Last month, Better Business Bureau published an in depth report on one of the most commonly reported scams. The report – “Pop-Ups and Impostors: A BBB Study of the Growing Worldwide Problem of Computer Tech Support Scams” – says that anyone who owns or uses a computer is a potential target.
Thieves, most of whom are located in India, are using sophisticated advertising and carefully crafted sales techniques to scare consumers into buying phony fixes for their home and business computers.
Among the report’s key findings:
• Consumers typically are lured into the scheme by four ways – by either a pop-up ad on their computer; an unsolicited phone call from a “technician” claiming to have detected problems with the user’s computer; via ransomware attached to an email; or by Internet searches for technical support on sponsored links.
• Most people lose money through use of credit cards or debit cards (55%). Checks (36%) are the second most-common form of payment.
Studies show that 85.4 % of the scammers come from India. Less than 10 % of the scammers operate inside the U.S.
Studies show that 85.4 % of the scammers come from India. Less than 10 % of the scammers operate inside the U.S. lion to the scheme in the first nine months of 2017.
BBB offers tips for consumers to avoid being caught in a computer tech support scam:
• Double-check all the details. If you’re directed to an official company website, make sure that it’s the real company’s site by double checking the spelling of the company’s name in the website address.
• If a caller claims to work for a reputable company, ask them to tell you their name or their employee ID, and in which department they work. Then look up and call that company’s official customer service line and ask to be directed to that employee. Do not use a phone number provided to you by the caller.
• If your computer has been compromised, don’t panic. You may still be able to get your machine fixed.
Make sure you you’re using a quality, up-to-date antivirus software. Make sure you are running the latest version of the software.
Change your passwords. First change the password to any account or machine the scammer has or could access. Then change the passwords on any account that you were logged in to on your machine, as well as any accounts for which you use the same or very similar login credentials.
Call your credit card company. If you made a payment by using your credit card, the company will help you to appeal any unauthorized charges and to get a new card.
Start with Trust® For more tips and information, visit bbb.org.
~ Shelley Polansky, VP/Marketing, Communications & Outreach