Tag Archive for: scammers

Researcher scams fake tech support scammer, infects scammer’s PC with Locky ransomware

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Network World Security

Tech-support scammers claim your email has been hacked

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The Federal Trade Commission is warning of “a new twist” on the old tech-support scam.

From an FTC blog post:

Lately, we’ve heard reports that people are getting calls from someone claiming to be from the Global Privacy Enforcement Network. Their claim? That your email account has been hacked and is sending fraudulent messages. They say they’ll have to take legal action against you, unless you let them fix the problem right away.

If you raise questions, the scammers turn up the pressure – but they’ve also given out phone numbers of actual Federal Trade Commission staff (who have been surprised to get calls). The scammers also have sent people to the actual website for the Global Privacy Enforcement Network. (It’s a real thing: it’s an organization that helps governments work together on cross-border privacy cooperation.)

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Network World Paul McNamara

FTC smackdown! More fake support scammers taken out…

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The FTC has taken out more fake support scammers who are said to have badgered consumers into parting with more than $ 120 million. In return, the consumers received technical smoke and mirrors that was worth absolutely nothing.
Naked Security – Sophos

Internet scammers posing as Internet cops

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Scam definition Thinkstock

Most people may not be familiar with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) but their ears are likely to perk when told it’s an operation sponsored by the FBI. And it’s the specter of being targeted by the FBI that makes this brazen email scam plausible.

From an IC3 press release:    

Victims report that the unsolicited e-mail sender is a representative of the IC3. The e-mails state that a criminal report was filed on the victim’s name and social security number and legal papers are pending. Scammers impersonate an IC3 employee to increase credibility and use threats of legal action to create a sense of urgency. Victims are informed they have one to two days from the date of the complaint to contact the scammers. Failure to respond to the e-mail will result in an arrest warrant issued to the victim.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Network World Paul McNamara