As long as the internet has been around, people have been trying to scam unsuspecting users, hoping to get access to their computer and their money through fake tech support. Often, they would do this by using pop-ups that falsely told you that malware was on your computer and could only be removed through giving the program your credit card details.
Now-a-days, a lot of people are savvy enough to know that these messages are fake and so con artists have been forced to try new ways to get access to your computers. A growing problem is fake tech support calls, where someone calls up pretending to be from Microsoft or another computer company, and does essentially the same job the pop-ups once did. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to minimise the risk of being scammed.
Ring the Company and Ask Them :
This is the first and easiest step. Ring the company directly and ask them if they know about the tech support call. Most of the time they won’t and you’ve just saved yourself from buying a Nigerian prince a new yacht.
Be Careful When Giving Out Credit Card Details :
If you don’t tell them how to access your money, it is a lot harder to steal from you. Of course, there are times you might need to give over your credit details for legitimate reasons. In this case, make sure to check, as I’ve already mentioned, that the company knows about this transaction.
Be Careful When Giving Others Remote Access to Your Computer:
It is possible to give other people remote access to your computer, allowing them to control it and access any files. Now, again, there are legitimate reasons why a company may need remote access but be sure to check they are who they say they are. If a scammer is able to control your computer, they can do a lot of damage.
What to Do if You Get Scammed:
These suggestions are all well and good, but what do you do if you have already been scammed? The best thing to do in that case is alert your bank to the fact, cancel your credit cards and check your statements to see if any odd purchases have been made. If you gave someone remote access to your computer, it might be wisest to reinstall your operating client and start afresh. Otherwise, take it to a computer specialist and explain the problem.
Something to keep in mind is that Microsoft and companies do not have the ability to find out whether your computer is suffering from problems and wouldn’t go to the trouble and expense of phoning you to help fix it even if they could. Keep that in mind, be wary of strange computer support calls and you should stay safe from scammers.
Do you have any other tips to avoid scammers ? Share them below.
