If you read this blog regularly you’re no doubt aware that cyber-criminals are a determined bunch, with a large range of tools and tactics at their disposal to rob you of your identity and hard-earned cash. Tech support scams (TSS) are an increasingly popular way for them to do just this. In 2017, Microsoft Customer Support Services received 153,000 reports from customers around the world who encountered or fell victim to these scams, a 24 percent increase on the year previous. Many lost hundreds of dollars in the process.
Yet the real scale of the problem is likely to be many times bigger.
If you’re still unsure what tech support scams are, and how you can protect yourself, this handy guide will tell you everything you need to know.
What types of tech support scam are there?
Tech support scams target users of any devices, platforms and software and can involve a variety of tactics. Typically, they include both an online element and/or a phone call with the scammer, who pretends to be technical support worker for a reputable company like Microsoft or your ISP. They try to trick you into believing there’s something wrong with your computer so that you agree either to hand over money (and credit card details) to ‘fix’ it, and/or allow them remote access to your machine — which enables them to download covert info-stealing malware.
Here are the two main ways a TSS can begin:
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The bottom line is that if you fall for one of these tactics, you may lose an initial sum of money by paying the scammer, but also be exposed to further fraud on that card in the future as they’ll have your details on file. You could also be at risk of identity theft if the bad guys have downloaded malware to steal more personal info from your machine, like banking log-ins, Social Security numbers and more.
Microsoft claimed last year that three million users are subject to these scams every month, and more than half (56%) are from the US. The FBI, meanwhile, estimated tech support fraud losses in 2017 amounted to $15 million, an 86 percent increase on the previous year.
How do I stay safe, or recover, from a scam?
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent the scammers getting what they want, and even if you are caught out, some quick thinking can help to minimize the impact on your life and finances.
Staying safe:
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If you’ve been scammed:
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How can Trend Micro help?
For the online side of tech support scams, Trend Micro Security offers comprehensive multi-layered protection from the malicious sites, pop-ups, browser takeovers and malware associated with tech support scams. Here are just some of the techniques we use to keep you safe:
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Visit Trend Micro Security to find out more about how TMS protects you, or to buy the product.
