We all receive unwanted phone calls these days. Some days, it seems the only people that want to talk to us are the ones who want to steal something from us; whether it’s payment card information, social security numbers, or to get our Amazon login credentials. There are many scams using the phone—referred to as vishing—that will try this tactic and it’s worth a reminder from time to time to be on alert for them. You might have received the one stating your social security number expired. Now, the scammers are impersonating Microsoft and Amazon, again.
One that seems to be hip right now involves Microsoft. There are very important words that this one uses that we need to pay attention to. It’s a recorded voice and one recording recently received goes like this:
“Your Microsoft Windows computer has expired today. I repeat again subscription of your Microsoft Windows computer has expired today. All Microsoft Services on your computer will stop working by end of the day. Contact Microsoft toll-free [number] to renew now."
There is a toll-free number included.
The words that should clue you in that it’s a scam are “Microsoft Windows computer.” Probably what they mean is “Microsoft Windows software licenses.” So, that first few words are a dead giveaway of a scam. The next few things to note are that it’s not properly worded. It just sounds weird.
Another one recently received was “This call is from your Microsoft support team as your computer service subscription will be auto-renewed. There will be an auto deduction $299 from your bank account. In case you don’t want to get charges, please call to cancel your subscription.”
And Another: “We want you to know your Microsoft Windows computer has expired today. I repeat again. Subscription of your Microsoft Windows computer has expired today. All Microsoft services on your computer will stop working by end of the day. Contact MS toll-free [at number] to renew now.”
And yet another one: “Your Amazon account has been logged on using confirmation code 15212154 on [date] from IP address [xxx.xx.xxx.xxx]. Estimated location is Columbus, OH. If you have not done this transaction, then please press 1 to get connected to Amazon security department.”
All of these were received within a few days of each other. Keep in mind that Microsoft and Amazon just don’t do things like this. In fact, the IP address for the Amazon call actually was owned by a university in New York.
So don’t fret if you get a call like this. It’s most certainly a scam. If there is sense of urgency to try to get you to make a quick decision, just take a minute before doing anything…in fact, take an hour, or even sleep on it. Most likely, it’s not a legitimate call.
If you want to make sure, contact Microsoft or Amazon using numbers from their websites. Don’t call any numbers in suspicious voicemail messages or press the requested keys if you happen to answer one of these calls. Sometimes, all these vishers want is to know your phone number works so they can try bigger and better scams later.
And just as another reminder, your social security number never expires. In fact, it’s with you for life, even if it does get stolen. It is very difficult to get a new one, so don’t believe anyone who says it will expire. It simply won’t.