This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On 03/21/2018 I receiver verbal warning from Microsoft and locked screen on my laptop that I had a serious attack and was instructed to call Microsoft at 1-855-979-6447. A person answered from a company in North Carolina stating that my computer is blocked and that my IP address had been affected by people trying to take over my IP access in order to obtain my personal and financial information. He stated that I needed network protection of my IP address and that Win Security would fix the problem for $500.00. As I was very concerned about my information, I agreed. They remotely took control of my computer and after a lot of discussion on my phone and a couple of hours of me sitting at the computer watching the rep said that the problem was cleared. The rep stated that I needed ongoing network protection and needed to purchase network protection for all of my electronic devices computers, printers and cell phones . He stated that the $500.00 repair may not last and that his technical company Geek Advise could install and monitor protection at a cost of $999.99 for one year $1999.99 for two years or $2999.99 for perpetual coverage. I asked about other companies like PC Matic to remedy the problem, he said I needed IP address protection not device protection. I was very nervous about this being a scam, he gave me his name, employee id number, company address and stated that his technical company Geek Advise was the Microsoft rep that was authorized to correct the issue. I agreed to the perpetual program. I am very concerned that this is a scam, so I am going to stop payment on the two separate checks that they used with my bank routing number to pay for program and installation of the protection. I asked about using a credit card, the rep said it would not be safe to use before the repair was done. Did I make a mistake?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
You were scammed.
Contact your financial institutions immediately and tell them you were the victim of a scam and follow their instructions.
Then have your computer completely formatted and wiped clean before you reinstall Windows 7.
Then go online and change any passwords that you use.
We had encountered the same situation. Unfortuately we were under stress and did not search online and wrote a check for $350 to the company... after they did all the tech work for us & we hung up the phone we realized we may had been scammed. After we searched the phone numbers, our fears had been comfirmed. We called the bank and cancelled the check immdiately. We also restored our system to the early days and changed all passwords and hope for the best.
Same issue. They locked screen with a Red Screen Alert, gave phone number to resolve issue. Once on phone they asked for control of computer, then asked for $299.00 for service. Once the sales pitch started we looked up phone number and saw it was reported as a scam.
This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Comments have been turned off. Learn more
