DD’s Security Tips #3 – How to Avoid Falling Victim to Pop-Up Scams

Scams are so common these days that we support people who have fallen victim to them nearly every day.

So, we thought that we would provide some advice on how to avoid being scammed, and what to do if you have fallen victim to a scammer.

There are a few different types of computer related scam, so let’s start with pop-up scams…

What are Pop-Up Scams?

Sometimes when you are browsing the internet, instead of the webpage that you were expecting you will be redirected to a screen claiming that your computer is infected with a computer virus.

These fake webpages will often claim to belong to a genuine company like McAfee, or Microsoft or Norton, but they aren’t real.

They will often feature flashing lights; siren sounds and a computer voice telling you that your computer is infected. These are designed to frighten and disorient you into panicking and falling victim to the scam.

How does the Scam Work?

These scams will almost always provide you with a telephone number and convince you that you must call that number to get your computer fixed.

DO NOT CALL THE TELEPHONE NUMBER!

If you call the telephone number, you will be connected to a call centre where the scammers are operating from. They will convince you that your computer is seriously infected and that you may lose your data, and that your personal and financial information could be stolen.

They will give you instructions to install software on to your computer that will allow them to control it remotely.

NEVER ALLOW ANYONE YOU DON’T KNOW TO CONTROL YOUR COMPUTER REMOTELY!

Once they are able to control your computer remotely, they are free to install malicious software on it, giving them access to it in future. They can also steal your personal data and can often access your financial information and online banking.

Sometimes they will just steal your money directly by using your online banking to make a bank transfer. Other times they will claim that they have fixed your computer and will ask for payment.

How can I avoid these scams?

The worst part of falling victim to a scam is how silly we feel afterwards for being so easily tricked.

But we always tell people, these are professional scam artists, they make their living this way, and they would not be able to do that if they weren’t very, very good at it.

There’s no shame in falling for a scam. But here’s our advice to avoid becoming a victim in the first place:

If you are redirected to one of these fake webpages claiming that your computer is infected:

·       Close your web browser if you are able to.

·       If you are unable to close your browser, try restarting your computer. Once it restarts your web browser may ask you if you wish to resume where you left off, tell it “no”.

If you have called the telephone number:

·       Hang up.

If you have called the telephone number and allowed the scammers to control your computer remotely:

·       Pull the power chord out of your broadband router, to cut off your internet connection and disconnect the scammers. Then turn off your computer and bring it to us to check over and clean for you.

Remember, if something doesn’t feel right or you think something might be a scam, or if you’ve fallen victim to a scam, we are always here for advice and support.