Tech Support Scam Warning Signs and How to Stay Safe Online
Cyber-crooks routinely play on our fear of viruses and hackers to swipe money or personal information. Many bad actors masqueradeas household names—Apple, Microsoft, Amazon—or as trusted security brands like Norton or McAfee. The logos change, but the con remains the same.
Case in point:
A client recently forwarded an email that looked as if it came from his brokerage, urging him to “update your account details.” The sender’s address even included the firm’s name to lend credibility. My standing advice is simple: scrutinize the email address before you click.
These bad actors grow more sophisticated by the day, and one quick check can stop them in their tracks.
Read on for additional insights and practical tips to protect your financial information.
Tech support
This scam typically starts when you respond to an unsolicited phone call or pop-up warning on your device. The scammer will ask for remote access to your computer to run a phony test, which pretends to detect malware or viruses. After using this to scare you, they pressure you to pay for “repairs,” new software, and other products and services you don’t need.In a variation, the scam involves a claim that you are due a refund for a canceled subscription service, one you likely do not recall signing up for. The scammer will request (and steal) your credit card number, then use remote access to install actual malware that will continue stealing your information and funds long afterward.
Fraud support
This refund scam typically starts with an unsolicited call or email claiming that a charge was made to your account. Once you deny knowledge of the charge, the scammer claims that they can help you get a refund. They request access to your computer and have you sign into your bank account to “deposit” the refund. Once you do, they may steal your money or convince you that they deposited too much money and that now you must pay them back—usually via wire, gift card, or cryptocurrency.
How to Protect yourself:
Don’t give remote access to your computer or payment information to someone who calls you unsolicited.
Don’t rely on caller ID to determine whether a caller is legitimate. Scammers use “spoofing” techniques to make it look like they’re calling from a legitimate number or company. Hang up and call the company at a number you know to be correct.
Don’t call a number in a pop-up virus alert. Legitimate warnings from your operating system or antivirus program do not ask you to call anyone for support.
Don’t click links in a pop-up, even to close the window. This could redirect you to a scam site or launch a “dialogue loop,” continually serving pop-up messages.
Don’t buy security software from a company you don’t know. If the name is unfamiliar, do an internet search to see whether it has been linked to adware or scams.
When you restart your browser after getting a scam pop-up, don’t open previously closed sites if prompted to do so.
Don’t give financial information to someone who calls a few days, weeks, or months after you’ve made a purchase and asks if you are satisfied. If they ask for your financial information, it’s probably a refund scam.
Questions to ask yourself
Did I click any links or navigate to any websites per their instruction?
Did the caller mention any consequences if the problem was not resolved?
Did I provide my login ID or password or allow anyone to see me enter it?
Did they say that money was erroneously deposited into my account?
Did they show me a screenshot of my account on my device's screen?
Information provided by Charles Schwab, who recently posted a guide, which explains what scams are and some telltale signs to help you recognize a number of prevalent ones