Reporter records fake tech support call, BBB warns of scams
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Better Business Bureau serving Central Indiana is warning of a spike in tech support scams over the past week.
Typically, someone will call and pose as a computer or software company, saying something is wrong with the victim’s computer. The caller will then ask for information or access to the computer to fix the problem.
24 Hour News 8’s Jessica Smith got a suspicious phone call last week and started recording.
The caller said he was with Dell and Smith’s computer was sending dangerous error messages to the main server. He asked for remote access to her computer in order to fix the problem. The caller even had the computer’s specific service tag number.
“As you are a genuine user, your internal IP is connected to the main server. That’s the reason we’re able to see these error signals from your computer’s internal IP. And you know, the errors which are getting downloaded into your computer are some junk and malicious files which automatically get downloaded to your computer through the internet,” said the caller.
When Smith wouldn’t hand over access to the computer, the caller said he would send an email to verify his identity. Somehow, the caller already had Smith’s personal email address.
The caller sent Smith an email that had Dell’s logo and looked convincing, but it wasn’t from an official Dell.com email address. Smith told the caller she thought the call was a scam. The caller insisted he needed to fix the computer.
“I can show you those errors, I don’t just want the access to your computer. I’ll show you where the errors are located in your computer, so you can see them with your own eyes,” said the caller.
Smith asked how the caller obtained her personal information and he eventually hung up. Smith then called Dell directly. The company said no one had tried to reach her, and the call was likely a scam.
24-Hour News 8 took the recording to the Better Business Bureau. Tim Maniscalo, the local president and CEO, listened to the call and said he agreed the phone call was a tech support scam.
“This is a typical sort of scam and we have seen an uptick of this in the last week — I don’t know why, but we did get a number of people reporting this scam in the last week…It’s amazing how much information they can get now. I really don’t know how they work, but it sounds very legitimate and you think ‘boy these guys have my information, it must be Dell on the phone’ and a lot of people hand over their computer to them,” said Maniscalo.
Maniscalo said scammers will use other companies like Microsoft or Apple for tech support scams as well. The scammer will try and convince the victim to give them remote access to their computer.
“The reason they want that is once they’ve got access to it, they’re going to hold you hostage. So they’ll say ‘oh look for $150, give me your credit card, and you can have your computer back.’ They want access to your computer, they might try to steal information, steal your identity or hold your computer hostage,” said Maniscalo.
Maniscalo said scammers are also able to make emails and websites that look convincing. Scammers can also use software to mask or alter their phone number.
“Always check it out, don’t give your computer over to someone until you’re absolutely 100% sure that they’re legitimate. Typically this is not the way that Microsoft or Dell or some sort of legitimate company is going to contact you. The best thing to do is to hang up. You don’t want to continue any conversations with them…If they have got you on the line and you’re talking to them, that’s a sign that they can go ahead and continue to call you.” said Maniscalo. ” It really doesn’t take much for them to continue that call..the best way to discourage them is to hang up that phone.”
After engaging the caller, Smith received at least six similar phone calls. Smith asked one of the callers if he was a scammer. He simply said, “Correct. Expletive.” and hung up the phone.
If you receive a suspicious call you should call the company directly, report it to the attorney general’s office and the Better Business Bureau.
