Scammers can target people almost anywhere—even at home. They call claiming to be a “security watchdog” company and say someone has downloaded a virus to a computer in the household, says Sid Kirchheimer in a recent AARP Bulletin. But there’s no need to worry. They can help. They claim to be from McAfee, Microsoft, or Norton, and following their instructions is the only way to avoid losing important data. Just download some software—and everything will be fine. Sometimes they ask for a user name or password.
But wait a minute. Why would a security company be calling? Well, they wouldn't, says Kirchheimer. It’s a scam and it’s becoming more prevalent in the U.S. What they really want is remote access to personal computer information like bank account numbers. Don’t fall for it. Once scammers get this personal information, they can open credit accounts, write checks, and ruin the lives of their victims.
People are targeted through online telephone directories or auto-dialers that call numbers in sequence. In most cases these scammers have no idea who they are calling—and they can only get that information if you give it them. For the best protection against scammers Kirchheimer offers this advice: be alert.
Usually security software sends an alert when an actual virus is inadvertently downloaded through security updates or warnings directly onto the computer, says Kirchheimer. Some even set off an audible alarm. But if the warning comes through a phone call or e-mail, be suspicious.
Should a suspicious phone call occur, don’t give callers any personal information, such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, or back account information, says Kirchheimer. Hang up. Report the incident to the security software provider.
"We would advise consumers NOT to accept any unsolicited connections," says Trip Kucera, communications director for www.logmein123.com. "They should only go to a site when they have initiated contact with a trusted provider."
What if the scammer is successful?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that people who believe they have been scammed can take action. They can:
- Place a “Fraud Alert” on their credit reports, and review those reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts or make changes to existing accounts.
- Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
- File a police report. This is an essential step in claiming any legal rights.
- Report it to the FTC. These reports help law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations. Visit ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT.
How to Place a Fraud Alert
Place an initial fraud alert on any credit report by calling one of these companies. This fraud alert lasts for 90 days.
Experian: www.experian.com 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Equifax: www.equifax.com 1-800-525-6285
TransUnion: www.transunion.com 1-800-680-7289
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