Tech support scams are commonplace and have been going on for some time now. More recently, criminals have been pretending to work for Microsoft and contacting people to misinform them that they have found viruses on your computer after scanning it.
What they do next is ask you to set up remote access for your computer by requesting you to go to a certain website and install a Trojan horse or other malware on your computer. Or, they may guide you to the Windows Event Viewer and ask you to read the code that appears on the screen. Once you have provided the code, they have access to your computer. ransomware is placed on it, and then they offer to clean it up for you for a few hundred dollars. You could be asked (or threatened) to pay by credit card. These criminals tend to target those who are more vulnerable, such as the elderly. The easiest way to deal with this is to hang up on them.
If you already granted them remote access, there is still a chance that you can defend your computer from their attack. Run an antivirus scan and shut down your computer. If your computer is not letting you shut down because of the remote access, try holding down the power button till it shuts off. If any personally identifiable information is seen and/or taken, it can do a lot of damage. Call your credit card company to let them know you were scammed to stop the charges and quickly change your passwords. Tell people you know about the scam so that they know what to be aware of if someone tries to scam them.
Reporting them may or may not do anything because the police would need their location which you most likely won’t have. The police can act if they get information from a government agency or industry regulator. To file a complaint about them, call the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). Make sure to block their number after reporting them.
There is another twist to this scam. Criminals have been using the blue screen of death (a fake malware version signifying your computer has stopped working) to make users think that their software license has expired, blocking them from using their computer. Restarting your computer or pressing Alt + F4 does not fix it. Malicious code will take over the desktop, rendering it inoperable unless you pay them their fee. When researchers called the number (a number to call was posted on their blue screen), the criminals asked for $250. Malware has become more elaborate and evil. It’s important to avoid clicking links in emails directing you to unknown, unsafe sites. Most often, these lead you to a different site exposing you to viruses and/or malware. Also, keep your computer up to date on the latest security measures to protect yourself as much as possible.
If you run into trouble with your computer, reach out to an IT person you trust. They’ll help you get your computer back to normal as much as they possibly can. If you need a referral to someone we trust, let us know. We’re happy to give a referral so you know your computer is not affected by any Malware.
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