Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau® Serving Greater Cleveland
Imagine that your computer freezes, with a full-screen warning and the speakers blaring a voice that tells you that all your personal data, including credit card information, email
passwords, and social media logins have been compromised. To make matters worse, your
personal data is being sent to hackers… What would you do?
This is how many tech support scams work. They often first occur as a pop-up warning with a number to call on your computer or by a phone call from an alleged tech support company.
Whatever form of contact, the message is usually the same: “Your technology has been
compromised, and you need to contact the provided tech support company to fix it.” Along with
demanding often exorbitant fees, the supposed tech support company may even insist on
remote access to your technology, which they often use as an opportunity to download malware
onto your computer.
Tech support scammers recently targeted a Mayfield Heights woman, stealing nearly $300,000
in the process. The 72-year-old victim’s case is so serious, even the Department of Justice has
become involved. The victim clicked on the pop-up window which gave her a number to call
where “they would provide the help that would secure her bank accounts that had been hacked
and were at risk.” Once the victim called, she was shuffled between multiple different people, all
of whom referred to themselves as part of the Microsoft fraud team and provided fake security
identification numbers.
The scammers convinced the victim to go to Citizens Bank four separate times and send
varying amounts from her bank account there to an account of their own, which they told the
victim was a more secure account for her money. The teller questioned the victim on one of her
visits but continued to transfer the money when the victim said they wanted to send it.
BBB Serving Greater Cleveland offers the following tips to protect yourself from tech support
scammers:
● Look out for warning screens. Nearly half of tech support scams begin with an alert on
the victim’s computer screen. This pop-up will have a phone number for you to call for help.
Instead, disconnect from the internet and Wi-Fi connection by shutting off the device and
restarting it with an antiviral scan.
● Legitimate tech support companies don’t make unsolicited phone calls. A popular
way for thieves to get in touch with victims is through cold calls. The callers often claim
to be from a tech support company. Scammers spoof official-looking phone numbers, so
don’t trust Caller ID.
● Be wary of sponsored links. When searching online for tech support, look out for
sponsored ads at the top of the results list. Many of these links lead to businesses that
scam consumers.
● Avoid clicking on links in unfamiliar emails. Scammers also use email to reach
victims. These messages point consumers to scam websites that launch pop-ups with
fake warnings and phone numbers.
● Do your research. Research tech support companies online at BBB.org to learn more
about the company, read customer reviews and more.
If individuals have spotted a scam (whether or not they’ve lost money), they can report it to
BBB.org/ScamTracker. Additional Questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216-241-7678 or
[email protected]. For more news and tips visit BBB.org.
Photo courtesy pexels.com
pearl ann roberts
Will you be touring this year with tours
Estelle R. Brown
Thanks for asking! As you know, the tour industry has had a tough time these past two years due to the pandemic, so we put a pause on Boomer Tours for the time being. However, we are considering bringing back Boomer Tours for 2023.