Online scammers cost time and money. Here’s how to fight back

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A new Microsoft survey of 16 countries released this month, focused on tech support scams and their impact on consumers, shows less people are now susceptible to these scams. And the percentage of respondents who’ve been exposed to them is decreasing. Overall, people are losing less money. This 2018 Global Tech Support Scam Research report follows an earlier one Microsoft released in 2016.

If you receive a notification or call from someone claiming to be from a reputable software company, here are a few key tips to keep in mind:

• Be wary of any unsolicited pop-up message on your device; don’t click on it and don’t call the number.
  
• Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support. Any communication we have with you must be initiated by you.
  
• Never give control of your computer to a third-party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team of whom you are already a customer.
  
• If you’re ever unsure about whether Microsoft is trying to contact you, hang up and contact Microsoft directly at support.microsoft.com.
  
• If you think you may have been the victim of a Tech Support Scam, report your experience to Microsoft as well as file a report with law enforcement authorities, including your local consumer protection authority.
  

Source: https://news.microsoft.com/on-the-issues...ight-back/