How to Avoid a Tech Support Scam | Federal Trade Commission
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
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The first-person story about a retired business consultant’s tech support scam experience, what he did about it.
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Transcript:
My name is Don Holmes. I live in Sun City West, Arizona.
In this community, we're all seniors. After you move in here, even if you don't know anybody, you get to know other people you enjoy doing things with. I use a computer predominantly for email and to get the news.
One day, a thing pops up and kind of blocks the screen, and says you've got all kinds of viruses in your computer. The design of the pop-up had a Microsoft logo on the top. And they had a number. And I couldn't get rid of this thing on the screen.
I turned the computer off. I turned it back on-- still there. So I called the number.
They identified themselves as Microsoft. I had no feeling that there was anything wrong.
Tech support scams are real. And they're causing enormous consumer injury-- hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars. And that's just based on the FTC's on law enforcement work.
Just like Mr. Holmes, a lot of people are getting pop-ups on their screens. And often, they claim to be associated with a company such as Microsoft or Apple, giving them lots of credibility.
They told me they would clear what they considered to be malware in there. In order to clear it up, they needed to get into my computer and have my control of the computer turned over to them.
So I gave them my password. They went in. The thing came off of the screen. When I went back to my computer the next day, I couldn't access my files.
You'd never let a stranger into your house. Don't let one into your computer. If you get a pop-up, don't click on a link. If you get a phone call from someone who says your computer security is at risk, don't listen to them. Stop. Take the time to talk to a friend. Talk to a family member.
When this happened to me, I was a little bit embarrassed. I mean, I consider myself fairly alert. But I was targeted. And I was scammed.
I didn't really want to talk about this. But I realized that if I didn't talk about it, that if I didn't file the complaint with the attorney general, that if I didn't file a complaint with the FTC, that I would have shrunk into myself. And by talking about it, by talking to all my friends--
They're not amateurs, Don.
--I began to realize that they also started talking. And they started indicating that they had experienced similar things.
That kind of community, that kind of exposure-- it's not an embarrassment. It's just something that happens when you're a senior. You have to talk about it to other seniors.
What I would suggest is contact the FTC. They have a website. You can fill out a complaint online.
We can be empowered with your family, your friends, and other people within your community to try to put a stop-- or at least protect ourselves from these kinds of scams.
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You know what? I also was experiencing a similar situation too. I myself almost got scammed claiming that a person with an Indian accent from Microsoft company.and said I was entitled to a refund by asking me permission to get into my computer and asking for my sensitive information such as my bank account So I was smart enough to just simply HANG UP and then filed a complaint to the FTC. As a senior myself, I"m always be vigilant.
One simple rule to help avoid such scams: Never click any links or call phone numbers included in emails that appear to be from important sources such as your bank, your insurance company, etc. Instead, if you think you have to contact a company, delete the email and call the company using their official number that you find yourself without referring to the email. The same applies for any popups from sources like Microsoft, Apple, etc. It only takes a moment to find out how to contact such companies yourself. If you don't follow the scammers' instructions, they can't scam you.
❤خداظدىغم
I never had trouble getting rid of those virus screen popups because I usually panicked as soon as I saw one and did a forced PC shut-down by holding down the power button until it all shut off. Then it takes a little longer to reload, but it is gone.
I had this happened I didn’t listen and I finally left it off for a long time went back and it was gone never happen again
I use the task bar to get rid of the frozen scammers screen. Works every time.
I had the same situation, several times....I used the esc key several times and it worked. I already had Norton and kept cleaning my computer.
Restarted computers do get rid of pop ups. It’s called not clicking restore buttons.
wow that's great news about your retirement , these are the major things that make me my senses told me that I'm at the right side in life more Grace sir.
Lord have mercy on these thieves trying to exploit the vulnerable senior population who usually live on fixed incomes and can't afford to be stolen from. God bless~
people are getting lots of text message spam, spoofing or robocalls but what are you all doing about that FTC?
Yes Thank you
I know alots of companies at my place if you need any information I'll can give you they are still doing computer scams to old people's...
I would just love to troll one of these scammers some day just make them wait on the phone for like 2 hrs lol
Search youtube for Kitboga, he does a champions job doing just that.
It’s called scam baiting and is very popular on CZcams.
Mucha gente en Paraguay cae en estas estafas.
Don Holmes? I spoke to an IRS scammer that said his name was that.
don't happen with Linux
Yeah I turned off the computer when it happened as a CZcamsr I was scared
FTC guys...you rule, thanks for your work.
How do you check on validity of a bank
How to stop this. Help
Another tip: don't reply to anyone who offers you help in these comments!
If you get a call from so-called "Microsoft"-----HANG UP!!
Introduce myself my name is Ariful Islam leeton im software engineer Asked thinking ani body
On my identity my last names shows BA Istead of DA how do I check this out? Also I have been on hold my phone for over hour. One time i was disconected. This is very upsetting
Boomers you don't even know what's internet pop-ups were affective back in 2000
Not to mentioned, this happens frequently with malvertising. Nowadays you can get forced-redirected to another website. Other times ads put invisible overlays on links on the posts on the page, which opens the intended link AND the ad-landing page.
They thought "pop-ups" was a food.
Well, actually, no. Some of us started studying and purchasing "microcomputers" in the '80s. True, we spend time educating some of our peers, but they're generally very fast learners having come from that environment. Pop-up ads started as soon as on-line shopping became available; very late '80s, early '90s. I bought books from Amazon when that was all they sold. My dad did, too!
And you can't form a sentence! lol
helfe you