A pop-up says 'Microsoft Alert: Virus found! Call this number now.' What's true?
Real Microsoft warnings never include a phone number, so any pop-up telling you to call is a scam.
- It's fake: real Microsoft warnings never include a phone number ✔
- It's real if it shows the Microsoft logo and your computer's details
- It's real if it won't close, so call to be safe
Why: Microsoft's real warnings never include phone numbers, and Microsoft won't call you to fix your computer unless you asked. Scammers make scary pop-ups that seem to lock your browser so you'll call them. Then they try to get into your computer and charge you for fake repairs.
Huh, didn't know that: Then they try to get into your computer and charge you for fake repairs.
Why did the computer sneeze? It had a virus.
References
Answer: It's fake: real Microsoft warnings never include a phone number. Microsoft's real warnings never include phone numbers, and Microsoft won't call you to fix your computer unless you asked. Scammers make scary pop-ups that seem to lock your browser so you'll call them. Then they try to get into your computer and charge you for fake repairs.
- Microsoft Support: Protect yourself from tech support scams support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/protect-yourself-from-tech-support-scams
Error and warning messages from Microsoft never include a phone number.
Checked 2026-10-09.
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