If you suddenly see a red or orange pop-up window saying that a computer virus has been detected, don’t be fooled and click on it.
It’s a money-saving warning shared by tech experts who fear victims could be scammed out of hundreds of millions of dollars.
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According to the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report, more than 37,500 complaints about fake tech support scams were reported in the United States last year alone.
As a result, victims lost more than $924 million through 2023.
The FBI announced in late April that tech support scams were the most commonly reported senior citizen scams in 2023.
This type of scammer may try to trick you using pop-up windows that appear on your computer screen.
For example, they may resemble error messages from your operating system or antivirus software, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“Tech support scammers try to trick you into believing that your computer has a serious problem, such as a virus,” he added.
“They’re trying to get you to pay for technical support services you don’t need to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.
” [fraudsters] Banks often ask for payments via bank transfers, loading gift cards, prepaid cards, cash reload cards, cryptocurrencies or using money transfer apps because they know these payment methods are difficult to reverse.”
Color coding
In the case of scam pop-ups, the message displayed in the window pressures you to urgently call a phone number for help.
However, technical experts at Kaspersky Lab noticed telltale signs of counterfeiting.
“These notices [are] “They are usually a striking red or orange color,” the website states.
The fear of hacking
“If you see this type of pop-up window on your computer, do not call the number,” the FTC warned.
“Genuine security alerts or messages will never ask you to call a phone number.”
But you might argue that something other than a computer virus is at fault.
The problem is that the scammer will take control of the new account and quickly wipe it.
FTC
These tech scammers use fake security pop-ups to claim, for example, that someone has hacked into your bank account, investment account, or retirement account and is using it to commit fraud.
“To help, they will refer you to another scammer posing as a government agency (such as the Federal Trade Commission or FBI) or your bank’s fraud department,” the FTC said.
“Scammers will tell you the only way to protect your money is to transfer it to a new account.
“The problem is that the scammer takes control of the new account and quickly wipes it.”
8 tips for cell phone safety
- Never give your personal information to anyone who asks for it via email or text message.
- Lock your device with an advanced PIN, password or pattern
- Only download apps from trusted stores like the Apple Store or Google Play
- Be sure to back up your data in case a restore is required.
- Keep your operating system and apps up to date
- Please make sure to log out of the site after making your payment.
- Turn off your phone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if you’re not using them
- Consider purchasing a protection plan in case your phone is lost or stolen
Source: Verizon
Shady pop-ups are one of several ways greedy criminals blatantly steal your hard-earned money.
They also target computer users with unsolicited phone calls.
For example, a fake technical support person may call out of the blue and pretend to be a computer technician from a well-known company.
They will lie and claim they found a problem with your computer.
Remote controller
The scam continues by prompting you to allow remote access to your computer.
These scammers pretend to run diagnostic tests.
The next step they will take is to force you to pay to solve a problem that never existed in the first place.
If this happens to you and a stranger calls you to say they have a problem with your computer, hang up.
“Legitimate technology companies will not contact you by phone, email, or text to tell you that there is a problem with your computer,” the FTC said.
“Security pop-up warnings from genuine technology companies will never ask you to call a phone number or click on a link.”
If you’ve been contacted by a tech support scammer, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.