EP #3: How To Prevent Cyber Scams | 3 Ways People Get Scammed and How To Get Out of It

Naples Mac Help with Jeff Bohr

To learn more visit us:
naplesmachelp.com
Call - 239-595-0482
It's not uncommon to hear about a friend or family member who's been taken by a scam every week or two or once a month at least. And you'll get emails from friends and family. And this happens. So it's becoming more prevalent. And believe me, it's going to probably get worse before it gets better before they figure out a way to thwart these attempts. So basically, there are three types of cyber scams where people are trying to get into your computer or get your information. And I'm going to tell you how to identify and avoid each one. So the first one that you want to be aware of is the phone call. So this happens more if you have a landline, but it is happening with cell phones more often. Because you're putting your cell phone on websites and stuff to for purchases. So your numbers are out there. But basically, sometimes the phone will ring and you'll answer it. And they say there's somebody from Google, or Microsoft or Apple, and they're here to help you with your problem. And you're thinking, oh my gosh, my printer hasn't been working in two weeks, Thank gosh, they called Well, actually, these guys are preying on fear. And when they call you, they will give you a scary message, hey, we noticed your computer was infected. And most people will say, Oh my gosh, thank you for calling. I'm scared, you know. So that's the fear factor that they instill in you. So at that point, you become a fish and you're hooked. And that's why they call it fishing pH I sh ing. But basically, they do this 1000 times. And if they get three people, they've won, you know. So basically, they'll say, Oh, we've got noticed a problem with your computer. And you're like, Well, yeah, I've been having problems and you think they're there to help. But then they say, well, we need to get into your computer to see what's going on. And then what they'll do is they'll try to download a program on your computer, it might be something like TeamViewer, or go to my PC, which are legitimate programs. If a family family member or you know, a computer tech is helping you. But these bad guys can also use these to get in. So once you put that can program on your computer, you'll see the mouse move around a little bit. And they'll click on a few things. And they'll say, Aha, here it is, you know, and they'll dig down into the registry files or the the directory files and show you something that has a funny name and say, Oh, you're infected, you're infected, we need to get this up immediately. And then they'll explain the cost. And they might say, Oh, this is only $100. Or it's a $250. And that covers you for a year or maybe $375. And that's for a year. And then we'll just renew it every year and we'll keep an eye on your computer and keep you safe. But believe me, whatever they showed you is a scam. And then what they may do is if you fall for this and you give them your credit card, and then let's say you decide two weeks later that you want to cancel. Well the number they called you from it's not a working number anymore. They rotate phone numbers like more than you change your socks. So basically, you'll never be able to get a hold of them. And then the only option you have is usually to cancel the credit card and start from scratch, you know, and then you have to remember where your card was on file. So it can be really scary when you're on the phone with them. But remember, they know nothing about your computer, they were just calling randomly, they call 2000 people, and you were the one of the ones that said, Okay, so remember, unless someone is sitting next to you in your home or office, and they're telling you, hey, there's something wrong with your computer. That's the only way to trust that they know what's going on, somebody from outside the room, can never see your computer, especially from 1000s of miles away with an Indian accent tha