Nearly 2,000 people fall for ‘Microsoft helpdesk’ scam in 18 months, police say

Last year 1,100 people did a police report after being scammed out of money by phone callers claiming to work for Microsoft, and 800 have done so already this year, broadcaster NOS said on Thursday.

Victims are phoned by an English-speaking man or woman, often with a heavy accent, who claim to work for the software giant’s help desk. They then proceed to explain that the victim’s computer has problems.

In some cases victims are asked to install software which allows the caller to take over their computer. Then they lock you out and they are ask for bank details so that they can empty people bank accounts.

Victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to the scammers, police say, and one man lost some $70,000.

Most victims are over the age of 50. ‘This could be because the scammers use fixed phone lines and older people are more likely than youngsters to have them,’ the broadcaster.

The police say they think several groups are involved in the different versions of the scam.

Have you ever been called by the fake Microsoft help desk? How did you deal with the call?

@son-of-satire for the generic header.