Member-only story
Scam Alert: Don’t Grant Permission to “Share” Your Computer
“I am Sara, calling on behalf of Microsoft,” says a heavily-accented female voice. “There is a serious security problem in your computer.”
“How do I know you’re really from Microsoft?” I ask.
“No problem, Madame,” she says without a hint of defensiveness. “There is a control number inside every computer that only Microsoft has.” She offers to help me find it number in my laptop.
“Hit the Windows icon and at the same time the letter R for Romeo….Type in the letters “CBD” … Hit enter….Now scroll down…”
One screen leads to another. I don’t remember the path or the actual initials I enter. As each page opens, Sara says, “Read me your choices?”
Wouldn’t a Microsoft employee know the content of each menu?
When an impressive-looking code appears on my screen, I push doubt aside. Sara asks me to read along as she recites all 32 characters…
888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C0–4FD7D068
Like a magician pulling a ten of diamonds from a deck of cards, Sara wants to know, “Is that correct?”
I am baffled and still suspicious. “Is this part of Microsoft’s regular service, or do I have to pay for your help?”
With slight annoyance in her voice, she reassures: “This is a service from Microsoft.”
So-called Sara then leads me to a directory of “Internet files.” She points out that 1300 of them are marked with a yellow exclamation point or a red “Danger!” symbol.
I have no idea what I’m looking at or what the symbols mean, but she has my attention. “How do I delete them?” I ask.
“Well, you can try, but you won’t be able to,” she says confidently. “If you let me share your screen, I can help you. And if I can’t, someone from my technical team will.”
Like a women who continually ignores the warning signs on a first date, I know I shouldn’t stay, but I do. Maybe she’s really going to help me.
I have already ignored the fact that she called on my landline in Paris, a 3–week-old phone number I’ve never associated with my Microsoft account.
