Microsoft license key/IP address scam

Wow that IS so weird. And scary.  

I wonder ... maybe when you downloaded the MS One Drive it triggered a personal ad preferences setting? And they are illegally using robocalling to advertise to you rather than online advertising? Whether or not it was an ad preference that is set in your browser, or search engine, or in your Microsoft account is a mystery. But if it is one from your MS account, then they indeed are compromised and our personal contact info is leaked. Or Microsoft gets a kickback from advertisers if they give them our activity and contact info. Whatever it is, the Robocalling methods are illegal for any reason. 

The way personalized ad preferences and privacy policies are handled now is really complex and scary. It's hard to have control even tho they give us the illusion we have control. It would take me full days for weeks to contact every single company or service or online resource who posts or provides privacy policies and how to opt-out of their sharing our information to second and third parties, because of how labor intensive it is. And where one ad agency captures our activity and info before we have a chance to block, (if we even can, since new or changed agency/URL names are popping up all the time not in the databases yet,) whose to say they can't then turn around and sell it themselves to dozens of others, some being nefarious unbeknownst to them. That compounded sharing floods us quickly. 

I turn absolutely everything I can off for personalized ad preferences when possible and advertisers STILL find a way to intrude with products and services related to something I just bought! Or downloaded. It's maddening to have large ad pictures for Pyrex measuring cups or champion socks constantly flashing up on every single site and scroll of the page just because I purchased them, and they continue for weeks straight. The same product I already bought! Do I really need multiple 2-Cup measuring cups? I have all my personalized ad settings turned off for Amazon and Google, and I have an extension that blocks all ad cookies and trackers, and I use the two services that allow you to opt-out of hundreds of known advertisers with the click of a button, (that they have the name and URL of,) so how on earth did they know I purchased Champion sport socks for my son on Amazon the day before? Is it a loophole in our advertising choices? Are IP addresses no longer considered private property not needing our consent?  I'm now using a VPN, changing the virtual location often, and I'm wondering why they are still able to reach me. I don't like that they have access to my phone number without my consent. Too easy for them to get, too hard for us to control, and too much money to be made by those we trustingly gave our information to. 

I created an account yesterday on LinkedIn, and it took me over 10 minutes to tediously turn off each ad choice in a very lonnnnng list, and I was still finding other preference and contact settings in other locations! Got everything set to "no". My account was logged in for only 45 minutes from creation, and  then this morning I get a spam email related to my linkedin account, and not from LinkedIn. And my web browsing also has some new advertisements all of a sudden.

-_-

I was getting numerous calls on my cell phone with my number on the caller id.  Yesterday, I deleted the Facebook Messenger app and have had no further calls so far.  This was not a newly added App, but I have heard that it is known for creating issues.

Same here. Called while i was on my cell phone using my cell phone #. 

Is it just a coincidence that i haven’t been on my lap-top in over a year,  but i did just download (yesterday) the app  “microsoft one drive” Along with updating my email and phone number with microsoft. 

One day later im getting these calls. Hmmmmm 

I wonder if Microsoft has been compromised ? Its awfully suspicious, the next day im getting calls.

Got the same phone call today to my wireless phone and it was showing coming from my wireless number!

Yes, you are right about their inability to undo this. And the reason it works is fear, age (I am 77) and those that are too trusting. If they put their logo on these forums, and just said you folks are doing the right thing by ignoring this scam it would help. My thought was not for myself, but others who would not know better. I worked in the industry, actually know what my IP address is and know I should not give out the key number. Others, similar age only use for games and fun, so more likely too cooperate.

Thanks for your reply.