PC Virus Phone Scams

Have you gotten a phone call claiming you have malware on your computer and for a small fee they will remote into your computer to help clean it up?  Sounds like a good deal - right?  Wrong -

The stories out there about people being scammed by cold calls from Indian call centres has been remarkable. (A quick reminder: people get cold-called and told there's a "problem with your computer" and talked into handing over remote access, and then $85 or so for "remote support". It's not worth taking up the offer, and the police took action against a number of sites used for this scam in April.)

Here is an interesting story from a victim...  "These aren't always "cold" calls. My mother called her telephone/internet provider about an intermittent problem with her phone line - it was an Indian call centre. 15 minutes later she received one of these calls - obviously her information had been passed on by an insider - claiming to be a follow-up as they had spotted a problem with her broadband. She was thoroughly bamboozled by the caller (she's in her mid -70s), but had enough presence of mind to put the phone down when he started demanding money. Fortunately, this was before the dodgy software had been downloaded.

"Of course, her phone provider denied that this was possible..."

If you have a good virus and internet security software loaded on your computer, you have little to worry about, just keeping it updated.  Hang up on these calls.  I would recommend if you have a concern or issue, Microsoft has a free scan tool, others have as well.  Call a local, store front business for assistance.  Keep in mind, your data is on that computer.  If you leave that computer behind, ensure you have an agreement in writing around confidential information, and privacy.  Set the expectations up front - it is your computer, your data, and your responsibility. 
 
I find working with these call centers very difficult.  Difficult to hear, difficult to understand, and personally, I don't want my account information, financial information and details about me being access by these offshore centers.  India does not have the same laws or social expectations as we have here.  In addition, there are questionable motives in many of these activities. 
 
Personally, if I call a company and the call center is offshore, I hang up.  If unsure, ask - you have a right to.  I propose to you that untill we get global laws dealing with privacy, data security and network security - this will be a ongoing threat to our well being.  Not everything is as cheap as it appears on a spreadsheet.
 
I like to deal with the small town business man, where a handshake still means something.
 
Scott Arnett
scott.arnett@charter.net