Computer Scams & Difficulties

This page covers some known major local computer scams and general difficulties.

The Broadband Issue and Support Scam are particularly relevant at this time in this area.

The “Support Centre Scam” crooks are currently targetting the (01491) area. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming they are some kind of technical support and they tell you that your computer needs fixing, then please, please ignore them.

See the article below or the more detailed page on the Support Centre Scam.

General Computer Security

If anyone or anything contacts you saying they have updates, fixes for your computer or anything else, please be VERY CYNICAL. There is a good probability that it is a scam. If you are not sure then simply say no.

If you are in the process of  installing some genuine new device or software then it is highly unlikely that some one or thing is clever enough to detect what you are doing and insert a scam or bogus message. In such cases you may proceed in reasonable confidence. But anything that arrives out of the blue, is very suspicious. If it is saying you need some unusual updates or need to supply personal information, please ignore it. If it is a genuine update then you should still be able to go the official website and specifically request the latest updates.

Treat any Email from an unknown source with suspicion. Do not open any suspicious attachments or reply to the Email.

Obviously you will have an up to date and recognised Anti-Virus application on your computer. YOU DON’T !!!!!!!  Then please do !! But this will not guarantee that you will not be scammed or infected.

A good analogy is to consider your burglar alarm. It will make a loud noise if a burglar tries to break in, but it will not detect a Gas-man knocking at your door and saying he needs access to your house.  He could well be an opportunist thief. He is not going to be dressed in a stripped shirt and mask, with a swag bag over his shoulder. He is going to dressed in a Gas-man’s outfit with some convincing credentials. The Gas authorities should have contacted you before hand and told you in advance of his visit. You would sensibly have phoned the Gas authorities back on what you know to be a genuine number to confirm that visit was genuine. If you do let in the bogus gas-man then he could steal valuable items or information, he could damage or deface your property. Later arresting the perpertrator will not remove the damage nor retreive the information, unless he is actually caught in the act.

Consider and protect your computer in a similar manner.

General Computer Backup

Just in case you get an infection, intrusion or even a genuine computer malfunction, please regularly back up all your important data to a separate external device or perhaps several and keep the back up data in a safe place different from where your computer is kept.

Broadband Access

As of the middle of  October 2011, there are a number of known issues with broadband access in the (01491) area.

In some cases the line throughput may have recently been reduced to about 0.5 Mbps. You should normally be getting between 2.0 to 7.0 Mbps depending on your distance from the exchange.

If your speed goes significantly below 0.5 Mbps then your broadband may suddenly disconnect and you will no longer have access to the internet. As a temporary solution try restarting both your Hub Router and Computer. That may allow you to reconnect to the internet at least for a while.

If the problem persists then phone BT on 0800 111 4567. It may take them a few days to eventually fix the problem.

If that proves difficult then contact PC Advice on (01491) 873051 and we can guide you through the issues or even engage directly with BT on your behalf.

Windows Support Centre Scam

If someone phones you up claiming to be from Windows Support or something similar, then it is a SCAM. They have been targeting this area recently.

Microsoft DO NOT, REPEAT NOT, provide any such free service. Nor do anyone else we know of.

The scammer will ask you to do various complicated things on your computer claiming that this is evidence of some infection or the specific identity of your computer. IT IS NOT !!

They may then ask you to got to a website which allows them to access your computer. DO NOT DO THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

If you get such a telephone call then call hang up immediately or better still keep them talking as long as you can by playing dumb. If everybody did that they would soon get fed up and stop.

If you did allow them access then you need to completely clean your computer back to the original factory settings.

If you have had such an approach then the local police would like to know about it. Ring them on 101, but please NOT 999. The police also advise that you could also contact your local trading standards. 

This activity is a scam and the police confirm that it is a criminal offence.

Please see the more detailed page on the Support Centre Scam.

Windows Security Scam

If your computer suddenly comes up with a unexpected Window showing that there are all kinds of infections on your computer it probable a SCAM, unless it coming from your existing Anti-Virus software. You can check that by running your proper Anti Virus application.

If all of a sudden you cannot access your usual applications then this is most probably part of the scam. You have been affected by a scam that has got past your Anti Virus protection. See the Gas-man analogy above.

DO NOT PAY ANY MONEY to anyone. They will not fix the problem. They are the problem !!!!!

The infection that causes that particular scam can be cleaned out but it may well have allowed further secondary infections which are more difficult to detect and clean.

If you have multiple infections then you may need to completely clean your computer back to the original factory settings.

Help and Advice

If you are having or are concerned about such difficulties we can provide help and advice in preventing and overcoming these problems.

Please contact Phil Robson of Trillion Associates, PC Advice on (01491) 873051 and we can guide you through the issues.