IMPORTANT COMPUTER SCAM FYI: Today when I used my laptop and opened my web browser, a pop-up from “Windows Defender Security” alerted of a possible identity theft breach and said they locked my laptop for my protection. There was a phone number to call the Windows identity theft team. (Staples actually did install Windows Defender Security on my laptop when I bought it, so I thought this may be legitimate.)

I was unable to click out of the alert and the laptop did appear frozen.  DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER, IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU!

I called the Staples Protection Plan IT Dept and they have had over 100 calls today about this very pop up. There is an actual legitimate Windows Defender Security program, but it does not have a pop up stating to call a specific phone number, nor does it lock your computer.  Hackers somehow created this pop up and you will need to shut down the computer immediately.

I was also advised to change all of our pswds for accounts that had personal info, financial or health info immediately. I need to check financial accnts daily for a while and if I see any suspicious charges on any of our accnts, then I need to make a police report for possible identity theft.

I did not receive any reports from our McAfee Virus Protection, or Identity Theft Protection, so hoping  that our info was not compromised.

I just wanted to make others aware of this new computer scam.