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.
Utility Payment Scam
This is another scam that seeks to use your fear in order to extract money from you. It has been going around recently. You can read an FTC warning here.
Your phone rings. You hear that your account is in such a bad shape that your gas, water or electricity will be switched off now unless you pay immediately. If you panic and are ready to do anything to avoid losing your precious electricity or water, the caller will tell you an easy way out. You can pay by a GreenDot card, or pay by PayPal or use another cash equivalent. If you pay, you may never be able to recover your money.
If you get a call like that, you can resolve this situation in 3 easy steps:
1. Do not panic.
2. Get a phone number from the caller where they want you to provide payment information. Do not call it and do not pay anything yet.
3. Call your utility and find out what’s going on. Use the phone number from your bill. If you discover that the call you received was fraudulent, give your utility the phone number provided by your caller. The utility can contact the phone service provider and get that phone number disconnected.
If you receive a letter, a postcard or email with similar demands, go through the same 3 steps and provide your utility information they may use to go after the crooks. Only use the official phone number for your utility; never use any contact information from the demands.
You can also complain about scams to the Federal Trade Commission online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Wireless phone scams
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Your computer is infected …
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Fake charities
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