We’re not just fighting spam anymore – scammers are calling our phones too. Just because someone claims to be calling from a legitimate business does not mean that they are actually a representative of that business, nor does it confirm that they are of pure intent.
We have seen a second round of these phone scammers flood our homes and it is causing serious problems. Often, they start by catching you off guard, making you believe that your computer has been hacked or that it exhibits symptoms of a malicious virus. It’s scary to think that your sensitive data isn’t safe, including your passwords, online banking details, social media accounts, credit card and customer details. This is where they get you: they claim they are helping to protect your data.
These callers are aggressive and claim to be from well-known reputable organizations:
- Windows Help Desk
- Windows Service Center
- Microsoft technical support
- Microsoft technical support
- Team of Microsoft Certified Technicians
- Windows Help Desk Support Group
- Microsoft research and development team
- Brand name computer manufacturers such as “Dell”
- Branded security companies like “Symantec” and “McAfee”
To check your computer for errors, they ask you to perform a variety of tasks:
- They tell you to look through your computer and read information that could lead to a ‘diagnosis’. Often, they take you to a list of harmless, low-level error logs.
- They direct you to fraudulent websites that could load spyware onto your machine.
- They want you to give them remote access to your computer, so they can do it for you.
- They then ask for your credit card information so they can bill you for the bogus services they provide.
There are a number of arguments to take into account when you receive a call like this:
Argument #1: Does the named organization actually make money by doing house calls? Absolutely not! Resolving your virus problems through proactive phone calls is not where a large organization like Microsoft or Dell is making its money. They have bigger fish to fry; they want to sell you software and hardware.
Argument #2: Do they really know WHICH computer has the problem? Because if they’re tracking you, they certainly should know and be able to tell you the name of your computer and how you can verify it. Don’t be fooled if they know your name and other personal information, as that information is readily available through a variety of online resources. Just because they know you have a Windows computer is not enough validation.
Argument #3: Will they give you their name and phone number to call back? There may be super RARE instances where Microsoft makes a call, but NEVER give out your personal information, never give out credit card information, never give them access to your computer, and never give out passwords or logins. Maybe he’s a nice guy, maybe he even wants you to talk to his manager, but prove it BEFORE you risk making a mistake… take his info and call your tech support, or call a tech friend. Do you think you have a virus on your computer or is this news to you? The point is, never trust spam calls unless you can confirm that they are a legitimate representative of an IT support team you are already a customer of.
Argument #4: Ask if there is a fee or subscription with the service. If there is, it’s probably a scam.
Argument #5: Are they asking you to install their special software? The software these scammers load onto your computer is often useless despite the program’s name sounding helpful. And most of the time, the software is actually malware or spyware that is set up to steal your passwords and other data after your phone call.
If you have been a victim…
These callers are certainly deceptive, and we have seen good friends fall for their scare tactics. If you have already been a victim, there are some important tasks you need to complete to protect yourself.
- Reject payment: Call your credit card company and decline any and all associated fees.
- Shut down your computer: Do not bank, shop, or transfer money online until you have verified that your computer is free of spyware and viruses.
- Remove malware and spyware: Scan your computer for malware or spyware.
- Change your passwords: Change your computer password, email password, financial account passwords, and any other passwords you think may be compromised.
- Seek professional help: If you are really concerned, we highly recommend contacting local tech support or even calling the real reputable company the caller claimed to be from.
The daunting part of this whole scam trend is that the number of people successfully fooled needs to be high enough for scammers to keep trying. Otherwise, the call volume would not continue to increase as it has in recent years. The only way to get past it is to stay polite and be cautious. Protect your personal data as you would protect your family, your health and your life. Don’t let just anyone in to disturb you, and make sure your friends and family know the same.