5 tell-tale signs of a tech support scam
Don’t become the next victim of tech support scam. Here are five tell-tale signs of tech support scams along with helpful information for what to do:
In a tech support scam, criminals trick you into believing that you require a repair for your software or device. Some scammers may try to charge a fee to “fix” the nonexistent problem, and others will attempt to steal your personal or financial data or even try to access your network in order to deploy ransomware.
1
If this happens...
You get an unexpected call from someone claiming to be tech support (Be aware! Some scammers have tools to generate fake Caller IDs).
Remember
Company never makes unsolicited phone calls. Company won’t call you to offer tech support if you don’t reach out to us first.
2
If this happens...
Your support technician asks you to download software from an email or third-party website.
Remember
You should always be able to download software from an official website or app store. All software can be downloaded from their official website or the official websites of our partners.
3
If this happens...
Your tech support contact asks you to pay them to fix your “problems” with cryptocurrency or gift cards.
Remember
Legitimate support technicians will advise you of possible fees before they deliver service. And if a payment is required, it will never be in the form of gift cards or cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
4
If this happens...
You get an error message asking you to call a number urgently.
Remember
Error messages never include phone numbers. The browser blocks known support scam sites using security feature.
5
If this happens...
Tech support asks you for your password or other private, sensitive data.
Remember
Tech support never asks for your password, social security number, or other personal data.
What to do if you think you’re in the middle of an attempted tech support scam
● Uninstall any applications scammers have asked you to install.
● Run a full scan with Anti-Virus to remove any malware.
● If you have given scammers access to your computer, reset your device.
● Change your passwords.
● If you have already paid, call your credit card provider as soon as possible.
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