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.

Phone Scammers Pretend To Be Apple Employees

For years, telephone imposters posing as Microsoft employees, but now there are also scammers who claim to work for Apple. It is in this case not to "cold calling", where people's homes are called by the scammers. It is precisely Apple users who call the scammers.

To achieve this, use the scammers malicious ads and pop-ups that let the user believe that his or her device with a "malicious adward attack" is infected, says anti-malware company Malwarebytes. Is then urged to call a phone number.When a user calls the scammer is trying to let him or her install software that allows the computer to be remotely controlled.

Apple offers a so-called "screen-sharing service" that can help a help desk remotely. This requires users to the website ara.apple.com go. An official part of the Apple website. Scammers now use this feature to deceive people. Once Apple users call because of a misleading pop-up or alert them to the website ara-apple.com forwarded.

Through this website you can download software that allows the scammers can take control over the computer. Then they show all sorts of so-called problems. The remedy must be paid for it. Something that happens through an unencrypted connection. According to analyst Jerome Segura run Apple users at greater risk of becoming a victim, because they have less experience with this type of warning pop-ups and 'errors'.

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.

FBI Warns Students For Phone Scam

The US FBI has investigative students studying in the United States warned of a new telephone scam that takes place at this time. The students are a number is called that of the FBI. However, this is a spoofed phone number.

In the United States, it is possible to use special spoofing services to spoof the own number, which makes the actual phone number is not displayed to the recipient. Instead, it will get to see a telephone number chosen by the caller. When the scam that is taking place does the caller as someone of the US Government or FBI and that the student has a fine open or tax.

It also happens that students with arrests are threatened or that they can not graduate unless the outstanding amounts are paid through Money Gram. Meanwhile were students at several American universities have been approached by the scammers. The FBI warns students that individuals never via phone will approach money and that no personal information should be given to unknown callers.

Victim Phone Scam For 7000 Euro Scammed

Britain is a victim of a phone scam for 7000 euro defrauded, according to what that person comes from a data leak which last year took place at his former provider. In December 2014 it was announced that attackers a database of UK ISP TalkTalk had been hacked.

In addition, the data of millions of customers were captured, including name and phone number. Because of connection problems, the victim decided in May this year to another provider to switch. Not much later, the victim was called by someone posing as TalkTalk employee. He stated that there were problems with some routers and computers. The "employee" then sought to gain remote access to the computer, which the victim downloaded a file.

After the so-called employee had taken over control of the computer, there finally appeared a message on the screen that the user had rights to 270 euros. Via internet banking showed the "employee" that the money was transferred. Instead of 270 euro, however, was paid 7,000 euros. Then asked the "employee" or the excess amount transferred could be returned via Money Gram or he would lose his job. The victim did. Only later it turned out that the 7000 euro of the savings account was transferred to the bank account of the victim and there was a scam.

According to the victim, there is evidence that his computer was monitored from December. TalkTalk will however not cover the damage. The victim then approached the Guardian, but the British newspaper reports that there is no chance of damages. TalkTalk states in a reaction that a small number of clients using the stolen data has been approached by phone scammers. However, the provider says that the customer's own website for scam alerts.

Microsoft Phone Scam Now Also Available In French And German

Microsoft scammers are people for years by awkward to call them up and say that there are problems with their computer at home, but lately also Web sites and pop-ups used. Which let users believe that their computers with a "virus" is infected or has some other problem.

Next, there must be a specific telephone number to be called in order to resolve the problem. This is the number of scammers posing as Microsoft employee or specialist. Then they try to make the victims pay for the removal of the "virus" or the purchase of a virus. The amounts can run into the hundreds of dollars. Thus German victims at a recent campaign for an amount of 389 euro per person scammed. The ads and pop-ups are distributed through malicious advertisements and are bundled with "potentially unwanted programs".

Multilingual

Previously, the text of the pop-ups and websites was always in English and addressed the scam only English. Now scammers target other countries. There are versions in German, found French, Spanish and Japanese. The crooks who answer the phone speak the language. According to anti-virus firm Malwarebytes organisations behind the scam have probably turned several call centers in these countries and they are given instructions on how they can light up people by phone.

"Non-English-speaking countries were previously safe, but scammers have now realised that millions of potential victims are within their reach, particularly in Europe. Since the scam mainly makes social engineering use, they had to find a way to bridge the language barrier and there they have now succeeded, "said analyst Jerome Segura.

