Saturday, May 25, 2013
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Latest Computer Scam Targets Victims Over The PhoneScammers claim there is a problem with the victim's computer and then direct them to a URL where the scammer steals their personal info; others try to coax victims out of sensitive banking info.
Anchorage police have received several reports this week from people who have been contacted by computer scammers.
In almost every case the scammers claimed there was a problem with the person’s computer that needed fixing, when in fact no problem existed. Police say that, many times, scammers pose as company representatives from Microsoft or Apple. They tell the person they’ve discovered some sort of problem with their computer but what they really want is information. They may direct people to a website or ask them to download a program that can provide a fix. FBI agent Eric Gonzales says that’s just the beginning. “They'll take you through the steps you need to take under the guise that they are actually helping you repair your computer,” says Gonzales. “Once they are in your computer they can pull information out or they can infect it with more malware and it can be very problematic for that person who is the victim.” Anchorage police say in some cases the callers have asked for banking information they need in order to perform the fix. Beverly McGuire says she never got that far before she hung up on her caller. In her case, it was a man who claimed to work for a company based in India that was monitoring her computer. “We just got a flag that your files had been corrupted,” McGuire says the man told her. “And that means that someone is going to go into them and they are going to gather all the information that they want from your private files and also they could damage your computer.” McGuire says the caller continued to pressure her to provide information but she resisted, asking him questions instead before eventually hanging up. Police say she did the right thing by not sharing information and hanging up. They say they have no reports of anyone sharing information with the scammers but want to warn people that they are out there. |
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An Accent? said on Monday, Oct 24 at 5:28 AM
Perhaps what sounded like an accent was just good english?
75770691Maureen said on Monday, Oct 17 at 4:18 PM
This happened to me, and I live in Wasilla. He had an accent and told me to turn my computer on. I asked for his phone #, Then to talk with his supervisor, he hung up.
75464818To No Phone said on Wednesday, Sep 28 at 2:31 PM
Still call the police and report what you saw and heard. Information is valuable to the person who was wronged even if the help was not immediate, help can right a wrong later.
74507659Hang Up On Fraud! said on Wednesday, Sep 28 at 2:27 PM
No one who is legitimate will call you to tell you that your computer has a problem and they need to help you fix it. Only a proprietory system, such as a company issued laptop and computer will have the software and then your own company's IT will be the one emailing or callig you. If the laptop, note book or computer is your own tool, no one will have the ability to know it needs fixing which is the clue it is a scam (unless you called a service and they are returning your call and then verify it is that service you contacted before giving out information).
74507512No Phone said on Wednesday, Sep 28 at 8:44 AM
I saw someone in trouble the other day and searched about for a payphone and was not able to find one. So I was not able to report the crime
74486909compuuuter said on Tuesday, Sep 27 at 9:34 PM
i'm not computer smart: do these heart-less no-nards go for regular phones, payphones, cells, or just anything that produces a ringtone?
74464156Hang up on Fraud! said on Tuesday, Sep 27 at 9:17 PM
This happened to me today. Man with a foriegn accent and caller ID of MB Enterprises 786 439 0853 tried to give me the same snake oil story. Hung up on him. Didn't answer the 2nd call either. Hang up on them. Have the dog to bark in thier ear. Bang the phone against a door or a pan before you hang up. They'll get the message and move on. Fight back against fraud!
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