ORLANDO, Fla. – Retired airline pilot Tom Thompson admits his computer skills are average at best, but when he
received a robocall from “Microsoft” last week claiming his Windows license had expired, he said he didn’t need to be an expert to know the call was a fake.
“I thought, 'Wait a second, they’re talking about Microsoft stuff, I haven’t had Microsoft stuff in years,'" Thompson said.
The Microsoft robocall scam has been around at least since 2012.
The call to Thompson’s Central Florida home was from an 866 area code. The recorded message is choppy saying in part, “The Microsoft Corporation has stopped the Windows services in your computer. To renew your license please call 866-978-7540.”
Listen to a recorded scam call below:
When News 6 checked the number on Google, there were dozens of consumer notes complaining about the bogus calls.
Microsoft’s website acknowledges the phone scam.
The Denver Post reported that in 2016, many consumers lost money to these scams.
“Microsoft scams abound,” the Post reported.
The robocalls can be convincing and this time of year in the frenzy of the holiday season consumers may call without thinking about it, experts said.
Microsoft is aware of the schemes and has set up a website with tips, alerts and sites to report the schemes.
For more information visit microsoft.com.