Recognizing and Avoiding These Top Tech Support Scams

The Internet has become indispensable in our day-to-day business and personal lives. Unfortunately, it’s also become a place where cybercriminals are commonly hiding in the shadows.

Recently there has been a wave of “tech support” scams that appear as pop-ups or emails warning that a virus has taken over your system. Knowing how to identify these scams can help protect your business from bad actors trying to steal confidential information.

In this post, we’re going to look at some common tech support scams, and how to avoid them.

Pop-Up Warnings

Have you ever clicked a link and received a pop-up saying…” threat detected” or “virus detected”? This attack is most common on Windows OS and is designed to scare you into thinking your device is compromised, but it isn’t.

These pop-ups typically include an 800 number that the recipient is supposed to call to get in touch with a “technician” to resolve a problem that doesn’t exist. They’ll ask for payment for their help. If a pop-up or error message appears with a phone number, don’t call it. Error and warning messages from legitimate companies like Microsoft never include a phone number.

Unsolicited Calls or Emails

Legitimate companies will never send unsolicited email messages or make unsolicited phone calls to provide technical support to fix your computer, especially for money. Any communication should have been initially initiated by you.

Requesting Remote Access

Another common tech scam involves someone pretending to be a representative from a well-known company like Microsoft or Apple. They inform you that your computer is sending error messages about a virus and remote access is needed to solve the issue.

They will ask you to buy software to solve the problem or ask for personal information like a credit card or bank number. This scam often works because many companies offer remote access support. But remember, a legitimate company won’t come to you unsolicited…you need to contact them for support.

Reporting Scams

If you’ve experienced a scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or your local law enforcement agency right away. Make sure your team is aware of best practices like not clicking on unfamiliar links and never giving anyone information that would allow them to gain control of your computer.

Allied Business Solutions is here to offer you and your business support in this area.  We provide a holistic approach to cybersecurity that will help your team identify threats like these and prevent your organization from becoming a victim. Contact us today and ask us about our solutions to strengthen your company’s security.