I have been getting calls from 1-650-693-4000, with Microsoft Corp. on the caller I.D. I have received calls from these scammers before in the past trying to get into my computer. I knew it was a scam then and they are still trying to scam me. "They" have been calling this whole week. Today I decided to call the number back and I actually talked to a Microsoft rep. She told me that, yes, it is a scam and to not give out any personal info. These scammers are using the Microsoft number and name to try and get as much info as possible from us. I hope this helps whomever has been getting these calls. Please do not give them the satisfaction of getting into your computer. Just as I was typing this out, " Eddy" from Microsoft just called informing me that they are getting signals from my computer and that he wants to try and help me out with this issue and for me to get over to my computer ASAP! I informed "Eddy" that I was just in the middle of reporting him and it didn't seem to phase him. These people are relentless.
When this number calls they say its for a Microsoft technical support error that your windows machine has sent to them. They are nonspecific as to the error or even the computer that created the error. Please don't give them any information. Microsoft will generally not reach out to you unless you have already gone to them. Sending those error notices don't count.
They have called me a few times which is funny because I'm in IT and work for a company that sells Microsoft Software Configurations. So "Kevin" gave me a call this last time. I decided to engage. He didn't get past his first question. He said my windows machine gave me an error. I asked which windows machine as I operate 3-4 machines daily. He responded with my main machine. I again pressed saying I use multiple machines and needed to know which machine. He said the machine that is connected to my registration. When I followed up with which registration so i can know what machine he was talking about, I was disconnected.
Again, don't give out your information to these people!
Without counting individual calls from these people, I'm grouping the cluster of calls mid-summer and one call I just received today as two separate attempts. It is as others describe above. I, too, called back the number previously and got a Microsoft rep telling me that their number was being spoofed by scammers.
Today, "Glen" tells me that he is calling me with regard to a "windows support" error on my windows machine. A few months ago, I had the same problem and they couldn't tell me which machine it was (similar to the poster above me). This time, I decided to engage a little further.
Glen says that he is based in Houston, TX - curious, because the number is a Silicon Valley number. I ask him first how he received my number and he said that it's associated with my customer license #. Unsure of what that is, he said that it's associated with my machine when I purchased it. I ask what is the number he used to call me and he said he could not see all of it due to privacy and security reasons, but he could tell me the last 4 digits. That sounded thoughtful and somewhat legitimate. He also tells me that he cannot see other identifying information like address, email, etc.
I repeat what he said to make sure I understood what he was saying, "So you're calling me about my Windows machine. Are you from Microsoft?" He tells me that he is not from Microsoft, but from a separate company called Global Soft Systems and I can check out their website at www.globalsoftline.com. He says that what they do is reach out to customers who have windows issues that prevent them from receiving updates. I then tell him that I'd like to reach out to friends that I know who work at Windows to confirm that this is a legitimate call. He says he would like to reiterate that he is not calling from Microsoft (hey, but why is he using Microsoft's number on caller id?) and that it is a legitimate call. He goes on, "This is completely legal and we are not trying to scam you or anything like that."
He did explain the process of correcting the error would involve granting him remote access to my computer. Hmm....
He gave me his number: 1-844-273-8181 ext. 7714.
The conversation was polite, courteous and generally believable. I didn't pursue any further, but suggested that he give me a call later this week.