![]() ![]() The scammer may open some of these files (especially those in the Prefetch folder) in Notepad, where the file contents are rendered as mojibake. The scammer may present system folders that contain unusually named files, such as Windows' Prefetch and Temp folders, and claim that the files are evidence of malware on the system.Although many of the log entries are relatively harmless notifications, the scammer may fraudulently claim that log entries labeled as warnings and errors are evidence of malware activity or that the computer is becoming corrupted, and that the errors must be "fixed". The scammer may direct users to Windows' Event Viewer, which displays a logfile of various events for use by system administrators and expert users to troubleshoot problems.Normally the elderly and other vulnerable parties, such as those with limited technical knowledge, are targeted for technical support scams. Scammers use several methods to misrepresent the content and significance of common Windows tools and system directories as evidence of malicious activity, such as viruses and other malware. Confidence TricksĪfter gaining access, the scammer attempts to convince the victim that the computer is suffering from problems that must be repaired, most often as the putative result of malicious hacking activity. With the software installed, the scammer convinces the victim to provide them with the remote access software's credentials or other details required to initiate a remote-control session, giving the scammer complete control of the victim's desktop. While normally following a script, the scammer usually instructs the victim to download and install a remote access program, such as TeamViewer, AnyDesk, LogMeIn, GoToAssist, etc. These pop-ups often closely resemble legitimate error messages such as the Blue Screen of Death. Some scams have been initiated via pop-up ads on infected websites instructing the potential victim to call a number. Other techniques include email spamming and cybersquatting to lead potential victims to web pages containing scammers' phone numbers. Scammers have also lured victims by purchasing keyword advertising on major search engines (with ads triggered by phrases such as "Microsoft live chat", "Facebook support", or "Outlook login help"), though both Bing and Google have taken steps to restrict such schemes. A scam most commonly begins with a cold call, usually claiming to be associated with a legitimate-sounding third party, with a name like "Microsoft", "Windows Technical Support" or "HP Support". ![]() Technical support scams can begin in a variety of ways. Screenshot of a Recent Changes page from a MediaWiki site affected by customer support scammers promoting their "help lines" through unethical means such as spamming. Many schemes involve convincing the victim to purchase expensive gift cards and then to divulge the card information to the scammer. The scammer will often then steal the victim's credit card account information or persuade the victim to log in to their online banking account to receive a promised refund, only to steal more money, claiming that a secure server is connected and that the scammer cannot see the details. After remote access is gained, the scammer relies on confidence tricks, typically involving utilities built into Windows and other software, in order to gain the victim's trust to pay for the supposed "support" services. The scammer will typically attempt to get the victim to allow remote access to their computer. and primarily originate from call centers in India. In English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, such cold call scams have occurred as early as 2008. Such calls are mostly targeted at Microsoft Windows users, with the caller often claiming to represent a Microsoft technical support department. A technical support scam refers to any class of telephone fraud activities in which a scammer claims to offer a legitimate technical support service, often via cold calls to unsuspecting users.
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