Tech Talk

Cybercriminals are using effective techniques in their scheme to separate you from your money. I regularly receive calls from folks saying, “I think I’ve been scammed! What do I do now?”

My friend Kate fell victim to a scammer recently. While surfing the web, a message popped up on her screen. This “official looking” pop-up message instructed her to call a specific phone number because she had “a malware infection that needed immediate attention.” If that wasn’t bad enough, she also found herself locked out of her computer. It was frozen. No mouse. No keyboard. She felt her only option was to call the phone number on the screen, which she did. By the time those scammers finished with her they had not only taken control of her computer, but also convinced her that they could restore it to working order once she paid them $499.00. She did. These scammers called it a service charge. I call it extortion.

Now mind you, Kate is a bright, intelligent woman who would typically never get taken for a ride. But these cybercrooks are extremely proficient at what they do. They constantly hone their skills conning trusting people who think they’re in trouble. Why do they do it? Scamming people in this fashion has proven to be exceptionally profitable. Most are offshore. Few get caught. Your best defense? Internet safety awareness and developing safer online habits to make it more problematic for these crooks to “have their way” with your computer and take control of your digital life.

So, what do you do if you get a pop-up on your screen telling you to call a phone number or click on a link? First, take a picture

of your screen with your cell phone. Be sure any phone number or website address is readable. Second, do not click on any links. Do not call any phone numbers. Third, immediately disconnect your computer from the internet and TURN IT OFF. And finally, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY at 727-5344000 for instructions on what to do next.

What do you do if you receive a phone call from a stranger telling you that you have a malware infection or something else is wrong with your computer? Immediately hang up. Do not engage them in conversation. If they call back, hang up again or don’t even answer. But what do you do if you have already downloaded their software to give them control of your computer?

Immediately disconnect your computer from the internet and TURN IT OFF. Then, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY at 727534-4000 for instructions

on what to do next. If you leave it on, they can monitor your activity, steal your data, and even ransom it. Leave your computer off until I have an opportunity to assess the safety of your system.

What if you have given them your credit card number? Immediately call your card issuer and have your card and the transaction cancelled. Don’t wait to get your credit card statement. Call your bank and deal with this immediately. Some banks may require you to file a police report.

This story does have a happy ending. I was able to purge the malware from Kate’s computer and give it a clean bill of health. She called her bank. They flagged the transaction for their fraud division; cancelled Kate’s credit card; and had a new card in the mail to her the very next day.

If Kate had done nothing, she would have been scammed out of nearly 500-bucks. But even worse, those crooks would still have control of her computer. They could spy on her or ransom her computer whenever they felt like it.

Kate changed from being a passive victim to a vigilant internet user by recognizing and taking immediate control of her situation. These crooks can be intimidating. They’re relentless. They prey on a person’s fear of, and inexperience with, technology. Every time I speak with a victim of this scam, they always say the same thing. “I can’t believe I fell for it.” Sometimes their embarrassment of being scammed prohibits them from reaching out for help. Kate felt so much better when SHE took control of the situation. Be safer not sorrier. You do not have to be a casualty of these high-tech outlaws.

Are you certain your computer is safe? You don’t have to do this alone my Friend. My staff and I are here to keep your computer safer and keep it running. My team repairs computers and secures them, on our bench, on-site in your home or office, and even remotely. We have the best solutions already in place and we’re only a phone call away. Call us anytime at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades.

We Keep You Safer In Your Digital World!