# Weekly Scam Alert: Fake FTC, Microsoft Scams Cost Victims More than $600K in Three Days
Scammers impersonating the Federal Trade Commission and Microsoft stole over $600,000 from victims in just 72 hours, Money Magazine reports. The criminals used two separate tactics to drain bank accounts and compromise personal information.
In the first scheme, fraudsters sent emails claiming to be from the FTC. The messages warned recipients that their accounts faced suspension due to suspicious activity. Victims clicked links in these emails, entered login credentials, and handed over banking details to the fake sites. The scammers then accessed real accounts and transferred funds out.
The second wave targeted Windows users directly. Scammers posed as Microsoft support staff, either through pop-up ads appearing while people browsed the web or through unsolicited phone calls. They convinced victims their computers contained viruses or security threats. Users who called the provided numbers gave scammers remote access to their machines. Once inside, the criminals installed password-stealing malware and extracted financial information.
The real FTC and Microsoft never contact people unsolicited about account problems. The FTC does not suspend accounts via email. Microsoft does not call users about computer viruses.
Protect yourself by ignoring unexpected emails claiming account trouble. Do not click links in unsolicited messages from banks or government agencies. Instead, go directly to the official website by typing the URL yourself. Never grant remote access to your computer unless you initiated the contact with a verified support number from your device's settings.
If you received these scam messages, report them to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Victims who lost money should contact their banks immediately and file a police report. Monitor credit reports for fraudulent accounts opened in your name. Consider placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus to prevent criminals from opening new lines of