Phone Scammers Now Pose As Internet Service

Telephone scammers who call people at home and say that there are problems with the computer not only do more if Microsoft employees, they also pose as an employee of ISP and tell them that there are problems with the Internet connection.

These are for example a slow Internet connection that can be made ​​faster. To do victims have to download a program that telephone scammer can take control over the computer. Then there money stolen from bank accounts. This was reported by Financial Fraud Action UK. According to the organization there is an increase in the number of reported incidents of this scam.

During hear the phone call, victims that they are entitled to compensation. The scammer then asks if the victim wants to log into his bank account. However, the scammer still has access to the computer and displays a screen counterfeit bill making it look like the money is transferred. Is then transferred in the background money from the account.

In addition, the scammers ask for a transaction code, which would be needed to process the fee. In reality, this code is used to steal money from the account. To our knowledge does this scam occur only in Britain. The scam with the so-called Microsoft employees first began also in English-speaking countries, but later expanded to other countries.

Especially Seniors Victim Of Phone Scammers

Especially to older Internet users get with phone scammers posing as Microsoft employees, victims light up in reality. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) testified this week before a committee of the US Senate.

In the first eight months of this year, the FTC received more than 18,000 complaints about phone scammers, mostly seniors. 76% of people who complained was at least 50 years old and 56% were over 60 years. Three years ago, the FTC conducted an international operation in which six scams, mostly in India, were shut down. Last year there was action taken against the scammers, who have ripped off by the US regulator thousands of consumers for more than 100 million dollars.

To tackle the problem structurally was last year in India, held an international conference in order to develop a long term strategy against this and other forms of phone fraud in India. Last month, there was a follow-up conference, but the problem still remains. Microsoft had previously announced that this year 3.3 million people will be lifted by telephone scammers.

Microsoft Testifies Before US Senate On Phone Scammers

Microsoft yesterday before a committee of the US Senate testified about the growing problem of telephone scammers. According to the software giant, his phone scammers like Microsoft Employees occur and so unsuspecting consumers try to lift the greatest possible fraud taking place in the United States.

It is estimated that every year 3.3 million people from such phone cams victims, mostly elderly. The damage of the fraud is estimated at 1.5 billion dollars. "This equates to nearly one victim every ten seconds, with an average loss of $ 454 per victim," said Athima Chansanchai Microsoft. David Finn asked Microsoft (pdf) at the Senate Committee to investigative services to allow monitoring the issue. There was also asked for better coordination between the various government departments so that call centers may be prosecuted to perpetrate the fraud.

Microsoft Received 175 000 Complaints About Telephone Scammers

Since May last year, Microsoft has more than 175,000 complaints received telephone scammers. It is in this case to telephone scammers posing as Microsoft employees. The scammers call people and say that there are problems with the computer, such as a malware infection.

It then attempts to get the victim to install a program that allows the scammer can take over your computer. Ultimately have to pay the victim for the correction of non-existent problems, which can amount to hundreds of euros. According to Microsoft this year will be an estimated 3.3 million people in the United States more than $ 1.5 billion to pay scammers. It is not clear whether this just about telephone scammers. In order for people to warn the scam Microsoft is working now with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). There is an information leaflet developed (pdf) and workshops are organized.