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Is this a legitimate phone number?

Anonymous
2025-01-22T16:39:22+00:00

I received a popup on my laptop that claimed to call 1-888-669-4617 as there was spyware and to call windows immediately.

Thank you!

Windows for home | Other | Security and privacy

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.

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  1. Ferdinand Nanalig 29,190 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-01-22T17:12:41+00:00

    Hi, I am an Independent Advisor.

    Let me help you with this issue.

    I understand you got a pop-up on your screen with a Microsoft technical support number.

    The number that showed up on your screen is not an official Microsoft support number. It’s part of a tech support scam. Microsoft does not display phone numbers for you to call on pop-up messages.

    Scammers often use pop-up warnings to trick people into thinking their computer has a virus or other issue, prompting them to call a fake support number. Once contacted, scammers may guide victims through steps to gain remote access or install harmful software.

    Please do not call the number, to close the popup, just hit[ ALT+F4] or [CTRL+ALT+ESC] then open Task Manager, and close all open browsers.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Don Varnau 19,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-01-25T11:48:49+00:00

    What happens if i call them

    @ Mariyah B Santiago - 2089522

    Simply calling them is harmless. The danger is that they will want to sell you something like a horribly overpriced but worthless service contract or connect remotely to your computer to...

    * Install unecessary (sometimes free) software and charge you for it.

    * Remove non-existent virus's or other malware and charge you for it

    * Install malware like a keylogger so that they can continue to monitor what you're doing

    * Steal passwords or financial data or other sensitive data

    Did you allow a remote connection?

    Don

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Airbus A350 7,350 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-01-22T16:49:18+00:00

    Hello,

    That is not a legitimate phone number.

    If you get a warning like that out of any browser, it's just a scam to get you to call a scammer and get them to install stuff on your computer.

    You can safely Ctrl + W out of that and it's gone.

    If you would like, you can report the website to Google by going to https://safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish/ and you can report the webpage to Microsoft by going to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/support/report-unsafe-site-guest.

    Hope this helps

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Airbus A350 7,350 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-01-29T19:22:01+00:00

    Hello,

    You can go to Task Manager, click the browser in the list, and then push the Delete key or press "End task".

    Hope this helps.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2025-01-29T18:47:35+00:00

    How do I close all browsers on task Manager?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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