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I don’t know whether this is a problem in the USA, but it is in the UK. Most days now I receive a phone call, asking for me by name, no caller ID other than “International”, from someone with an Indian accent, male and female, claiming to be calling from Microsoft. Sometimes it is “Microsoft Technical Service”, sometimes “Windows Registration Department”. A friend was taken in by this hoax, and persuaded to download some file that took control of her computer, which is now away being cleansed.

If you don’t have a support issue open with Microsoft, they will NEVER call you, please don’t be taken by these fraudsters.

The above information is correct – Microsoft do not cold call users.
We have this same hoax in Australia.
I had several such calls and decided to play along with the last caller – a seemingly polite lady from India.
She directed me to view some supposed files that were downloaded with out my knowledge and told me I had an issue with my computer downloading unwanted and dangerous files.
She gave me instructions, which I carefully pretended to follow, repeatedly asking her what would happen to my computer.
She got a little frustrated because I continually asked what was happening and eventually she said “Just trust me!”
When she was about to activate a remote session with my computer, I really acted dumb and she became quite impatient with me.
Finally I said, “I know exactly what you are doing, I am a computer professional for may years.”
She then really lost it and asked me why I was wasting her time.
My reply was that this is a well known hoax in Australia and she must have wasted many a victim’s time.
She really lost it and I heard what I suppose were some choice Hindi swear words but I soon got the desired hang up at her expense.
InterestinglyI have never had such a caller since- I wonder if they share information?