How to verify the phone number attached to an Error Message under a Microsoft logo

Question

How to verify the phone number attached to an Error Message under a Microsoft logo

Bob Giel 0

I received a shrill error message from a site purporting to be Microsoft, using the Microsoft logo urging me to phone

[Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed] to deal with error OxED707IAIE after asking for instructions to assemble a BLU FLEX flip phone.

I could not get out of the error message loop without unplugging my computer, then restarting it after a minute or two.

Unusually, the Dell Start-up sequence appeared, but after 4 minutes of a longer than expected time my computer seemed to work OK

How can I verify that the phone number I was given - [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed] - is an actual Microsoft Support Phone number?

OR, was this an effort corrupt my computer?

0 comments

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

No. That was not a legitimate Microsoft support number based on the described behavior.

Key signs of a tech support scam:

Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to offer technical support.
Genuine Microsoft error and warning messages never include a phone number to call.
Fake support scam pages often use alarming pop-ups, sounds, full-screen loops, and Microsoft branding to pressure a call.

What happened fits a common browser-based tech support scam, not a real Microsoft system error. The fact that the message appeared while browsing, trapped the browser in a loop, and pushed a phone number is a strong indicator.

What to do now:

Do not call that number.
If the pop-up appears again, close the browser. If the mouse does not work, press ALT+F4.
If the browser will not close, restart the PC.
When the browser reopens, do not restore the previous session if prompted.
Run a full scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
Apply available security updates.
Report the scam at Submit report or www.microsoft.com/reportascam.

If any information was already given to the caller or remote-access software was installed:

Uninstall the software they asked to install.
Change passwords.
Monitor sign-in activity.
Contact the bank or card issuer if any payment details were shared.
Consider resetting the device to a factory state, because remote access can leave malware or persistence behind.

The longer Dell startup sequence after unplugging and restarting does not by itself confirm corruption. The supported guidance is to scan the device with Microsoft Defender Antivirus and install security updates.

Answer 2

Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post other details or send them via the private Message to protect personal data.

User's image

Hi Bob Giel,

I agree with the AI Answer that this behavior is consistent with a browser-based tech support scam rather than a legitimate Microsoft error message.

One additional check you may want to perform is to review your browser's extensions and notification permissions. Remove any recently installed or unfamiliar extensions and check whether any unknown websites have been granted permission to send notifications. Some scam sites use browser notifications to display repeated warning messages or redirect users back to scam content.

The longer Dell startup sequence after the forced shutdown does not, by itself, indicate that your system was compromised. An unexpected shutdown can sometimes cause Windows to perform additional checks during the next startup.

After following the AI Answer's recommendations, has the pop-up reappeared or has the PC been operating normally since the restart? Also, did you call the number, provide any personal information, download any software or allow remote access to the device? Those details can help determine whether any additional action is needed.

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.