Is There A Service That Can Tell If Somebody Is A Scammer?

Tech support scammers want you to believe you accept a serious trouble with your computer, like a virus. They want you to pay for tech support services you lot don't need, to fix a problem that doesn't exist. They often inquire you to pay past wiring money, putting coin on a gift card, prepaid carte du jour or cash reload card, or using a money transfer app because they know those types of payments tin can be hard to reverse.

Spotting and Avoiding Tech Support Scams
What To Do if You Remember At that place's a Problem With Your Reckoner
What To Exercise if You Were Scammed
Reporting Tech Support Scams

older man describing a scam

Spotting and Avoiding Tech Back up Scams

Tech support scammers use many different tactics to trick people. Spotting these tactics volition aid you avert falling for the scam.

Phone calls

Tech support scammers may call and pretend to be a computer technician from a well-known company. They say they've found a problem with your computer. They oftentimes enquire you lot to requite them remote access to your computer and then pretend to run a diagnostic test. Then they try to make you lot pay to set up a problem that doesn't exist. Listen to an FTC undercover telephone call with a tech back up scammer.

If you go a phone call you didn't look from someone who says at that place's a problem with your computer, hang upwards.

Pop-up warnings

Tech back up scammers may try to lure y'all with a popular-upwardly window that appears on your computer screen. Information technology might look like an mistake message from your operating system or antivirus software, and it might use logos from trusted companies or websites. The bulletin in the window warns of a security issue on your computer and tells you to call a telephone number to go aid.

example of a fake tech support pop-up warning

If you get this kind of pop-up window on your calculator, don't call the number. Real security warnings and messages will never ask yous to call a phone number.

Online ads and listings in search results pages

Tech support scammers effort to become their websites to prove upward in online search results for tech support. Or they might run their own ads online. The scammers are hoping y'all'll call the telephone number to get help.

If you're looking for tech support, go to a visitor you lot know and trust.

two Things To Know To Avert a Tech Support Scam

ane. Legitimate tech companies won't contact you by phone, email or text message to tell yous there's a problem with your reckoner.

2. Security pop-up warnings from real tech companies will never ask you to call a phone number.

What To Practice if You Recollect There's a Problem With Your Estimator

If y'all think there may be a problem with your computer, update your computer's security software and run a scan.

If you need help fixing a trouble, become to someone you know and trust. Many software companies offering support online or by telephone. Stores that sell computer equipment also offer technical back up in person.

What To Practise if You Were Scammed

If you paid a tech support scammer with a credit or debit card, y'all may be able to stop the transaction. Contact your credit card company or bank right away. Tell them what happened and ask if they can reverse the charges.

If you lot paid a tech back up scammer with a gift card, contact the company that issued the card right away. Tell them you paid a scammer with the gift card and inquire if they can refund your money.

If y'all gave a scammer remote access to your computer, update your estimator's security software. Then run a scan and delete annihilation it identifies as a problem.

If yous gave your user name and countersign to a tech back up scammer, modify your password right away. If you utilize the same password for other accounts or sites, change it there, too. Create a new countersign that is stiff.

Avoid Tech Support Refund Scams

If someone calls to offer you a refund for tech back up services yous paid for, it's likely a imitation refund scam. How does the scam work? The caller will ask if you lot were happy with the services you got. If you say, "No," they'll offer you a refund. In another variation, the caller says the company is giving out refunds considering it's going out of business organisation. No matter their story, they're not giving refunds. They're trying to steal more of your money. Don't give them your banking company account, credit card or other payment information.

Reporting Tech Support Scams

If a tech support scammer contacts you, study it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

When you written report a scam, the FTC can use the data to build cases against scammers. Are you skeptical that reporting scams will make a difference? Watch this video to learn how your story could assist the FTC cease scammers.

Why report fraud?

Now that you lot know how to recognize a tech support scam, share what you learned with someone you lot know. Y'all might help them avoid a tech support scam.