As people start to become more aware of the old Microsoft tech support and virus scams, crooks have had to up their game and find a new way to scam uninformed computer users.
The new scam involves another cold calling technique to trick people into giving up their hard earned money. This new scam starts with somebody from “Tech support” or “Microsoft” calling, who says that you are soon going to loose your “IP address” unless you pay them to renew it.
And like the MS and virus support scams of the past this new scam plays yet again into the lack of knowledge most computer users have about their own systems and how the basics of the Internet work.
Your “IP” address is nothing more than a string of numbers that your ISP assigns to your router or computer to talk with it’s network and the Internet at large. This address is assigned automatically each time your router or computer reboots. And is included in the cost of your Internet bill. So there is no recurring bill you have to pay to keep this IP address. Your ISP gives you a new one each time you reconnect to them. Today, unlike in the past this is all handled automatically and you don’t have to do anything to get or keep your IP address.
So yet again my advice is the same as it has been for years. If somebody calls and says that ANYTHING is wrong with your computer or the Internet, hang up. Don’t talk with them at all. No legit company is ever going to call you about your computer unless you have bought a service contract ahead of time.