I Think I Called Microsoft

When you run a small business, the biggest threats don’t always kick down the door—they often show up looking helpful. This is the true story of how a routine marketing meeting nearly turned into a full-blown security breach—and how a quick response saved the day. 

The Marketing Meeting That Took a Turn 

I work on the marketing side of SUURV Inc., but over the years I’ve picked up a fair amount of IT knowledge. It’s come in handy more than once—especially on this particular day. 

I was meeting with one of our clients, a medical doctor, to help her update the information on her Google Business profile. Like many busy professionals, she didn’t have the time (or desire) to wrestle with account logins, website links, and platform settings. That’s where we come in. After we located the credentials to access her Google Business account, we scheduled a Zoom call to make the updates together. 

After a few minutes into the call, it became clear that walking her through the steps verbally was slowing us down. So I offered to take remote control of her computer—something we sometimes do to speed up simple updates. With her permission, I connected to her desktop and began making changes while she watched. 

Everything was going smoothly. We updated her phone number, adjusted the business hours, and changed the URL to point to her new website. Her previous developer had locked her out of the old domain, so this was a much-needed fix. 

That’s when things got strange. 

Scareware: The Moment Everything Changed 

As a final step, I clicked on the link inside her Google Business profile to verify that it redirected to the new website. 

But it didn’t. 

Instead, the link still pointed to the old domain—and that site had clearly been compromised. 

Within seconds, a full-screen pop-up hijacked her browser: flashing red warnings, a loud beep, and an ominous message that claimed her computer had been infected by malware. The screen urged her to call a phone number immediately to resolve the issue. It even looked like a legitimate Microsoft Defender alert. 

Of course, I recognized it for what it was: scareware—a fraudulent tactic designed to create panic and lure unsuspecting users into calling a fake tech support line. 

I began coaching her through closing the browser. But as I was speaking, she stepped away from the camera. I could hear her faintly talking to someone, but I assumed it was a patient or someone in her office. 

Then I heard it. 

Isolated words like “Task Manager,” “download,” and “install.” 

I froze. 

“Who Are You Talking To?” 

I raised my voice: 
“Who are you talking to?” 

She returned to her desk and casually responded, 
“Oh, Microsoft. I called the number on the screen.” 

My heart jumped. 
I said firmly, “You need to hang up the phone right now and shut down your computer.” 

My voice may have sounded a little too sharp, but urgency was critical. 

Thankfully, she listened. 

A Close Call—and a Valuable Lesson 

The good news? A technician later inspected her laptop and confirmed that she hadn’t installed any malware. The attackers hadn’t gotten far—because she shut the system down before they could gain control. 

But the outcome could’ve been very different. 

Scareware and social engineering attacks are becoming more sophisticated. These aren’t just pop-ups—they’re psychological traps designed to exploit fear and urgency. And when they hit someone who is already in a stressful situation, the temptation to “call the number” is real. 

What You Can Learn From This 

This experience was a wake-up call—not just for the doctor, but for all of us who work with digital systems, websites, and online platforms. Here are a few practical takeaways: 

• Never call a number from a pop-up alert. 
  Legitimate tech companies like Microsoft will never ask you to call them through a browser message. 

• When in doubt, power down. 
  If something feels off, shut down the device and consult a trusted IT provider before doing anything else. 

• Stay calm under pressure. 
  Scareware is designed to make you panic. Take a breath and think before you click or call. 

• Have a backup team you trust. 
  Whether it’s your marketing agency or an IT partner, working with people who know how to navigate threats is invaluable. 

Why This Matters to SUURV Clients 

At SUURV, we do more than marketing or IT—we act as an extension of your team. That means stepping in when something’s wrong, not just when it’s time to post on social or run a campaign. 

If your business relies on technology (and let’s face it, they all do), you need a team that can help you market smart and stay secure. 

We’ve got your back on both fronts. 

Need a Second Set of Eyes? 

Whether you’re trying to reclaim your digital presence, update your business info, or just need someone who can spot a scareware scam when it shows up—reach out. We’re here to help.