Avoid the Tech Support Scam |
By Kenneth Long on January 9, 2012
.jpg.aspx) It is true that trusted computing giants may sometimes contact you to advise that your computer has been infected with a bot. However, a new scam puts face tech support agents against you, convincing you to give them access to your computer.
The purpose is to allow them to find and remove the virus from your computer. Instead, once they have access they can gather information about your secret files, banking information and other sensitive data that can find result in your bank accounts being drained, identity theft and other disastrous outcomes.
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced that his office is investigating a similar scam that has already affected dozens of unsuspecting residents. Conway advises you to "always be leery of unsolicited calls."
The callers can sound convincing. After all, if you don't have the proper antivirus software installed on your computer, you likely already have one or more computer viruses infecting your system.
Giving them access to your system will only make matters worse though. They are not there to help you, rather they are helping themselves to your sensitive data and access to your bank accounts.
Any legitimate contact from Google, Microsoft or Cisco would direct you to one of their well-known websites for a fix. They would never ask you to grant them access to your system.
Conway stated that the tech support scam is "just another attempt by scammers to gain access to personal financial information and for the purpose of identity theft." The attorney general further advises that you "never share personal information over the telephone with a stranger."
If you believe that you have been contacted by a scammer, you should contact either Conway's office at 1-888-432-9257 or your state's attorney general if you live outside of Kentucky. The most important thing is to block any attempts by a scammer to gain access to your computer. If it does not sound legit, simply hang up. Afterwards, be sure to report what you believe to be criminar behavior to the appropriate authorities.
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