Through pop-ups on computer screens, emails, text messages and phone calls, scammers target seniors by pretending to be tech support, where they can help solve “problems” with their electronic devices. These criminals can access their victims’ personal information and extort money.
Big bucks, actually. Technical support scams are the most commonly reported scam among victims over 60, according to the FBI. In the year In 2021, that agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, also known as IC3, handled 13,900 tech support fraud complaints from seniors totaling $238 million. 58% of tech support fraud reports to the IC3 Center and 68% of total losses are from older victims.
Overall, fraud targeting the elderly has “increased at an alarming rate, and the scale of losses is even more dramatic,” according to IC3’s Elder Fraud Report 2021. In 2021, more than 92,000 victims over the age of 60 reported a loss of $1.7 million. billion for IC3. This represents a 74 percent increase over the reported loss in 2020.
According to Genevieve Waterman, director of economic security at the National Council on Aging, seniors make attractive targets for thieves.
And the elderly can also be isolated, Waterman said, making the outbreak even more vulnerable. Like many others, they have transitioned to virtual communication, but without the benefit of on-the-job training on how to use the technology safely.
Tech support scammers pretend to be reputable tech companies offering help with non-existent tech issues or asking for paid renewals of software or security subscriptions. In the year In 2021, complaints about pretending to support customers, such as financial and banking institutions, utility companies or virtual currency exchanges, have increased.
Many seniors use older computers that may not have current security updates, Waterman said, making them easier targets for tech-savvy scams. Or, you may not be able to afford the fees associated with some antivirus services.
Fraudsters use sophisticated techniques to instill terror in their victims and present themselves as trustworthy. “The scammers are constantly evolving, constantly creating scripts to trick you.”
A 90-year-old widow lost $20,000.
Phyllis Weisberg, a 90-year-old widow, was using her computer one day when a pop-up appeared that said it was a Microsoft warning. He told her to call a phone number. she called him. “They were there to help me,” Weisberg recalled. “They were a Microsoft fraud unit.”
The first thing, she says, is “warn her not to talk about this on the phone because these ‘bad guys’ can come in and listen to all the phone conversations.”
They instructed her to wire money to an address in a foreign country; She has never used this procedure before. Following the instructions given over the phone, she went to her local bank branch to send the money. She had answers to the bank’s questions – such as where the money was going – from the scammers: It was for a “real estate venture,” she told the bank.
“All the answers were programming for me,” Weisberg said in a video interview with the National Council on Aging and the security company Avast. Ultimately, Weisberg was defrauded out of $20,000. “My first reaction was that I was so embarrassed that I would do something so stupid,” she said. “Honestly, it took me a while to get over that I’m not the only one being taken like this. And all I can do is warn other people and hope this helps someone avoid doing this. If I do, it will be a blessing to me.”
How tech support scams work
Sending wires like Weisberg’s is one tactic scammers use. They also instructed victims to buy prepaid gift cards or send money overnight or express services.
By remotely accessing victims’ electronic devices and personal data, fraudsters can steal money and personal information without the victim’s first consent from their own accounts. Sometimes they offer to clean computers or sell their victims for long-term technical support services. Free programs can spread viruses and cost hundreds of dollars, according to a report by the US Senate’s Special Committee on Aging.
In a more obscure approach, hackers use pop-up windows to hijack victims’ computers, lock them, and demand a ransom to take control of the computer. Or, the hack may typically come via email. The latest version by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is an email saying your Zoom account has been suspended or you’ve missed a meeting. Clicking the link installs malware, which allows hackers to access your computer.
Two people were accused of stealing millions of dollars
In May, the federal government indicted two California in-laws for paying an elderly Pennsylvanian man millions of dollars to contact potential victims on their computers with fake messages impersonating prominent tech companies.
The Justice Department said the two men tricked victims into believing their financial accounts were compromised and their money should be moved. They then began taking control of the victims’ computers and personal funds.
The Justice Department said the conspirators used personal identification information stolen from other victims to open financial accounts and create email addresses to receive and transfer the proceeds of the scam. They used the looted funds to buy cryptocurrency and moved money through multiple accounts. One victim lost more than $1.2 million in retirement accounts, the suit said.
How to protect yourself from tech support scams
In short, according to the National Council on Aging, the best way to avoid becoming a victim of tech support scams is to be wary of unsecured communications and never share your personal information unless absolutely necessary. you Your initiative: You choose to contact a bank, government agency, etc. If the caller claims to be a reputable company, check the company’s phone number before calling directly. Don’t be afraid to be humble and hang up on the person who talked to you.
The FBI, Federal Trade Commission, National Council on Aging, and Microsoft provide the following guidelines and information.
- Legitimate customer, security, or tech support companies will not contact you by phone, email, or text to tell you that there is a problem with your computer.
- Legitimate pop-up warnings from real tech companies don’t tell you to call a phone number.
- Install ad blocking software to reduce pop-ups and online ads that spread malware. Make sure your computer’s anti-virus, security and malware protection is up to date.
- Resist the pressure to act quickly. Criminals urge the victim to take quick action to protect their device or account.
- Do not give unknown, unverified people remote access to devices or accounts.
- If you get a call asking for a refund for something, don’t give them your bank account, credit card, or other payment information.
- Keep your computer up to date, which means updating your browser and operating system regularly.
- Do not click on any links in website pop-ups or emails. To visit a website, type the website address directly into the browser window.
- Set up your cell phone to block unknown callers (check with your phone service provider to find out how).
If you think you’ve been a victim of a tech support scam:
- If you give the crook remote access to your computer, update your security software, run a scan, and fix any problems it detects.
- If you’ve given your username and password to a tech support scammer, change your password. If you use that password for other accounts or sites, change it there and create a new strong password.
- If you pay a tech support scammer with a gift card, immediately call the company that issued the card and tell them what happened and see if you can get a refund.
- Report tech support scammers to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
