They are here again

The internet predators are on the prowl once again. Not too long ago, scammers pretending to be Microsoft support went on a calling spree, conning innocent customers into installing antivirus and paying for fake “support”.

The game plan for the scammer remains the same, but this time they have added a little twist to their game. The scammers are now claiming to be from Telstra or BigPond. They call plenty of people who use a different ISP which helps them pinpoint potentially vulnerable customers.

The modus operandi is simple: The caller claims that they have noticed some malfunction in the user’s computer. Subsequently they request remote access to the user’s computer and run a “scan” that invariable discovers a fake virus.  Once this is done the next step becomes easier -selling the user software or a service to fix the computer, or asking for personal and bank details.

Once remote access is allowed the scammers can see any data that is on the computer. Access to the computer obtained, they can now not only hack into personal and financial details but also install malicious software. Telstra stated that it never asks for credit card details over the phone to fix computer problems, adding that it is not affiliated with any companies that do.

So, the bottom-line remains the same. Never divulge personal information of any kind, financial detail or remote access to your computer.

And yes, you can actually have fun talking to those scammers.