Tech Support Scams

"Hello, we are calling from Windows and your computer looks like it is infected. Our Microsoft Certified Technician can fix it for you."

     Sound familiar? Whether you have just been scammed or simply want to find out more on the topic, you have come to the right place.


     Tech support scams are a million-dollar industry and have been around since 2008. Every single day, innocent people are tricked into spending hundreds of dollars on non-existent computer problems. Unfortunately there is no sign of these scams slowing down despite several actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission.

How it all begins

     Cold calls from fake Microsoft(etc) agents, usually from India and operating out of call centers, these scammers call people in the U.S, Canada, the UK, and Australia whom they find in the phone directory.

The scam is straightforward: pretend to be calling from Microsoft, gain remote control of the machine, trick the victim with fake error reports and collect the money.

     If you ever get a call from a Microsoft or Windows tech support agent out of the blue, the best thing to do is simply hang up. Scammers like to use VoIP technology so their actual number and location are hidden. Their calls are almost free which is why they can do this 24/7. As per Microsoft "You will never receive a legitimate call from Microsoft or our partners to charge you for computer fixes."

     these companies heavily advertise on popular search engines as well as websites with high traffic. People call them for assistance and get fooled with similar techniques employed by Indian cold callers. Fake pop ups claiming your computer is infected are used by scammers to reel in innocent victims.

     If you decide to call in for remote computer assistance, you need to be very careful about which company you are going to deal with. Simply picking the top ad on a search results page could end very badly. Unfortunately, the company or technician being from the US is not a guarantee for honest service. Many businesses in the US are using dirty tricks to take advantage of people, with the unsavvy and elderly as their prime targets.  

Damage control

     Getting scammed is one of the worst feelings to experience. In many ways you feel like you have been violated and are really angry to have let your guard down. Perhaps you are even shocked and scared and don’t really know what to do now. The following tips will hopefully provide you with some guidance.

If you already let them in: Revoke remote access, scan your computer for malware, and change all of your passwords. In some cases (you did not pay or called them names), scammers will seek revenge on your machine. Here are some things they might try: locking you out of your computer, deleting drivers, and deleting files.

If you already paid: Contact your financial institution/credit card company to reverse the charges and keep an eye for future unwanted charges. If you gave them personal information such as date of birth, Social Security Number, full address, name and maiden name you may want to consult the FTC’s website and report identity theft.

If you have any questions leave a comment or contact us at (916) 209-0134 | suncitycomputersolutions@gmail.com

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