Views: 4
Caller ID Spoofing Scam for Computer Repair
You think it’s never going to happen to you – until it does.
One of our residents recently purchased a printer for her computer from Staples. The printer developed a problem and she called the WARRANTY NUMBER listed on the original printer information literature.
She was connected to “what she thought was the HP warrantee department.” The technician who answered sounded legitimate, and friendly, and our resident ended up sending him a photocopy of a check for $149.99 to fix the problem.
The printer worked for a while, then quit. The original technician had given our resident another number to call back if there was any problem with the computer. The resident called that number and spoke to another “alleged HP technician.” This technician convinced our resident to allow him to take control of her computer, and for $2,000.00 dollars he would guarantee her computer would never again have any problems.
The resident sent him a photocopy of that check, plus she gave him personal
banking information. The next morning, she discovered that her computer was still on and she realized she had been SCAMMED!!!
The police department was notified. The resident contacted her bank and closed her account. As of that time no funds had been removed!!!
IN THIS CASE THE RESIDENT MADE A LEGITIMATE CALL TO A NUMBER LISTED ON THE PRINTER INFORMATION PACKAGE BUT, APPARENTLY THE SCAMMERS WERE ABLE TO REROUTE THE CALL TO THEIR PEOPLE.
ALWAYS BE WARY ANY TIME ANYONE ASKS FOR MONEY OR PERSONAL INFORMATION!!! WHEN IN DOUBT, CONTACT A RELATIVE, FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR FOR ADVICE!!
Red Flags for Phone and Email Scams:
♦requests for personal information
♦urgent or threatening language
♦spelling errors and improper grammar
♦link to a site that seems unrelated to the organization that contacted you
♦missing contact information in an email
Click here to watch a 90 second video on YouTube prepared by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) that explains what spoofing is and how it works.
Click here for a more detailed written explanation from the FCC.
Click here for an AARP article “7 Behaviors That Can Make You A Target for Scammers”
Discover Neighborhood Watch in three easy Steps:
1. Find us at sclhwatch.org.
2. Click on Alerts, just above the photos.There you will see all the Alerts sent out since
the new website went live in June, 2018.
3. Click on SECURITY in the menu bar with the brown background. Review many flyers
dealing with safety tips.
Barry Johnson
Neighborhood Watch Public Safety Liaison
Email: SCLHAlerts@watch.lincal.org