Microsoft and Apple will not contact you by phone, email or a website if you have a virus.
We posted this last year, and people are still falling for online support scams.
How the scam works is someone claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple initiates contact via phone, email, text message or a website popup. Often with claims that your computer has a virus. They then proceed to tell you that something is wrong with your computer, and that they require access to check it out. The access usually takes place in the form of a remote desktop viewing program, such as Ultraviewer.
Once inside the customer's computer the scammers, and their team use this access to steal your information. This information includes banking passwords and other sensitive information. They can also lock you out of your computer, steal your personal information, gain your credit card number and try to access your bank account information.
Technical Support scammers can be very convincing. They will give you "Apple" or "Microsoft" support employee numbers. They will get their supervisor to call you back. Any number of things to appear legitimate. Whatever they tell you it is important to never give anyone remote access to your computer unless you are 100% certain of who they are.
If you think you have been contacted by a Technical Support scammer, or have fallen for their tricks, feel free to contact us. We can tell you what steps to take to protect yourself going forward.
Remember - Microsoft and Apple will never cold call to provide computer support, or to check out your computer.
Till next time.
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