A couple of days ago one of our clients called saying he had received a phone call from Microsoft regarding the urgent matter that his Windows updates weren’t processing properly. The caller offered to log in to remediate the problem and asked for access to their computer. Knowing that patching and updates are something we manage for him as our client, he wisely called us before taking “Microsoft Tech Support” up on their offer.
Cybercriminals don’t just send fraudulent email messages and set up fake websites. They also make well informed, targeted phone calls posing as bank officials notifying you of a fraudulent transaction or Microsoft support technicians alerting you that your PC has been infected with malware. Tech support scams are a million-dollar industry and have been around since 2008. These cybercriminals have often done a bit of research before placing the call so they might know your name and other personal information to seem more legitimate. To most people, these calls can sound very convincing and once the criminal has gained their trust, they will often hand over sensitive information like user names and passwords or detailed account information. If our client had been duped by the fake Microsoft tech and allowed him to access his computer, the cybercriminal would likely have installed malicious software that could capture sensitive data like banking information and passwords. After installing this software, he might have had his PC held for ransom and until he paid a fee to have the software removed.
Another recent scam involved fake tech support for Netflix customers. After collecting personal details about the customers, the fake technician would call, prompting users to login to their account on a fake Netflix website. Once the credentials were entered the perpetrators would create a fake warning the account had been suspended with an 800 number to call. When users called the 800 number, more fake tech support agents were waiting ready to collect and steal their credit card details.
If you think you might have been a victim of a phone scam, immediately change the password on your computer, your email account and any financial institutions. Contact your IT provider and ask them to scan your computer for malware and make sure your antivirus is up to date.
The best defense against these cybercriminals is to be immediately suspicious of any unsolicited calls notifying you of a banking problem, computer support issue, or a problem with financial transactions like an online purchase or reservation. Always ask if they can provide a phone number so you can call them back after contacting the organization they claim to represent. Ask if there is a fee or subscription associated with the service they are offering. If there is, hang up. Never purchase software or services, or provide credit card or financial information over the phone. Always confirm that the caller is a legitimate representative of a computer support team before giving control of your computer to a third party. If you suspect the call is fraudulent, take down as much information about the caller as possible and report it to local authorities. And finally, share your experience with family, friends and associates so they can be prepared in case they ever receive one of these dangerous calls.
For more information on solutions for running your businesses’ technology more efficiently, visit our website or contact Megan Meisner at mmeisner@launchpadonline.com or 813 448-7100 x210.
