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How to Easily Spot Online Tech Support Scams and Fraudulent Phone Calls

Online IT scams are rampant – if the recent instances in Florida are anything to go by. Impostors are using pop-up messages and calls to get unsuspecting businesses to provide access to their computer systems. Under the guise of reputable companies like Apple and Intel, these fraudulent ads gain remote access and inject a virus on networks. 

 

To protect your IT infrastructure at all times, turn to experienced and qualified IT consulting firms in Toronto like M.I.T. With our expert technicians and hosted systems, rest assured that your data is monitored and secured 24/7. 

 

Cybercrime is on the rise in 2019 and this isn’t just an epidemic in the U.S. We’re here to help you protect your Toronto business. You can sniff out these imposter ads and calls, and prevent them from compromising your infrastructure. Knowledge is power. In this article, we help you detect the real deal from the duds.

 

 Fraudulent Phone Calls

Tech support scammers have taken to calling people to say that malware has been detected on their computers, all the while pretending to represent a credible company. 

 

The imposter attempts to have the person install software to get rid of the “problem.” If the user falls for this bit, the cybercriminal is then able to access their computer and actually install malware thereon. 

 

Over and above this, fraudulent companies also try to obtain the user’s credit card data by asking for payment to fix the (non-existent) issue. 

 

What To Do in This Scenario

If you receive a phone call from somebody you don’t know telling you that there’s an issue with your computer, it’s safest to just hang up.

 

When in doubt, update your device’s security software and perform a scan. If this pulls up something that shouldn’t be there, contact an IT support company that you can trust. 

 

Pop-Up Messages

When surfing the web, some users have stumbled upon IT pop-up warnings that are usually very aggressive and hard to close. They display alerts about the user’s computer being inundated with viruses and provide a number to get rid of it. These ads are designed to trick the user into thinking they come from credible companies such as Norton. 

 

What To Do in This Scenario

Don’t rely on pop-up messages online to detect malware and protect your data. Always perform a scan yourself to see if anything is amiss. If it is, reach out to a credible tech support agency immediately. 

 

Online Search Results

Taking it a step further, scammer companies are also using paid search to endorse their security tools. People often think that the paid results that appear at the top of the SERP are trustworthy. When you click on the link, you will be directed to a page asking you to fill in confidential information to “protect” your system from a malware attack. 

 

What To Do in This Scenario

Don’t fill in any forms on an unknown website. 

 

Double-checking never hurts. Conduct a scan yourself using a trusted (and updated!) security software like Avira or Norton. If this pulls up any red flags, call in an IT technician who has proven references and an established presence in the industry. 

 

Cybercrime is on the Rise.

Protect Your Data and Your Customers!

2019 is the year for newer online threats and newer security measures to combat these threats. Is your business prepared to tackle cyber criminals? When there’s this much at stake, it’s always best to be certain!

M.I.T. provides up-to-the-minute IT support tools, designed to keep your infrastructure two steps ahead of malware attacks. 

Contact us to steer clear of online threats in 2019.

 

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