Among all the scams you can suffer when browsing the Internet, one of them is the fake technical support. You can come across fake messages that claim to be from an official support service, but in reality it is a scam. They will try to steal your data, compromise your computer and, ultimately, launch some kind of attack. But how can you identify when it is a scam and when it is something legitimate?
The goal of this article is to help you differentiate between scam tech support messages and those that are actually legit. If you have a problem with your system or any device, you’ll want to contact tech support and get help. But of course, it needs to be legitimate and not cause a major problem.
Detect fraudulent technical support
This is a major problem, as malware could be slipped in. For example, a fake tech support service might tell you to install a program to fix a problem. But of course, that could be malicious software. Plus, they could gain full access to your computer if you’re careless.
Unsolicited messages or calls
The first sign is when you receive a message or a call that you did not request. You have no problems, your devices are working fine, but they contact you and tell you that there is a problem. From there, they might scare you in some way. For example, they might say that they suspect that your device has been accessed.
If this happens, it is important that you do not provide any information or grant permissions to access your system. If in doubt, seek information or contact the real technical support. Do not make it easy for attackers.
Ads without much sense
Something similar can happen when you come across ads while browsing the Internet. They can appear on social networks, for example. It is an ad indicating that there is a problem with your computer and that you must solve it through technical support. If you click on it, you go to a website that supposedly belongs to technical support.
The reality is that this is a scam. One more attempt to trick you into giving away personal information or installing illegitimate software. Once again, you need to be alert and not give any room for cybercriminals.
Lack of information and accreditation
In this case, you may actually have a problem and start looking for how to contact technical support. You may end up on a website, but suspect that it is a scam. A red flag is when there is missing information or no accreditation to prove that it is something official.
Before starting any procedure, or trusting supposed technical support, you should carefully analyze the situation. Verify that the website is real, that it has coherent information and that you can confirm its origin.
They will ask for access to your computer and play with time
Whatever means they use to contact you, they will always try to gain access to your computer. They may invite you to install a remote access program, so they can log in from their location and supposedly fix a problem. This is very dangerous, as they could steal information and affect your privacy.
Another classic cyber attack is playing with time. They will tell you that you need to do something immediately, that someone could get into your computer, etc. They want to make you nervous and end up granting permissions to access the system.
In short, be very careful with fake tech support scams. It is essential to take certain precautionary measures and not fall into the trap. You can always spot scam sites online.
