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I received an email stating I am being charged $199.00 for windows defender can this be true or is it a scam?
[Original Title: window defender]
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
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100% scam.
Windows defender comes free with Windows 10.
If you hover your mouse over any links you can then check them to see where they truly link too; I bet it isn’t Microsoft.
Have you received any strange phone calls purporting to be Microsoft/Windows techs stating you have a problem with Windows?
Just in case I would check with your bank or creating card provider to ensure this charge hasn’t been applied.
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That's definitely a phishing email, a scam.
Mark it as spam and delete it.
You might want to read: Protect yourself from phishing - Windows Help
ARQUINT, you're not an idiot; you're just kind and polite. I was convinced by the guy I spoke to to connect remotely to my computer but after the second guy told me to sign into my bank account, I became suspicious and refused to do it. I said I would instead write to Microsoft to raise a complaint about the charge for the Defender Firewall renewal. I've just submitted a report to Microsoft whose link was provided by someone somewhere in this chain.
I hope you have a virus screening/analysis/restore tool installed like Norton 360 which I use. Windows Defender (should be already installed) MAY have some facility to scan and remedy this, I don't know. If on Windows 10, go to START, scroll down the lefthand side list until you get to Windows Security, open it and select Virus and Threat Protection. Windows Defender hides in here, and could help. My Norton supersedes this, so I cant go any further, but it's a start.
There is no doubt a downloaded app they pushed onto your hard drive to allow control to be turned over them. This sw should be removed asap, if its there. The GEEK Squad at Best Buy offers service to search and remove any and all malware.
Since I posted this, there was an alert on my Windows that I had a virus alert and my computer was blocked to keep whomever from entering. I have a screenshot I am planning to send to Microsoft. I am beginning to mistrust Microsoft now. I don't know who to trust anymore. I wish there was a way now to attach the screenshot I took.
