(CALEDON, ON) – The Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is warning residents about the Microsoft scam. Scammers posing as Microsoft representatives have called Town of Caledon home owners to try and gain access to their computers and personal information by stating that their computers are infected with a virus.
Once access is granted, the home owner observes the caller remotely access their banking information and personal files. The resident is unable to stop the gathering of further information due to the computer being locked by the caller.
Computer users are reminded, that unless you initiate the call, do not allow anyone access to your computer. Don’t give out personal, banking or credit card information to anyone unless you are sure of whom you are dealing with.
The scammers target people into installing malicious software that can capture sensitive information, including passwords, username, banking and credit card information.