computer locked up

Question

My computer was locked by Microsoft because says IP address used to visit website network and identity theft virus. Wants me to call 833-417-3538. I don't know if this is legit. Says call microsoft support - do not restart computer or shut down.

Answer 1

Microsoft will never reach out unless you initiate the conversation. In this situation, it sounds like a tech support scam. You should be able to either close the browser or restart your computer to make the message disappear. If that does not resolve the issue, you may need to get with an IT professional to diagnose the issue further.

You can reference a Microsoft Learn document on the subject below:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/malware/support-scams?source=recommendations