Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.
Scamming - Fraud
The Microsoft "Computer Locked" popup message below is a scam. The message is not from Microsoft but from scammers. The scam aims is to frighten and trick potential victims into believing their computer is infected with adware, spyware, or other malware and call 1-888-238-0860, a fake Microsoft customer care or support telephone number operated by scammers.
Security ServicesApp: Ads. finacetrack(2).dll Threat Detected: Adware SpywareAccess has been blocked for security reasons and for Safety.Call Windows Security Toll Free: 1-888-238-0860
Security Services
App: Ads. finacetrack(2).dll Threat Detected: Adware Spyware
Access has been blocked for security reasons and for Safety.
Call Windows Security Toll Free: 1-888-238-0860
If you see the Microsoft Scam Computer Locked pop-up, please do not call or follow the instructions in it. Again, the telephone number 1-888-238-0860 is operated by scammers, not Microsoft. And, if the number is called, the scammers will pretend to be from Microsoft. They will ask potential victims to give them access to their computers or disclose their personal and banking information, which will be used fraudulently.
Remember, Microsoft will never ask you to call them if Windows Defender, their antivirus software, detected some form of malware on your computer or mobile device. Therefore, if you are asked to do so, it is a scam and you should not follow the instructions in the popup message.
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Hi, got the same message. What to fo then? Restart laptop?
Just close the web browser tab that is displaying the popup.
I have had this happen and did call the number. I got suspicious and hung up on the person who answered since he asked for information about my banking. I hope that they cannot access or use my phone number for anything because I called them thinking it was Microsoft Defender. The process of sending the scam emails to authorities is something that I have not been able to figure out how to do. It would be good information for everyone to know.
