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My computer was locked and I contacted the number on the pop up. I did not go any further as I want to verify the contact was microsoft support?

Dolores Calicchio 0 Reputation points
2025-12-08T21:16:25.65+00:00

I tried to log on my PC today and I had an annoying pop up that would not go away informing me I had a serious threat. There was a number on the pop up but I tried first to search on my own for a microsoft contact. The numbers I tried were all not enabling me to speak to someone to resolve my issue. I then called the number on the pop up instructing me to call them immediately to remove the threat. I asked them to verify they worked for Microsoft. He said his name was Alex and gave me an employee number MS120X5. I was instructed to key CONT ALT DELETE and the pop up was removed I was then instructed to go to TASK MANAGER and check if all programs were running. Some were not and the person on the phone said they should all be running. I was then instructed to remove my microsoft security on my computer to remove malware. I asked the person I was speaking how do I verify they actually worked for microsoft before doing that. They said "you called me" so the my contact is legit. He said I can verify by contacting microsoft and then call him back. Can you verify anyone with the above employee number actually works at Microsoft? I was suspicious and did not go further with this person. He said go ahead and verify and call him back at 1800-248-4068. Please advise.

Moved from: Microsoft Security | Microsoft Defender | Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Windows for home | Other | Security and privacy
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-08T21:16:42.67+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you may have encountered a tech support scam. Microsoft does not send unsolicited messages or make unsolicited calls to request personal information or to fix your computer. If you received a pop-up with a phone number, it is likely not a legitimate Microsoft support contact.

    To verify if an email or call is from Microsoft support, check the sender's email address or the phone number against known Microsoft support numbers. Microsoft support uses specific domains for emails, such as microsoft.com, microsoftsupport.com, and mail.support.microsoft.com. If the number you called does not match these, it is likely a scam.

    Since you were instructed to remove your Microsoft security software, this is a red flag, as legitimate support would never ask you to do that. It's good that you did not proceed further with the instructions given by the caller.

    If you suspect that you have been targeted by a scam, you should report it to Microsoft and consider running a full scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus to check for any malware on your device.

    For more information on tech support scams and how to protect yourself, you can refer to the resources provided by Microsoft.

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  2. Dolores Calicchio 0 Reputation points
    2025-12-08T21:28:11.36+00:00

    It would be reassuring to talk live with someone at Microsoft and not AI.

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  3. EmilyS726 186.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-08T22:36:00.11+00:00

    This is a typical IT support scam case. Your computer was not "locked" up. It is just a pop up page that can have some audio effect (sometimes) and display in full screen mode, so it appears the computer is locked. When that happened, you can just hold down Ctrl+Alt+Del, then launch Task Manager, and then end all browser items there to close it. But as long as you didn't call the number or engage in any of the requested activities, your computer is not ok.

    Scammers use various methods to trigger these pop-ups. Pop-ups are a form of online advertising. They are often integrated into websites or applications through ad services. Many websites use third-party advertising services to display ads. Sometimes, these ad services might inadvertently allow scam ads to be displayed. This does not mean the website itself is malicious, but it indicates a lack of stringent ad vetting.

    You can read more about this type of support scam here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/protect-yourself-from-tech-support-scams-2ebf91bd-f94c-2a8a-e541-f5c800d18435

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