Question

The Microsoft Help desk has asked Laura to go to a website and verify her information she they can help fix her computer. She sees all of her information on that web page and she doesn’t have to give them any information. What type of crime has Laura become a victim of?

Answer 1

Complete Question: Laura picks up her phone one evening to find that the Microsoft help desk was calling. She had been having trouble with a slow running computer but hadn't yet contacted Microsoft to get help for the problem. She was so pleased to hear that they found her IP address online and found malware on her computer and they were calling all of their clients to remove it. Laura has previously been a victim of a phishing scheme so she was prepared not to give any information to the help desk just incase they weren't legitimate but they didn't ask for her credit card information or Social security number. She figured they were going to help.

The Microsoft Help desk has asked Laura to go to a website and verify her information she they can help fix her computer. She sees all of her information on that web page and she doesn’t have to give them any information. What type of crime has Laura become a victim of?

ANSWER; Laura has previously been a victim of Phishing scam.

A phishing scam is a fraudulent activity that involves keeping a false website or sending a false e-mail with the intent of masquerading as a trustworthy entity in order to acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details.

Seeing all the details in the website made Laura remember her previous experience which was a phishing scam.