02/28/2024
So interestingly enough I had a scam scare yesterday that would have been hard for anyone to spot....I get a lot of training on scammers because of New York Life and their desire to keep you and me safe so I figured it out but I think the average person over 65 might have had trouble so I'm just going to tell you about it and then include a "Slam the Scam" information from the Small Business Assn. as I remind everyone to be aware and take nothing at face value.
This hacker took over my open computer while I was just working away. The screen went black then popped open with what appeared to be a warning from Microsoft with a number to call and a big old warning to not shut off my computer because of an incoming virus from Hackers in China. The message when I called was from Microsoft (supposedly) and stated that Microsoft would never call me or ask for credentials or payments etc, etc (I think it was a copy of their message when you call them for issues, gotta love AI)
Anyway the person on the phone gave credentials before proceeding: Zoseph Norman, Emp ID MCS731, Extension JA435. Address: 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052
and then proceeded to tell me that he would need to share my screen to remove the virus, long story longer, did a lot of code related things, showed me the hackers, etc. very believable. It became suspicious when he transferred me to a "secure" line and then proceed to tell me that my phone and network device had also been infected so he would need to clear my computer before I accessed the internet on any of those devices. All the while trying to get me to open my bank accounts website. When I told him that I wasnt going to do that while he had control of my screen, he hung up. So that was that. I reported it with screen shots to Microsoft and they assured me that everything looked fine on their end and I ran security scans on all my devices that showed no hackers, changed all my passwords, but it was a little hair raising for a bit and if you have ever called for tech support, this is actually how they fix things in their programs, by screen sharing, and the screen sharing program was under the Microsoft label, had he not transferred my call, I'm not sure I would have figured it out, even though I suspected something was up. Really a very elaborate scam, that rattled you right from the start because of taking over my screen with a very loud warning and out of the blue.
moral of the story .....be careful out there.
From the SBA:
How to avoid a scam:
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Remain calm. Talk to someone you trust.
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Hang up or ignore the message. DO NOT click on links or attachments.
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Protect your money. Criminals will insist that you pay in a hard-to-trace manner, such as with a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or by mailing cash.
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Protect your personal information. Be skeptical of a contact you didn’t initiate.
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Spread the word. Share your knowledge of Social Security-related scams. Post on social media using the hashtag to share your experience and warn others. Visit ssa.gov/scam for more information. Please also share with your friends and family.
SCAM ALERT
Social Security Administration
Publication No. 05-10597 | January 2024 (February 2023 edition may be used) | Produced at U.S. taxpayer expense
Recognize scammers. They may:
Do not give scammers money or personal information – Ignore them!
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PRETEND to be from an agency or organization you know.
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Say there’s a PROBLEM or promise a prize.
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PRESSURE you to act immediately.
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Tell you to PAY in a specific way.
