Tech support scams have grown in the past few years, with scammers posing as tech support online or on the phone to get access to people’s computers and charge steep fees for fraudulent services.
They will often ask the victim to download a fake antivirus program onto their computer that then gives the scammer access to all the victim’s files, including passwords, banking information, and other identifying information.
The scams succeed by fear tactics, telling victims that their computer’s functionality is impaired or that it contains illicit material that will get them into legal trouble if not fixed immediately.
The scammers usually reach their victims in one of three ways: pop-up ads, Google ads, or cold calls. They often pose as support services for legitimate companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. Elderly citizens and newcomers are the most vulnerable groups, since newcomers aren’t familiar with the laws and business practices of North America.