You'd want to know about a virus on your computer immediately away, wouldn't you?
You lose your images, your digital life is essentially ruined, and your crucial data becomes corrupted. It's terrible even to think about.
Scammers know we'd be adrift without our computers and that we don't always know what's going on behind the screen. Which is how they've been able to fool millions of dollars from ordinary people all around the world.
The scam goes like this:
You will get a random phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft, or an alarming pop-up shows on your screen. Both claim that your system appears to be infected with a virus.
They will provide you with a specific URL to download some support software to resolve the issue.
A technician will then use that software to access your system and make it appear infected with viruses. Then, they'll do or say whatever they can to make you panic, including flashing screens, odd diagnostics whizzing by, and fabricated errors. They'll even go so far as to say your machine has been infected with illegal information and that if you don't fix it, you'll face criminal prosecution.
Demands for credit card details immediately follow. Once paid, they just stop tinkering with your system to make it appear that the problem has been resolved. Then, they will quickly access your machine and reproduce the situation to continue the scam, this time charging a subscription for continuing security.
What to Do When You're A Target of a Tech
- Do not mock them. Simply hang up. You're just a phone number in the scammer's system right now, and they'll move on to the next. If you give them a reason to target you personally, you might end up in a potentially dangerous situation.
- If a pop-up occurs, conduct an anti-virus scan right away. Do not respond to the pop-up or phone the number.
What Should You Do If You Have Already Been Scammed?
It's all right. It's awful, but you're not alone, and the situation can be improved.
Contact your bank institution and request that the charges be reversed, and your card be reissued. It's simpler than you would believe, and it aids police in locating the scammers.