

Running the suggest antimalware is one way to get a bit of peace of mind. But the "gold standard" for wiping out potential malware problems is doing the already suggested "Clean install". You should use a DIFFERENT computer to setup the USB with the required installation files.

Here is some more reading about various Scam attacks:

2018 04 27- SCAMMED BY INFORMATICO EXPERTS? HERE'S WHAT TO DO - (LIVE PC EXPERTS) 1-800-701-2953
https://www.infopackets.com/news/10325/scammed-...
<snip>
I have been in contact with Informatico Experts Inc (Live PC Experts) since last November ... [and have paid them a grand total of almost $12,000 up until recently]. …
</snip>

2018 04 23- WINDOWS WARNING: TECH-SUPPORT SCAMMERS ARE RAMPING UP ATTACKS, SAYS MICROSOFT
https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-warning-t...
<snip>
Windows 10 security won't protect you from tech-support scammers' lies and trickery.

Microsoft says it received 153,000 reports in 2017 from customers who'd come in contact with tech-support scammers via a cold call, spam, or the web.
</snip>

2017 10 17- HOW TO RECOGNIZE SCAM WEBSITES
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-spot-a-scam-web...

PHONE SCAM

For the most relevant information on Microsoft Tech Support Scams, please visit the Microsoft Tech Support Scams page ( https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/su... ). We (that is “real” MS Speaking) can ensure this page stays updated with the most relevant information involving support scam trends, techniques, and solutions.


ADDITIONAL WAYS TO IDENTIFY SCAMS
https://www.groovypost.com/news/beware-of-windo... Windows 10 Activation Tech Support Scams

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/su... Tech support scams

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-p... How to recognize phishing email messages, links, or phone calls

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-p...

FUN WAYS TO SCR*W WITH ‘TECH SUPPORT’ SCAMMERS
http://techgenix.com/screw-tech-support-scammers/

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SERIOUSLY, SOME “RESPONSIBLE” THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT SCAMERS
HOW TO: REPORT THE MICROSOFT PHONE SCAM
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/reportascam/?lo... – Report directly to MS
https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/microsoftsecur... Contacts to Officals in USA, Canada and UK
https://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx US FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

REPORT A TECHNICAL SUPPORT SCAM TO MS
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/reportascam/
Microsoft takes seriously its commitments to protect and maintain the privacy of its customer data and empowers its customers to implement and use our services in a protected manner. Unfortunately, technical support scams have become all too common across the industry, affecting consumers worldwide. Customers, family, friends and Microsoft employees are receiving unsolicited phones calls and pop-up advertisement from fraudsters claiming to be from a reputable company or a partner of Microsoft.

MS PIRACTY / BOOTLEG INFO SITE
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/piracy/default....

WAYS TO BLOCK UNWANTED CALLERS (US)
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/limiting-un...

https://www.donotcall.gov/

2014 0 17 APP STORE- THE WINDOWS STORE IS A CESSPOOL OF SCAMS — WHY DOESN’T MICROSOFT CARE?
http://www.howtogeek.com/194993/the-windows-sto...
Microsoft’s Windows Store is a mess. It’s full of apps that exist only to scam people and take their money. Why doesn’t Microsoft care that their flagship app store is such a cesspool?

AVOID SCAMS THAT USE THE MICROSOFT NAME FRAUDULENTLY
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-p...

2016 09 14- BEWARE OF MICROSOFT SALES REPRESENTATIVES POSING AS AUDITORS TO SELL OFFICE 365 – LICENSE – SCAM - REVIEW
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/beware-of-m...

<snip>
User reports indicate Microsoft is using the spectre of fines for noncompliance to upsell businesses on Office 365, the SaaS version of Microsoft Office. Here’s what to look for and how to respond.
...
.
For a bit of inspiration, the OSS Simple Sabotage Field Manual offers surprisingly relevant tips for frustrating sales representatives to the point that they may give up on pursuing your organization.
.
See also
• Report: Unused enterprise software is costing businesses a fortune (TechRepublic)
• Microsoft offers free Windows Server 2016 licenses to VMware switchers (ZDNet)
• Windows 10: Microsoft forces you to choose between privacy and security, say campaigners (TechRepublic)
• How to remove unwanted apps from Windows 10 (even though Microsoft doesn’t want you to) (TechRepublic)
• 10 books to get you started on big data: TechRe
</snip>

SCAM PHONE CALLS
http://techgenix.com/screw-tech-support-scammers/
The author of this article lists several “games” you can play when you figure out you ae getting one of these scam calls.
THE “TECH SUPPORT” SCAMMERS CALLED HTG (SO WE HAD FUN WITH THEM)
http://www.howtogeek.com/180514/the-%E2%80%9Cte...
The author documents the process followed in one of these scam calls