SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

January 31, 2021

TECH SUPPORT SCAM

Courtesy AARP

How It Works

            You may receive an unsolicited phone call or email purportedly from a big tech company like Microsoft or Apple, or you see a pop-up message on your screen warning that a virus or other malicious program has infected your device–and you need to call the number on the screen right away.

            If you call, a “technician” asks for remote access to your device, and once in, shows you some files that “prove” you have a major problem.

            The “technician” says they can fix your problem for a fee, and then may offer you a monthly subscription to keep your device safe.

Warning Signs

            *Big tech companies like Microsoft or Apple say they don’t call customers out of the blue to warn them of problems on their devices.

            *The files the “technician” may show you on your device are normal and completely benign.

            *The scammer may ask you to pay by purchasing a gift card and providing the account number and PIN — a sure sign that it’s a scam, as is a request for payment by wire transfer.

            If you pay, the scammer may call back months later and offer you a refund for some phony reason, asking for your bank account information to deposit the money. This is a further ruse.

            You can contact AARP on its Hot Line 877-908-3360, or the Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov.