Ask HN: Has anyone else gotten support scam numbers from Microsoft chat support?
Over the weekend, I had to reformat a Windows 8.1 installation, and the reason is pretty puzzling, if not a bit alarming. The owner of the laptop accessed Microsoft's chat support system directly from their website (I verified that it was the correct url) to get help setting up language settings for Microsoft Office.
The agent on the chat service immediately told the owner to call a phone number which turned out to be one of the numbers Indian scammer outfits use to trick users into letting them VPN into their system and "remove viruses" while actually installing rootkits, keyloggers, scareware, ect... I immediately severed the connection, reformmated, and checked the MBR, then got in touch with Microsoft support and let them know this is going on from within their own service. Of course I got the usual "We'll definitely check into it" response, and that was that.
Has anyone else had this experience? I understand that this happens when people start clicking on links that they shouldn't, but I am admittedly surprised to see it happen from their official chat service on the Microsoft support site proper. I'd like to know if my experience is unique, or if there is a history of this happening from within their support staff.
I won't post the number or the URL they took the owner to unless someone requests it.