Tech Support Scam
Tech Support Scam
Tech Support
Have you received a call from Microsoft, Apple, Google or Tech Support? These scams can result in your computer, notebook, tablet or smartphone being held for ransom or worse being accessed for the wealth of private information.
If you did not request official support then the call is a scam! The caller will want you to go to a support website (most common is support.me) and enter a numerical code/pin they will provide. DO NOT ENTER THE CODE!!!
How can you prevent this? Very easy! Report the scam. Major software companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Google and others have dedicated departments to handle these types of scams.
How can you help? Here is what you do:
But, instead play along with the caller until they provide you with the support site. They may ask you to continue to a support website such as:
Support.me(1)
Join.me(1)
LogMeIn.com (2)
TeamViewer.com (2)
Anydesk.com (2, 3)
gotoAssist.com (2)
RescueAssist.com (2)
ConnectWise.com (2)
ScreenConnect.com (2)
(1) These sites will ask you for a PIN or Access code. Make sure to ask the scammer for this PIN/Accesscode and write it down as it will allow authorities as well as the support software site to track back to the scammer.
(2) May require you to download software. If this is the case, DO NOT download but instead pretend to download, telling the scammer you have clicked on the button to download, and that it has done so and pretend to follow the scammers instructions as they will want you to open the downloaded app (which you did not download) and provide them with a code.
(3) Anydesk allows providers to create the downloaded app with its own app name, logo, company name etc.
If they do not provide you with any of the above websites but instead another one (scammers can cloak or create a domain name in this case) tell them that you have gone to the requested site. If they ask you what you see on the screen, tell them you are being asked to provide a code.
When the scammer provides the access or pin code it is very important you write this down.
At this point, you can end the call, but write down the phone number that showed up on your call display.
Very important, dial *57 on the phone that you received the scam call on. This works on all telephones (landline and cellular) within Canada. It tells your phone company to record the callers details. You won’t have access to this information but don’t worry it has been recorded and will assist greatly in locating the scammer.
Report the scammer as follows (note that all links will open in a new windows/tab):
In Canada, Click here to goto antifraudcentre.ca (Canadian Federal Government Department).
In the USA (or call display shows a USA based number), Click here to goto the FBI Internet Scam Report Department (*) . You also need to report the abuse to the USA Federal Trade Commission by clicking here (*) .
If the scammer told you they were calling from Microsoft, Windows or Office support then click here to report the abuse or Phone: 1-800-426-9400.
If the scammer told you that they were calling from Apple, Mac or similar then click here to report the abuse by email (provide as information as possible and include your contact info and phone number) or phone: 1-800-263-3394.
If the scammer told you that they were calling from Google or Google Chrome, G-Mail, G-Suite, Android or similar, click here to select the Google Product or Support Abuse type and to report the Abuse.
If you were directed to provide or was provided with PIN or Access code, go to the support site and report the scammer. The secure scam reporting web sites can be accessed as follows:
Click here Support.me Abuse Reporting or call 1-877-337-2102
Join.me, Phone Support at: 1-866-478-1805
Click here to report LogMeIn.com Abuse or Phone: 1-877-337-2102
Click here to report Abuse for TeamViewer.com or Phone either 1-800-663-0253 or 1-877-251-3837.
Click here to report Anydesk.com Abuse
Click here to report gotoAssist.com Abuse (Support Key which scammer will have provided you with) or Phone: 1-866-478-1805
Click here to report RescueAssist.com Abuse (Support Key which scammer will have provided you with) or Phone: 1-866-478-1805
Click here to report ConnectWise.com Abuse or Phone: 1-800-671-6898.
Click here to report ScreenConnect.com Abuse or Phone: 1-800-671-6898.
The only way we can have these scammer stop there illegal activity is by reporting it and and having the scammers prosecuted. In Canada the maximum sentence can be 14 years and in the United States can be between 5 – 20 years depending on the volume of scams committed. And if the scammer is located in an overseas country such as Nigeria can be 25 years in maximum prison while in India prison sentences range based on the volume and financial value of the scam meaning the more reports mean the higher sentence. Please note we noted Nigeria and India as they are the two highest countries for internet and other over wire (phone, internet) scams.
The bad news is that internet and telephone scams are the highest growth scams. Total financial cost for all forms of scams and fraud through phone or internet is estimated in excess of $3 Billion a year,
Do your part and help stop scammers.