COMPUTER ANTI VIRUS - TELEPHONE SCAM

Police are warning members of the public to be vigilant with regards to internet security following reports of a scam targeting victims on the Sunshine Coast.

Residents from the Sunshine Coast have reported a telephone-based credit card scam which involves a group claiming to be from an online computer company cold calling victims at home, asking them to log onto their computers and to load the company’s website.

Upon doing so, victims are requested to run programs that give the impression there is something wrong with their computers. The offenders then offer to sell the victims software they claim will fix their computers, however victims are unknowingly downloading software which trawls the computer looking for personal information (including credit card details) which is then sent to the offenders.

The offenders are said to be aggressive and usually hang up when challenged.

Scammers are also making calls to potential victims indicating they work for Microsoft and need to gain remote access to the victim’s computer to fix a bug in the system.

“Unwary victims who provide this remote access are literally handing their computer and control of their computer to offenders who could use it to steal their personal and financial information, plant keylogger Trojans (software planted on your system to record keystrokes such as passwords or log ins) or use the computer to attack other machines or systems,” Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the State Crime Operations Command Fraud and Corporate Crime Group said.

“The message is to always be careful of anti-virus pop ups and take a moment to carefully check on anything before you hit ‘accept’. Do not respond to messages or emails from anti-virus companies offering to run free scans on your computer or reminding you that your system requires it’s annual subscription upgrade. These scams are now recognised as the third most successful scam in the world. Unsuspecting victims, thinking they are doing the right thing are not only infecting their computers with potential malware (software planted on your computer that can be used to retrieve data or take control of your computer), but potentially surrendering their identity and credit card details,” he said.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day. Crime Stoppers is a charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

Source: Qld Police Media and Public Affairs Branch Tel: 07 3015 2444


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