US cert has issued an alert (about 5 years late) regarding Tech support fraud. Where fake antivirus companies pretend to be Microsoft or some other well known company and demand that you must “fix” your computer or be reported or even arrested if you do not immediately comply with their demands for money.
I have written about this for many years, so it is nice to see when the government catches up with the rest of us in the computer support world.
Some of the highlights from the alert are…
HOW THE FRAUD OCCURS
Initial contact with the victim typically occurs through the following methods:
Telephone: A victim receives an unsolicited telephone call from an individual claiming the victim’s device or computer is infected with a virus or is sending error messages to the caller.
Search Engines: Individuals in need of tech support may use online search engines to find technical support companies. Criminals pay to have their fraudulent tech support company’s link show higher in search results hoping victims will choose one of the top links in search results.
Pop-up message: The victim receives an on-screen pop-up message claiming a virus has been found on their computer. In order to receive assistance, the message requests the victim call a phone number associated with the fake tech support company.
Locked screen: The victim’s device displays a locked screen with instructions to contact a faketech support company. Some victims have reported being redirected to alternate Web sites before the locked screen occurs.
The report goes through a few different attack scenarios but in the end comes down to not doing anything a new popup or person cold calling you on the phone tells you to do.
If you see such a popup or get the phone call, hang up and call your normal IT support company to make sure your ok.
You can read the full report here…
https://www.ic3.gov/media/2018/180328.aspx
And as always feel free to call RenoGeek for any tech support question you may have.