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4 October 2012
SCAMwatch advisory: Computer cold call virus scam - scammers outsmarted!
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On 4 October 2012, SCAMwatch sent the following information.
View original message online at: http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/989316
October 2012: Joint action between three international regulators has thwarted a massive global phone scam, with US authorities winning court orders to close down and freeze funds of imposters posing as Microsoft employees offering to fix PC viruses.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA), the US Federal Trade Commission and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission collaborated to share key intelligence about the operations of the Microsoft imposters.
This scam was one of the most commonly reported scams in 2011, with computer hacking scams contributing more than 23 per cent to the total scam reports to the ACCC.
SCAMwatch urges you to remain alert, this type of scam continues to do the rounds, with scammers impersonating other well known and trusted companies or government agencies to slip under your radar.
If you receive a call out of the blue from a stranger requesting access to your computer, money or your personal details, just hang up.
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How these scams work |
You receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be from (or have
a relationship with) Windows or Microsoft and that they have detected a virus
on your computer.
To confirm the diagnosis, the caller asks you to open Windows Event Viewer
on your machine to check if it is infected. Several error messages are listed
and this reinforces their claims, even though errors are common and usually
harmless. The caller tells you that these are of significant concern and offers
to refer you to a 'technician' who could fix the problem, for a fee.
At this point, you're offered a number of solutions that seem to make
perfect sense. Depending on the intent of the particular scammer involved, the 'technician' might:
- Install an antivirus program on your computer, typically the kind that you can download for free from reputable companies, and charge up to $250 for the service.
- Ask for your credit card details but install nothing. Your details might then be sold to other parties or used for fraudulent purposes.
- Install malware on your computer, this enables your computer to be controlled remotely for other illegal and harmful activities.
- Access and steal personal and financial details from your computer.
Follow-up scam
Scammers have also
been known to make follow-up calls to people who initially fell victim to the
scam. In these calls the scammer falsely claims to be from a foreign
government, foreign law enforcement body, or from your bank, and offers to
recover the money that you initially lost, in return for a fee.
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Protect yourself | - Suspect: Don't accept anything at face value. If it sounds unlikely or too good to be true, it probably is.
- Think: Recognise the signs. If you're being pressured to act, disclose personal details or send money to a stranger, it's almost certainly a scam. For example, Microsoft never makes unsolicited phone calls about its products.
- Report: Act quickly, tell SCAMwatch and stop scammers in their tracks.
- Ignore: Never respond. Just hang up, or delete the SMS or email after reporting.
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| Feedback |
Thank you to those subscribers who have provided feedback to our Alerts, Advisories and Newsletters. We are very interested in your feedback and where possible take on board your suggestions or requests.
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| Disclaimer |
This
information has been prepared by Enex TestLab for the Department
of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (‘the Department’). It was
accurate and up to date at the time of publishing.
This
information is general information only and is intended for use by private
individuals and small to medium sized businesses. If you are concerned about a
specific cyber security issue you should seek professional advice.
The Commonwealth, Enex TestLab, and all other persons associated with this
advisory accept no liability for any damage, loss or expense incurred as a
result of the provision of this information, whether by way of negligence or
otherwise.
Nothing in this information (including the
listing of a person or organisation or links to other web sites) should be
taken as an endorsement of a particular product or service.
Please note that third party views or recommendations included in this
information do not reflect the views of the Commonwealth, or indicate its
commitment to a particular course of action. The Commonwealth also cannot
verify the accuracy of any third party material included in this information.
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