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Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
Nobody likes being scammed, but almost everybody has been scammed at one time or another. Life is a daily routine of “lessons learned.” A key toward a reasonably contented life is learning the lessons each day throws at us. Do we we learn from the experiences?
Scams are nothing new. The world wide web does not change the nature of scams.
A popular scam these days is contacting computer users through the telephone and informing them their computers are infected or in need of repair. These scammers offer repairs — for a fee of course.
Often these scammers announce they are from Windows Technical Support or something similar.
Sometimes the scammers will say they are calling from Windows.
Now think about that folks. Windows is a computer operating system. There is no business or company called Windows. How can anybody be “from Windows”?
The key to these scams is nothing wrong with the computer. These scammers prey on the simple fact that the majority of people know little or nothing about computers. The scammers then trick users into believing something is awry with the computer.
Often these scammers inform users that the computer notified them of infections.
They might claim the computer is sending error reports. Or sending spam. Or is infected with a new computer virus that is not yet detectable by most malware software.
To appear legitimate many of these scammers have full fledged web sites and social media accounts. To appear legitimate many of these scammers use English names.
Because many people do not think about their actions and post all kinds of personal and private information on web, these scammers sometime know sufficient personal information to sound credible. They try to create an illusion of actually knowing what is wrong with the computer. An illusion — they are bluffing.
Clue number one: They called you. You did not call them.
Clue number two: No computer operating system provides any kind of feature to notify anybody of repair problems. Not even the privacy invasive Windows 10.
Clue number three: The most reputable malware software does not notify anybody of anything.
These scammers will try to trick users into believing the computer needs repair. They will try to trick users into searching for “junk files.” Or trick them into typing obscure commands that frighten only because of a lack of computer knowledge. Often these scammers talk people into viewing the Windows Event Viewer logs and then pretend many of the normal log messages are clues to infection or compromise.
If the victim has lasted this long on the phone with the scammer, the user will be instructed to open a web browser and visit a specific web web site. The web site will claim all personnel have deep experience.
The victim will be asked to provide the scammer remote access to the computer. The user will be asked to click a link on that web site.
That single action will install software that provides the scammer remote access to the computer.
Understand that the scam cannot continue until the remote access software is installed and running.
Once the scammer has remote access the computer is effectively compromised. Kiss the computer good-bye.
While connected to the computer the scammers might scan the computer for sensitive data. Such as bank account numbers and passwords.
Some of these scammers are not interested in searching for sensitive data. All of them are interested in the victim buying phony repair services. Users will be asked to provide a credit card number to fix the alleged problems or install updated anti-virus software, which often is some kind of malware such as keylogging software or rootkits. Users might be asked for bank account information.
Typically the scammers exhibit extraordinary patience.
The scam includes includes professional sounding “managers” and “supervisors” should the user demand to speak to one.
Handling these scammers is simple. Unless you have an explicit written contract for computer technical support, and unless that support includes remote access to your computer, and unless you are fully informed of this remote access, nobody has access to your computer to know whether the computer is infected and needs repair.
Nobody can detect anything on your computer. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying or has infected your computer with malware.
Nobody.
Okay, one more time.
Nobody from any computer tech support company will cold call customers in this manner. Ever.
If you answer the phone and the person pretends to be from some kind of computer technical support company, you can be certain of one single fact.
They are lying.
Don’t fall for their shenanigans.
Don’t bother threatening them. Many of them reside thousands of miles away.
That likely will be another clue of a scam. Most of these callers will have thick Indian or Indo-Asian accents.
No, this is not racism. This is a simple fact. There are many decent people in that part of the world. Overwhelmingly though, many of these scammers live in that part of the world.
Don’t rely on the usual clues, however. Occasionally some of these scammers speak perfect English and have excellent phone manners and skills. Under the pretense of providing computer tech support services, they are trying to transfer funds from your bank accounts.
When answering the phone and you hear the scary sale pitch, do not be gullible. Think!
Let’s go one step further.
When searching for computer help through search engines, realize that the first several search results are links to sponsored advertisers. Many likely are scammers.
Okay, one more time.
Many likely are scammers.
PCCare247 is an example of such a scam company. Go ahead, search for that name. Browse the first few links of the search results. These scammers collected millions of dollars for phony computer tech support.
Another example is Global Access Tech Support.
Never use any online technical support service. Not even those you think might be legitimate. Use local help or a known trusted person to find legitimate help.
If you want help from online sources, then use computer discussion forums. Use well known knowledge bases and wikis.
If you are wondering, Caller ID services are fallible. Phone numbers can be spoofed to look legitimate. The Caller ID service might indicate the call is from Microsoft or Technical Support but that will be a lie. Remember Clue number one: They called you. You did not call them.
Caller ID still helps because you can at least recognize toll free numbers, unknown numbers, and whether family or friends are calling.
Unknown phone numbers are easily be searched on the web, which results in learning the number is from a call center or whether the number was just a mis-dialed number.
Do you want to hear what one of these scammer phone calls sound like? Here you go. Warning: language might be not safe for work (NSFW).
The people who attempt these scams are maggots. Deal with them as maggots.
Technical tip: The old adage about “sounding too good to be true” is good advice. Do not download software that promises to allow you to watch free movies or TV shows. Such software is almost certainly malware.
Next issue: Email Spam and Scams
Do you remember your first time?
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