Understanding IT Scams
What is an IT Scam?
IT Scams, also known as tech scams, impact everyone with a computer, tablet and/or phone. Scammers use two main approaches to hook their victims into providing access to their device or financial institution for their “services.”
- Scammers rely on pop-up windows on one’s device that warns the victim of a virus or malicious software that has been detected and urges the victim to call the phone number listed on the pop-up for immediate service.
- The second form of this scam includes calling victims and pretending to be a representative from a tech company. Be especially mindful that with this technique the fraudulent caller may spoof a real tech company in your area.
Pop-up warnings and tech support scams
If you find a pop-up window on one of your devices, disregard the message and run your own virus scan to determine if the device is infected. Do not click on the pop-up window.
If you receive a phone call from someone impersonating a tech company, it is highly encouraged to disconnect the call and do not provide any information to the caller. Companies such as Microsoft and Apple will never call their customers when a virus is on one’s device.
If you engaged in the scam and provided sensitive information such as system access, banking account or credit card information to the fraudsters, it is important to notify your financial institutions immediately to secure your accounts.
Additionally, if you accidentally provided system access information or downloaded software it is vital to remove it immediately. If you need assistance, please contact a local IT professional directly. If you are unable to locate a local IT professional, try contacting Microsoft and/or Apple support teams for further assistance.
Guiding Principles for Fraud Prevention
Review the tips below to prevent becoming a victim of a Social Engineering attack.
