Tech Support Scams

If you get a call from someone who claims to be a tech support person, hang up and call the company yourself on a phone number you know to be genuine. A caller who creates a sense of urgency or uses high-pressure tactics is probably a scam artist. Do not fall for tricks that unsolicited callers often make to gain your trust. Business Consumer Alliance offers the following advice if you are cold called by anyone claiming they are calling to offer tech support:

• Hang up on unsolicited callers and contact the actual company they claim to represent directly. Don’t use the number that may be displayed on your caller ID. Just as the consumer we mentioned at the beginning of the article did, research the public phone number or contact of the real company and get in touch with them to inquire about the call you received,. More often than not, you will find that the call you received was a scam.
• Never give control of your computer to a third party who calls you out of the blue.
• Although your caller ID may display the name of a legitimate business, be aware that criminals spoof caller ID numbers. They may even spoof a local number when they are actually in another country.
• Check out the company by obtaining a BCA reliability report. Also, search online for information on the phone number that contacts you. This could alert you to a scam.
• If you are in need of tech support, use the contact information on your software or receipt to contact the company directly and obtain support. Beware of crooks posing on the internet as actual tech support businesses. They often place ads online and pay to boost their ranking online to convince individuals to call them instead of authentic tech support companies.
• Don’t give your credit card or other personal information to anyone calling you out of the blue. The same for your passwords or user information.
• Never wire any money or Western Union money to anyone you do not know.

If you have allowed anyone remote access to your computer, run your security software to scan for any malware or viruses that may have been downloaded. Change any passwords you may have given out and update other accounts that you use the same password. If you have paid for phony services by providing your credit card information, call your provider to initiate a charge back. Also, keep an eye on your account for unauthorized or suspicious charges. If you have been contacted by a scammer or you have been a victim, don’t remain silent. File a complaint with BCA to let others know of the scam. Also contact the National Do Not Call Registry to register your number. Do due diligence to research any business before you make a buying decision. 

For more information check out BCA’s blog, “Hang Up on Tech Support Scammers” .