Reports are coming from all over the world that people are being scammed on the name of legitimate tech support companies like Microsoft and Apple. The study shows that the victims are usually those who do not have much knowledge about technology like households and elderly people. The tech support scam industry is earning millions since 2008 but stats also say that gradually increased awareness among the people about scams and how it is being executed have been helping people to avoid getting into their traps.
Recognize tech support scams
1 Phish Users Psychologically: There are numerous ways tech support scam that begins from such as directphone calls, emails with hyperlinks to scam webpages, pop-up messages, and incorrect search engine results or redirected scam webpages from browser search results. These pop-up error messages or hyperlinks from email and search results redirect users to scam webpages or triggers the error pop-up messages.
- The webpages of scam tech support will imitate like legal brands such as windows with its logo and website design to take people in confident.
- These webpages and error messages are programmed to restrict the user to take any action including closing the window normally to convince users that something is wrong with their computer.
- Sometimes these webpages have error messages like malware infection, license expiration, and system problems to convince the potential victim.
- Their error messages and webpages usually have something like a timer and other graphics to create urgency in the user’s mind. Along with that their webpages also flash tech support number as after triggering urgency user will call the tech support scam number to get help.
- Sometimes they also have the warning on these scam webpages and pop-ups that the computer data will get corrupt if delayed the action or something to create fear among users.
- In the cases of a direct phone call known as cold-call from the scam agent who will try to convince the user he is talking to that his computer has virus and many other issues by asking you some questions about your computer problem such as internet speed and computer processing speed which are very general things and out of it he will make a scary story to convince the user to take his fake pretended service.
2: Remote Access: Once the pretended tech agent hooks a user either by calling him or by making him call through the scam webpages and pop-ups, the scam would reach next stage where he will ask the user to download and install a remote access program like LogMeIn or TeamViewer to take remote access to the user’s computer by using the same program on his computer through which he would get the control on user’s computer to do as he wants. Then this fraud tech guy will pretend like he is running a diagnostic test on your computer and resolving the issue, then he will ask you for money for his fake service of resolving a fake computer problem that never existed on your computer.
3: Payment to the Fake Services: The victim will not realize what is going on as the agent will be pretending to be running a diagnostic test on your computer and resolving the issue even though if the user is watching everything on his screen. Like some processing going on like scans, detection, and resolving issues and when the fake agent’s act will be done then he will give fake consolation that the victim’s computer is good now then they will charge the victim for his fake service but can they be trusted for using the secure payment methods and if our shared online banking details and information is safe with them or not. There have been cases about money deduction after getting into these tech support scams. So, people be aware of these tech support scams and only contact your trusted support services.
Many people wish that they had known what they know now. If you ever come across such error webpages, pop-up messages, or direct calls from pretended tech Support Company that tells you about your computer have a virus or any other problem do not trust them even if they claim to be legit tech support, rather you can report them here.
