Computer and Software Support


Phone and Email Scams 

 

There has been people doing phone scam for years. Unfortunately some people fall for them. This page tells you how to avoid falling for one.

 

Bank account

You receive a call stating that there was an issue with your account and you need to verify your information in order to fix the issue.

You receive an Email stating there is an issue with your account and you need to respond in order for it to be fixed. They request your username, password, and other information

Don't respond to it. They are trying to steal from you. Sometimes the bank will call if they see an issue with your account but they won't ask you for personal information if they do. They will not ask you for your password. The bank would have no need for your password. They have access to your account without it. That should be a give away that the person is not from the bank.

If you are in doubt and want to be safe, hang up or disregard the Email. Look up the phone number of your bank (Do not get the one listed in the Email Go to your bank's website and get the number) Call them and ask them if there is a problem. This way you know who you are talking to.

 

A person calls and claims to be Microsoft or some other technician

First of all, big companies may and probably do snoop on people without their knowledge. They may know if you have a virus or spyware on your system. However they are not going to acknowledge that because they would be opening themselves up for a lawsuit. 

Do not agree to allow the person on the phone to connect to your system, Do not download a program, or go to a website they tell you to go to. Do not give them any information.

If you do, they will infect your system with a virus and steal your personal information. If you are afraid that there might be an issue, contact a technician on your own to check out your system or you can update your anti-virus and scan your system with the anti-virus. You can also use anti-spyware software such as Malwarebytes, Spybot and other anti-spyware software to scan with.

If you have fallen for one of these scams, do the following

  1. Change your passwords immediately

  2. Update and scan your system with your anti-virus software

  3. Download and run Malwarebytes, Spybot, and Ad-Aware

  4. Notify your bank

  5. Notify the Credit Bureaus