Issue 18.14
I do revisit topics but usually not for months or years. However, I have had a lot of requests that I repeat part of an article that ran a couple of months ago because of the massive increase of scam phone calls that people are receiving.
These calls usually (but not always) sound like they are from someone who does not speak English very well or is at least heavily accented. The person calling you indicates they are from Microsoft or some other computer oriented company. Another scam is when someone calls and indicates they are your grandson/granddaughter or niece/nephew and they are in trouble. Lately some of the calls that people are getting indicate they are from government or health care or insurance or banking websites that you may be connecting to. As people learn to recognize scams, the scammers try to adapt. In any case they ask to access your computer or ask you to send money. If they say they are a relative/friend, identify them clearly with multiple questions or contact their parents, siblings or children to be sure of their situation before sending money to anyone.
I am republishing an approach that you can use successfully with any of these criminals, but even before you use them, realize that no one can see what is going on with your computer unless you give them access. If they could, why would they need to call you to get access? If you suspect scammers are on the line, the easiest thing to do is hang up and then go to the website of your bank or other institution and see if there is actually a problem. If you are not sure and suspect they might be legitimate, you can use this idea to find out for sure.
When you get the call, write down the number on the caller ID. If there is not one or if it is out of the US, you can be pretty sure it is a scam. Once the person on the other end identifies themselves or their supposed company, you can say the following (* is you).
*Thanks for your call. Before we begin, I need to get your full name and a phone number where I can call you back.
Sir, you do not need that. I am here to help you right now.
*I understand, but the only way I will allow you access to my computer is if I have your full name and phone number and then call you back. If you are with a legitimate company that should not be a problem for you.
(at this point, they will either hang up or argue with you – if they do, I would say the following)
*I am sorry. This is the only way I can work with you. I am very sorry that you feel you have to work for a company that ruins people’s computers and takes their money. You must be very desperate if you are willing to do such terrible things just to get money. I hope your conscience will bother you enough that you will stop working for such criminal people and stop helping them do these horrible things.
I have personally received nearly a dozen of these calls in the last three weeks so the problem is obviously escalating. If everyone will either hang up on them or use the script above, we can make it unprofitable for them and end this nonsense. Always suspect anyone calling you unless you know them personally, refuse to play their game, and be sure to always back up anything on your computer that is important to you.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 32 years, 23 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.