Tech Support Con
Older computer users are easier to fool with bogus tech support claims since they aren’t always confident about how to handle technical challenges. Unlike younger users who grew up online using laptops, tablets and mobile devices as soon as they could sit upright and hold technology in their hands, seniors over the age of 60 fall prey to this type of scam much more frequently. In a world where discussions of cyber security and password protection is discussed and written about on a regular basis, it is not difficult to imagine why an older person would assume that the virus is real and that the friendly voice over the phone is there to help them with their device.
A common scenario begins with a call from a fraudster who claims to be a tech support employee warning them about a virus. Next, this “helpful” professional asks for permission to access the infected computer remotely under the guise of fixing the problem. Once these criminals get into the computer, that’s when the real problems begin.
It is easy for a computer hacker to obtain financial information to sell to other criminals for a price. It is also likely, they will steal money from bank accounts or credit cards.
