Avoiding microsoft technical support scams call microsoft support +1-877-353-1149
Avoiding Microsoft technical support scams
call microsoft support +1-877-353-1149
What Is a Tech Support Scam
and Who Is Targeted?
If you haven’t experienced a tech support scam yet, chances are you know
someone who has. According to Microsoft’s 2016 global survey, two out of three
people have experienced a tech support scam in the previous 12 months.1
The “old school” method of tech support scams follows an all-too-commonpattern: fraudster calls a senior citizen claiming to have a relationship with a
reputable company; misrepresents the existence of computer viruses or other
technical problems on a computer; and proceeds to sell the senior citizen
unnecessary tech support for a fee.
While the above method still occurs today, research indicates a startling
number of millennial are falling victim to tech support fraud. Fifty percent of all
respondents who continued with a fraudulent interaction fell between the ages
of 18 and 34. These results may, at first glance, appear surprising, challenging our
preconceived notions that fraudsters target senior citizens.
The research also reveals that fraudsters’ tactics are evolving. By leveraging
pop-up windows, unsolicited email, and scam websites as additional entry
points for scams, fraudsters are reaching a broader number of people, includingyounger victims. The data indicates that victims older than 65 are more likely to
be reached by telephone (44% were conned by an unsolicited call, 38% a popup
or online ad, 33% an unsolicited email, and 26% redirected to a website).2
In contrast, millennials ages 18 to 34 are more likely to have been redirected
to a fraudulent website (50%) or duped by a pop-up advertisement (59%) as
compared to receiving an unsolicited call (26%).
2
Regardless of the audience or the entry method, the goal of the fraudster
remains the same: use fear and deception to persuade a customer to call for
support, then seek remote access to the customer’s device and provide a
fraudulent sales pitch. Every consumer needs to be vigilant and skeptical of any
person who seeks remote access to their device. During a remote access session,
fraudsters may:
• Force you to pay for phony tech support.
• Access your personal and financial information.
• Alter device settings, such as turning off your anti-virus software or regaining
access to the computer long after the “support session” has ended.
• Download unwanted and potentially malicious software.
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