The Fake Microsoft Support Call
A retired teacher received a call claiming her computer had a virus — within an hour, criminals had remote access and had emptied her savings account.
Attack Chain
- 1Cold call impersonating Microsoft support
- 2Victim convinced of fake virus threat
- 3Remote access software installed (AnyDesk)
- 4Bank account watched and drained while victim watches
Background
Tech support scams target people of all ages but are particularly effective against those less familiar with how technology companies actually communicate. The victim was a 68-year-old retired teacher in Yorkshire. She owned a laptop and was comfortable using it for email and online banking.
The Attack
The caller claimed to be from Microsoft's security team and said her computer was sending error reports indicating a serious virus infection. He seemed knowledgeable and reassuring. He persuaded her to download a remote access tool called AnyDesk. Once connected, he showed her fabricated "error" screens and convinced her that her bank account had been "compromised." He walked her through logging into online banking while he watched, then transferred £12,400 to accounts he controlled.
Response
The victim called her son the next morning to tell him about the "helpful Microsoft man." He immediately called the bank, who froze one transfer. A police report was filed. The victim's computer was factory-reset.
Outcome
The victim recovered £3,000 but lost £9,400. She described feeling foolish, though the scam was sophisticated. Microsoft and similar companies never make unsolicited calls about computer problems.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft, Apple, BT, and your broadband provider will never phone you unprompted about a virus on your computer
- Never allow anyone to remotely access your computer after an unsolicited call
- If you are ever on the phone and someone asks you to log into your bank account, hang up immediately
- If you have already given access, turn the computer off, disconnect from the internet, and call your bank from a different phone
- Talk to elderly family members about this scam — it is one of the most common in the UK