Computer Learning

[mr40]

Computer scam alert! I got hacked this afternoon! An orange website (not a pop up window) appeared with a notice that someone attempted to access my financial accounts. It told me to change my passwords.
But when I went to log into my brokerage account - disaster!

Everything froze! No mouse or keyboard worked.
I called the number on the alert - 888-218-5993 and the guy who answered was foreign so I knew it was a scam and hung up.

I had to use the power button to shut it off. I rebooted it and everything appeared on the desktop screen as usual. The mouse moved but was followed by a small blue spinning circle. USELESS! Every item in the toolbar and icons on my desktop was froze.

Then I used my antique computer to get on MSFT chat and the guy told me to reboot into Safe Mode using F8. But that did not work. Then he told me he had to have access to my computer and checked that I did not have their paid MSFT support program and he needed $99.99 to proceed!

I told him MSFT should support their products for at least a year and he asked if I wanted it fixed or not.

His name was Dennis and I didn't like his attitude so I told him NO.

I then unplugged the PC and plugged it back in. Turned it on and it took forever to boot up. But it worked! Everything is back to normal and I saved $99.99.

I also researched the number and got the message that it is NOT a working number!