In-bound Tech Support Scam Calls

In-bound Tech Support Scam Calls

Have you been receiving calls from odd phone numbers in the evening claiming to be from the Windows Technical Department or another official-sounding office? 

These calls are a scam. Microsoft and other tech companies do not make in-bound tech support calls. They may call you back if you called them first, but will never reach out to offer proactive support for your computer. 

If you receive one of these bogus calls just hang up.

Or you can tell the caller that you don't have a computer, that you use an iPad. (When I say that, the caller always hangs up.)

Or you can ask them to take you off their call list - doubtfully effective, but it can't hurt.

Or you can confront them, but that may escalate their aggressiveness, so it's not a good idea. 

These fake tech support companies are using spoofed phone numbers, so there's no one to call back and complain to. 

You could call your phone provider and ask if they can block such calls. 

You can also contact the police and/or the state's attorney general. It can't hurt to try. 

Don't lose any sleep over these calls or being impolite to the callers; they are scam artists looking to take advantage of our trusting nature. 

You may want to read my related blog post here:

http://cybersecurity808.blogspot.com/2015/01/be-careful-when-seeking-tech-support_1.html

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Aloha,

Sam

Tech Support Self-Help Tips

Tech Support Self-Help Tips

If you need tech support and your IT guy or gal is unavailable, here are some self-help troubleshooting steps you can try before he or she can help: 

1. If the computer is giving you trouble (running slow, hanging up, programs won't run...), close all open programs, then shut down the computer. Wait 2-3 minutes, then turn it on again. Also, wait 2-3 minutes to let it fully warm up after starting up (no spinning circle on mouse pointer). During the waiting period I suggest getting away from the computer so you can calm your nerves.

2. If you are still having the same type of trouble, consider any recent changes made to the computer, such as new hardware or software installed. If so, remove it and see if things work better. You can also use System Restore in Windows to roll the computer back to a time it was working properly; you won't lose data in the process. 

3. If you are have having Internet and/or email problems, do step 1 above and turn off your router and/or modem for 2-3 minutes. Then turn on modem first (if you have one), then the router, then the computer. If you are still having problems, call your Internet provider, such as Oceanic Time Warner or Hawaiian Telcom. 

4. As always, be sure to back up important files often, and keep your security programs up to date, running weekly scans. Many infections can cause computer slowdowns and hangups, and even block Internet access. 

Thanks for reading, 
Sam

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