Scam This: 3 Tips for Avoiding Computer Fix-it Scams

Scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated these days. Why, even here in Utah where Bask is based, we’ve recently had an outbreak of a brand new Microsoft scam. You can read about the outbreak, as reported by KSL news, here.

As the story mentions, what the scammers do is that they call you up out of the blue and tell you that your computer is infected and they have to fix it immediately. They’ll also tell you that they’re from Microsoft Windows Support and that they’ve noticed a huge outbreak in viruses and they need to ensure your computer isn’t compromised.

This is all a lie.

The reality is that no one, no company whatsoever, who operates a legitimate business will call you out of the blue to tell you something is broken. If your bank, your credit card or yes, even your tech support company, calls you out of the blue to tell you there’s a problem with your account or your computer, in reality, there is no problem. If it were me, I’d hang up the phone immediately. Don’t give them a moment more of your time because they don’t take no for an answer—and they are incredibly persistent.

Just as a point of clarification, Bask will never call you out of the blue to “fix” your computer. We want you to be certain you’re getting quality, consistent and secure service from us so it’s our policy not to call you unless you first call us. The good news is that you can call us anytime 24/7 and get your tech problems fixed.

Now that you know about this latest Microsoft Scam, here are three tips you can use to avoid scams that promise your computer needs to be fixed.

1. Never let anyone have remote access to your computer, unless you’ve called them first. At Bask, remote tech support is what we do, but we will only access your computer if you’ve called us first. We don’t call you out of the blue to tell you you’re infected with viruses. In fact, we work in the background to ensure you never have to deal with online viruses. Honestly, if we call you up to tell you that your computer is infected, it would mean that we’re not doing our job very well.
2. Don’t get fooled by the company name – In the above example from KSL news, the scammers appeared more credible because they said they were from Microsoft. Be very suspect of any company that calls you out of the blue to provide critical support on your computer. The reality is, most companies don’t act this way and you’re better off talking to a legit tech support team (like Bask) or a friend before you commit to having someone else access your computer.
3. Urgency will betray the scammer – Scammers (and really pushy sales people) want you to buy now, act now or do whatever, now. Don’t fall for it. If your computer is infected with a virus, it’s best to get it removed as soon as you can, but don’t take the bait that says unless you get it fixed now, your computer will be compromised. It won’t. And, if you’ve got Bask, you can know that your computer is already free of viruses so anything the scammers tell you is a complete lie.

I hope that helps. If you’ve got other scams you’re worried about, hit me up in the comments and let me know how you’ve dealt with these shady companies.