Fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated in their attempts to gain remote access to people’s devices for illicit purposes.
Technical support/remote access scams
The scenario we typically see is a fraudster cold-calling you out of the blue claiming to work for a company in one of the following industries: telecommunications, security or software. The fraudster will tell you there is an issue with your computer such as a virus, and in order to fix the issue, you will need to pay a fee via credit card. The fraudster may seem knowledgeable and professional at first, but they may grow to be persistent and abusive.
The fraudster will then use remote access software to “fix” the issue on your computer. Examples of remote access software include TeamViewer, LogMeIn or GoToAssist. Once this software is installed on your computer, the fraudster will be able to use your computer as if it were their own. The fraudster may make it seem as though they are fixing a problem, however, they could actually be installing malware on your device which may result in the data theft allowing the fraudster to steal your identity.
How to avoid this type of scam
- Hang up immediately if you receive a call like this
- Ask them a question regarding your account that only the legitimate company would know
- Give the company a call on their real phone number and ask whether someone tried to contact you
- Note that remote access would never be requested as a first line of defence on an unsolicited call
- Do not give out personal information is you cannot confirm the identity of the caller
What to do if you have been scammed
- Contact us right away
- Report the incident to your local authorities