North Carolina police warn fake Microsoft employees going into people's homes, stealing from computers
Two victims have lost a combined $50,000 from the scheme
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Asheville, North Carolina police are warning of a "sophisticated fraud scam" involving suspects posing as Microsoft employees to gain access to victims' personal information from their computers and then steal from them.
"This elaborate scam has already defrauded two residents in our area, resulting in losses of $50,000," the Asheville Police Department said in a Tuesday press release. "The suspects send a ‘Microsoft employee’ to the victim's residence to collect the money in person. This method has made the scam particularly effective, exploiting individuals' trust and vulnerability."
Police described the suspect's vehicle as a dark silver or gray Toyota Highlander, possibly with damage to the front right quarter panel.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Authorities are asking anyone with information about these scams to contact local law enforcement "immediately."
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Asheville police are warning of a scam in which suspects pose as Microsoft employees to steal money from victims' computers. (Asheville PD)
"We urge residents to exercise caution and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a representative of Microsoft or any other company," police said.
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Police also said it is "crucial" for residents confirm representatives' credentials "through official channels before engaging with them or providing any money."
The Microsoft employee scam in Asheville has already resulted in $50,000 losses between two victims, police said. (David Ryder/Bloomberg)
A spokesperson for Microsoft said the tech company "will never show up in person, send unsolicited messages or make unsolicited phone calls to request personal or financial information, or to provide technical support to fix your computer."
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"Any communication with Microsoft must be initiated by the individual," the spokesperson said. "We advise consumers to always treat all unsolicited messages with skepticism and not to provide any personal information. If an individual thinks they may have been the victim of a Tech Support Scam, the most important thing they should do is immediately file a report with law enforcement authorities, such as their local consumer protection authority."
Customers can also report their experiences on www.microsoft.com/reportascam. "Doing so assists Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit in its ongoing investigations with law enforcement as we take appropriate action against those targeting our customers," the spokesperson said.