Please remind your friends and loved ones who use computers:

Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.

Microsoft WILL NOT CALL YOU.

I just got off the phone with a scammer who called my personal cell phone number and tried to walk me through allowing him access to my PC and network.These scammers will install Malware on your PC, lift credit card or bank details and other personal information, and completely compromise your PC's security. The scam phone calls are very convincing; I've cleaned numerous computers of patrons who were scammed locally. If this has happened to you-- your PC is not safe and needs to be cleaned of Viruses and Malware immediately. There have been a lot of these calls to Miles City patrons in the past month. Please see the press release from Microsoft at the link below.

If patrons have any questions about computer scams, technology, and security, PLEASE contact your local library or trusted computer/IT specialist (Miles City Public Library, 234-1496) for information. If you are the victim of computer fraud or need to report a Cyber-crime, please contact your local law enforcement to make a report (Miles City Police Dept non-emergency contact, 234-6273).

If you believe your PC has been compromised, Microsoft offers tips at this link: http://www.microsoft.com/...scams.aspx

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers tips on avoiding phone scams and where to report these scams (good advice for all of us): http://www.consumer.ftc.g...hone-scams

NOTE: These phone calls are happening more and more frequently in the area. And smart people, educated people, etc have fallen for this convincing scam. Please remind the people in your circles: Microsoft WILL NOT CALL YOU.

Why do people fall for this? It's so blatantly a scam. I've gotten these calls and all I have is an ipad!

Cool, someone else got this too.

I knew it was a scam right away, but played along. The guy was telling me what to do and where to click, and I just played dumb. Once it was done with I said, Nothing happened. So we went back through the process and after about 45 minutes he said something must be wrong with my Internet connection.
"Internet? " I said. " I thought I was supposed to be doing this on my toaster. " he hung up.

Same goes for Mac computers as well. There are many scam artists that copy graphics from official company web pages and make their email look off official tell you you need up grade or have your computer cleaned , defraged or up graded to run better. all they want is for you to click of so they have permission to remote access you computer, personal data and financial information.

Since posting this, I received another call on my cell phone. Different person, but the same scam.

This time: the person on the phone was almost abusive and attempted to bully me into doing something on my computer.

I have received 8 phone calls regarding this same thing. The last one was at 1:23 p.m. today. The area code is 305-351-4020 and the calls always come on my cell phone. These oriental men give me this tale about microsoft. I even informed the man today that I don't have the computer I used to have and he informed me that I was lying to him. He told me three times that I was lying to him. I finally told him to take my number off his list and not to call me again.

i also get these calls.(1) I have told them I no longer have a computer. (2) or I ask them to repeat the company they are with and then i tell them I work with the Police dept. and will be glad to pass on the information. They hang up. But I like the toaster one best.

You'd think the heavy Indian accent might be a major clue.