I’ve been receiving almost one call a week regarding this latest scam going around now. I want to make you aware of what it is, and what to do. What can happen is while you are visiting a website, a pop up window appears saying that you have a virus so call the listed phone number immediately for help. Unfortunately, the pop up window locks your cursor so that you can’t do anything, creating panic and prompting people to call the phone number. People who have called the number have reported the voice on the other end to have a strong eastern Indian accent, so this is one way to know immediately to hang up the phone. The person answering the phone will unlock your machine, remote control your computer, navigate to some strangely named system files as evidence of a virus, install some free anti-virus software and pronounce your computer free of viruses. Then it comes time for the bill which can be as outrageous as $600 or more for the (free) anti-virus software that they’ve just installed.
It’s all a scam!! If you see a window pop up like the one described above, DO NOT call the phone number. On a Mac, Force Quit your browser by holding down the Command + Option keys and then press ESC. Select your browser (Safari, FireFox, or Chrome) and click Force Quit. Restart your Mac and all should be good. On a Windows PC, Force Quit your browser by holding down the Control + Alt keys and the press DELETE. Select your browser (Edge, Explorer, FireFox, or Chrome) and click End Task. Restart your PC and all should be good. If these options are not available, press and hold your power button in for 5 seconds to turn your computer (PC or Mac) off. Let it rest 30 seconds and turn it back on. This option is a last resort as it’s not healthy for the computer for it to be turned off via the kill switch.
Update: Recently I’ve been now receiving as many as 3 calls per week regarding the scam above. The scammers are getting serious, and they’re getting smarter! Recent reports now tell me that the Indian accent is gone and the voice on the other end of the call speaks clear, native English, making it more difficult to discern a scammer from a legitimate technician. Here’s another way to discern the scam if you do end up on the phone: Ask how much the service will cost. You’ll first be given a number as high as $600. Tell them you don’t have that much money and see if they lower the price. What technician haggles on their service price!? If they lower the price, you know that you’re speaking with a scammer who is trying to get whatever money you can afford. If they won’t haggle the price and stick to $600, then you’re better off buying a new computer for that much money.
The bottom line is this – If any window pops up while you’re surfing the web that says you’ve got a virus and to call a provided phone number for help, it can only be a scam. Let me also add that you may read this article and think that it all seems so obvious that it’s a scam, but when it happens to you, it will be terrifying, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll consider calling the number for help. But stay calm and follow the instructions above and you’ll be just fine. If by chance you’ve already been victimized by this scam, be sure to call your credit card company and let them know you’ve been scammed so that they can remove the charges. I would ask them if reissuing the card is an option they recommend as well.