Netflix “Tech Support” scam
Today I had an unexpected call from Unknown Caller. I get a lot of calls from this person and usually just ignore them. However, this time I decided to respond and was greeted by a nice guy, who introduced himself as Andy and proceeded to tell me that there was a problem with my Windows computer. The script has not changed much in 2 years since I spoke to Sam from the same caring organization.
It used to be a scam run mostly from India, however these days they seem to diversify and expand the operation. Obviously, they find enough victims to make the swindle profitable.
They also vary the pitch in order to trick those who heard about the original scheme.
For example, a blog from a well-known security vendor Malwarebytes describes a variation that pretends your Netflix account have been suspended because of nefarious activity and conveniently provides a link for regaining access. Of course, the link steers you to a malicious website and providing your credentials there leads to identity theft. Once the Malwarebytes employee Jerome Segura provided random bogus information on website, he was told to contact Netfix member services at a [fraudulent] toll-free number. You can watch and listen to the interaction of Mr. Segura with the fraudsters who pretend to be Netflix tech support and who ask Jerome for a lot of personal information. They also tell him that his computer is badly infected and try to sell him unnecessary and expensive “computer cleaning” services.
Another variation of the con actually plays on your awareness of tech support scam and offers you a refund. Of course, once fraudsters get your financial information they use it to take money from you, rather than give it to you. Federal Trade Commission posted a warning and details of this “Refund” ploy on their web site.
As is often the case, this scam can be easily averted by using Calling Back authentication technique. For Netfix variation you can either go directly to Netflix web site netflix.com and log into your account or you can call legitimate Netflix tech support phone number 1-866-679-7172 which can be found on their official website. For other organizations you can use their known contact information instead of links and phone numbers so nicely provided by helpful strangers.
While security professionals and techies who thoroughly understand the technology are having a lot of fun at the expense of these scammers, I suggest that if you are neither, you should immediately hang up or should start your authentication routine, because you don’t want to let strangers into your computer.
Relief or Foreclosure?
Two years ago I wrote about mortgage fraud and ways to deal with it, but more people have been hurt since then and I would like to remind you to be vigilant.
When you are falling behind on your payments and somebody promises to dramatically reduce the amounts you have to pay monthly in exchange for a few fees and expenditures, you may feel you have to trust them, because this is your only chance to keep the roof over your head. Unfortunately, there are plenty of predators eager to benefit from your despair.
In one of the recent cases people lost almost 6 million dollars to the business with official and trust-inducing name of KATN. Its owners, however, used the money entrusted to them by anxious victims for their own pleasure and did not help a single homeowner. Swindlers promised fast relief, told people to stop making their current mortgage payments and to only deal with KATN. As a result many hapless homeowners lost their homes to foreclosures.
Before giving your money to people or businesses you don’t know, always do as thorough check as possible about their reputation and existing complaints, as well as their history.
There are legitimate programs that you may be eligible for; check them out. Don’t let unscrupulous people exploit your desperation.