Police help Microsoft stop scam

Zardon · Feb 6, 2003, 07:52 PM

Microsoft has successfully called in the help of U.K. police to stop an e-mail scam that urges users to call a special number to get help securing Windows.

The number, which actually connected the caller to a real Microsoft number but charged a bit more, was disconnected Thursday around noon U.K. time.

A Microsoft spokesman confirmed the Redmond, Washington , company is "working with U.K. law enforcement to investigate the e-mail scam."

"We don't think it is appropriate that somebody should defraud our customers and of course it is our obligation to pursue any such action," the spokesman said.

E-mail messages claiming to be from "Microsoft Technical Support" and telling readers to call a national rate number in the U.K to obtain a "vitally important" Windows security update first started appearing late December 2002.

Charges for calling a national rate number vary by phone operator, but are typically between $0.13 and $0.16 a minute. The owner of the number would typically only get a small part of that, a spokeswoman for Oftel, the U.K. telephone regulator, said.

The scam is small, generating only several hundred U.K. pounds for the perpetrators, according to a person familiar with the situation. Microsoft has requested of the telephone carrier involved that proceeds will be frozen pending police investigation, the spokesman said.

Even though the 0871-750-1250 phone number in the e-mail can only be reached from inside the U.K. , the e-mail has been sent to users around the world and has caused some confusion, according to postings in online discussion groups.

Microsoft advises users to always use a trusted reference when contacting the company. This can be a phone book, numbers listed in manuals, or the official Microsoft.com Web site. "E-mail is easy to fake," the spokesman said. Joris Evers

Matth · Feb 6, 2003, 09:21 PM

If you need to call US companies support directly from the UK

One thing to check out is the no commitment, no prepay dial-through services

There are 3 I can think of:

Justdial - http://www.just-dial.com "It's great to know I can call the US for just 4p" (UK National rate 0870 number, or 5p/min 0844 at weekends) - but read on....
EasyDial instant - http://www.phonecard-services.co.uk/edinstant.htm (very similar)

Telediscount - http://www.telediscount.co.uk/index2.php - Call the US at LOCAL rate - YES, LOCAL rate
And a good many other destinations too!

Lets hope it shames the other 2 into improving!

Feb 6, 2003, 07:52 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Police help Microsoft stop scam Microsoft has successfully called in the help of U.K. police to stop an e-mail scam that urges users to call a special number to get help securing Windows. The number, which actually connected the caller to a real Microsoft number but charged a bit more, was disconnected Thursday around noon U.K. time. A Microsoft spokesman confirmed the Redmond, Washington , company is "working with U.K. law enforcement to investigate the e-mail scam." "We don't think it is appropriate that somebody should defraud our customers and of course it is our obligation to pursue any such action," the spokesman said. E-mail messages claiming to be from "Microsoft Technical Support" and telling readers to call a national rate number in the U.K to obtain a "vitally important" Windows security update first started appearing late December 2002. Charges for calling a national rate number vary by phone operator, but are typically between $0.13 and $0.16 a minute. The owner of the number would typically only get a small part of that, a spokeswoman for Oftel, the U.K. telephone regulator, said. The scam is small, generating only several hundred U.K. pounds for the perpetrators, according to a person familiar with the situation. Microsoft has requested of the telephone carrier involved that proceeds will be frozen pending police investigation, the spokesman said. Even though the 0871-750-1250 phone number in the e-mail can only be reached from inside the U.K. , the e-mail has been sent to users around the world and has caused some confusion, according to postings in online discussion groups. Microsoft advises users to always use a trusted reference when contacting the company. This can be a phone book, numbers listed in manuals, or the official Microsoft.com Web site. "E-mail is easy to fake," the spokesman said. Joris Evers

Feb 6, 2003, 09:21 PM	#2
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	If you need to call US companies support directly from the UK One thing to check out is the no commitment, no prepay dial-through services There are 3 I can think of: Justdial - http://www.just-dial.com "It's great to know I can call the US for just 4p" (UK National rate 0870 number, or 5p/min 0844 at weekends) - but read on.... EasyDial instant - http://www.phonecard-services.co.uk/edinstant.htm (very similar) Telediscount - http://www.telediscount.co.uk/index2.php - Call the US at LOCAL rate - YES, LOCAL rate And a good many other destinations too! Lets hope it shames the other 2 into improving!