Warning on fake Microsoft officers

Fraudsters, pretending to be Microsoft computer security officers, are phoning people to infiltrate their computer and steal information, according to an IT consultant.

“It’s a very simple scam. You may have the best antivirus installed but these people prey on inexperienced computer users and manipulate them into giving them the key into their PC. Once they can access the computer, they can take a lot of details including bank information,” said Keith Schembri.

Jennifer Stevens, from Naxxar, was one of the people targeted by the scam, which has been going on for months.

Some weeks ago she received a phone call from an Indian-sounding man who claimed he was from the Windows 7 Security Centre. She was on her way out and asked him to call later. Sure enough, in the afternoon, she received another call, this time from a woman also sounded Indian.

The woman told her that her computer had been hacked and asked Ms Stevens to sit in front of it so she would guide her through rectifying the situation.

“I realised what was going on and told her I had no intention of letting her hack my computer,” Ms Stevens said.

She called her technician, Mr Schembri, who told her she was not the only person to receive such calls. In all cases the caller sounded foreign.

A man recounted that in his case the caller told him he was from the Microsoft offices in Sliema but he noted a line delay, which suggested the call originated from abroad.

Microsoft Malta had advised the public to ignore international callers identifying themselves as Microsoft representatives and informing the people they contacted that their computer might be at risk. However, the practice appears to persist.

“Microsoft is constantly active in investigating and taking action against any form of fraud when found, including taking legal action where necessary,” the com-pany said.

IT expert Martin Debattista said reputable companies, such as Microsoft, would not call people to tell them their computer had been hacked. Such companies would go through official channels by, for example, issuing a statement through the media if there was a serious hacking problem.

He said fraudsters targeted as many people as they could in the hope of tricking, at least, one victim.

“My advice is that if you receive such a phone call just hang up,” Mr Debattista said.