Apple Allows Users To Rogue Pop-Up Blocker In iOS 9

Apple has added a feature to iOS Safari 9 which allows users to block malicious pop-ups. IOS users for some time been the target of fraudulent pop-ups that occur as crash reports. The popups use JavaScript to ensure that they do not close on a normal way.

In the so-called crash message is called to call a specific phone number. The number of telephone scammers then ask users amounts of between 40 and 70 euros for solving the "problem". On the Apple forum in recent months dozens of topics and responses to find the people who report to see were . Users who have to deal with the pop-up to close Safari by tapping twice on the home button and then clear the browser history, as Apple on this page explains.

In iOS 9 However, it will also be possible to block pop-ups, as discovered Mac developer Rosyna Keller in the beta version of iOS 9. The Finnish anti-virus firm F-Secure affirms that pop-ups with fraudulent JavaScript indeed simple be closed. All expected to appear iOS 9th September.

IPhone Users Target Fraudulent Crash Message

Owners of an iPhone are still the target of popups fraudulent crash reports and scammers have already moved their operations to the UK. The last few months, especially American iOS users got to see the message on their device.

Meanwhile, there are also reports that British users see the messages, so let the Daily Mail know. The pop-ups using JavaScript, so it is impossible to close the browser in the normal way. According to the report in the pop-up iOS crashed and should be contacted directly with the "support staff." The telephone number of scammers who argue that there needs to be paid to fix it. It is a sum of 43 euros to British victims must deal and 73 euro prompted to Americans.

In addition, the scammers ask for the credit card information of their victims. On the Apple forum in recent months dozens of topics and responses to find people who report to you got . Users who have to deal with the pop-up to close Safari by tapping twice on the home button and then clear the browser history, as Apple on this page explains. What kind of websites users come into contact with the pop-ups is unknown.

Microsoft: 3 Million People Affected By Phone Scammers

In the first six months of this year more than 3 million people are affected by phone scammers posing as employees of large tech companies and trying to educate people on the phone, so Microsoft has to know. Often these scam artists posing as Microsoft Employee. They call consumers at home that there are problems encountered on the computer.

To solve its users, the scammers access to their computer and then must be paid. There are also variations active with pop-ups and advertisements are used for computer problems or warn occur if the helpdesk of a tech company and thus try to mislead consumers to call the phone scammers themselves. According to Microsoft goes mainly to American companies that use foreign call centers.

In a little less than half an hour Microsoft is organizing a panel discussion in Washington DC where trends are discussed in phone cams. Will also examine how consumers can protect themselves against scammers and what steps they should take if the scammers have gotten access to the computer. The panel discussion is live to follow through this page.

Phone scammer: 60% Of People Believe Us

Scammers people through pop-ups let you know that their computer is infected with a virus and they should call a certain telephone number are very successful, claims a Phone Scammer on Reddit , who says he has six months dealing with the phone defrauding people.

When asked how many people have with the scam, the scammer that 40% of people from all kinds of insults, while the remaining 60% actually think they are infected by malware. To solve the problem at least $ 100 was charged, while a virus the same amount had to be paid. Asking prices were, however, depending on the location and the profession that exerted the victim. Something the scammers ask victims.

Initially, the scammer claims that he did not realize that people were ripped off, though he had his suspicions. Eventually, he realized what he was doing and decided to stop. The scammer claims to be an American and says that there are many call centers in the US where the scams are carried out. In his case, which were mainly aimed at Windows users. Called example, a Mac user, then he decided to hang up.

The pop-ups that let users believe they have shown both Windows and Mac users problems, says security firm Blue Coat.Contrary to Blue Coat maintains its Mac users have long targeted by scammers. For example, in 2013 and 2014 all variants of this scam observed that focused on Mac users.

Phone Scammer Locks Browser With Pornographic Pictures

Phone Scammers have in recent years various tricks used to defraud people, such as simulating Blue Screen of Deaths in the browser to give all sorts of warnings, and a new variant is now underway with pornographic pictures and Javascript code.

The scams are all under the same steps, the user is notified that he has to call a help desk. This is called a help desk that allows the user into paying for undelivered services or products. The scam is slightly different from the phone scammers who call people at home, but the end result is the same.

In a new version of the scam the scammers lock the browser users with pornographic images in the background. Then a pop-up is displayed that there are suspicious activities on the computer and found a help desk to be called. To prevent users can easily connect the mention is made of javascript code usage.

According to anti-virus firm Malwarebytes discovered that the scam sends the phone number the user to a telephone exchange, where workers often pose as Microsoft staff and try to gain remote access to the computer. Then states that the computer malware and should be paid to remove it.