Helping businesses in and around Milton Keynes with all their IT needs.
You’re browsing the web and receive a pop-up or a phone call from “tech support” informing you that your computer has been infected with a virus. Don’t be fooled – this is a well-known scam. Tech support scams have been widely reported. However, people are still falling for them and the scammers are getting savvier with their tactics. It’s important to learn about the tricks they use so you don’t become their next victim.
The scammer will claim to be from a well-known company such as Microsoft, Apple or Norton. They will inform you that your computer has a virus and ask for remote access in order to fix the fictitious problem.
They’ll likely ask you to pay for them to repair it. Hang up the phone. Legitimate companies will not ring you to tell you there’s a problem with your computer. The phone number may look genuine but is likely they’ve spoofed the number too.
A pop-up may appear on your screen warning you of an issue with your computer. The scammers use logos from trusted sites and make the pop-up look like error messages from your operating or antivirus software. It will have a phone number on it, asking you to ring to have the issue fixed.
If it was a real security warning, there would be no phone number. Also, look out for the usual red flags like poor imagery or bad spelling and grammar. Any language that creates a sense of urgency is another big sign it’s not to be trusted.
Type the phone number in a search engine to see if it’s already been identified by others online as a scam. Sometimes these pop-ups are hard to close or freeze the user’s web browser. This scares people into ringing the number on the screen.
Be careful when searching for tech support online. It’s important to use a company you know and trust. Scammers will try to get their pages to show up in online searches. They even run their own ads online. Clicking on an ad may download malware onto your PC and give the scammer remote access.
These are the 3 main ways scammers will likely contact you but they may also use text messages, email and social media. Scammers will try to exploit your emotions. They use urgency to induce fear. Victims panic about their computer being infected by viruses and agree to the scammer’s help.
The scammers will try to gain access to your PC and run phone diagnostic tests. They’ll ask you to pay them to repair non-existent viruses or ones that they themselves infect onto your PC. They use scare tactics and often ask to be paid by money transfer or gift card as it’s harder to trace. Once they have access, they may install malware or other harmful programs that can damage your data or steal your confidential information such as your online banking details.
Scammers are clever, so keep yourself and your family informed. If you can identify their tricks, you’ll be less likely to fall victim to them. For PC repair and IT support in the Milton Keynes area contact us on 01908 990220.
