A "virus" warning popped up? Don't call that number! Don't get scammed.

Whether you have a Windows computer or a Macintosh, this could happen to you.

How did it happen?
You're using your computer and all of a sudden a screen will take over your screen or your internet screen that says, a "virus" or "infection" or "suspicious connection" warning pops up on your screen. It will probably use a variety of technical-sounding phrases to tell you that there's a problem, and that you are at risk for all kinds of scary consequences ("computer damage," "data corruption", etc.). You might see multiple pop-ups. At the end of this text there is a phone number you can call to get help.

Sometimes you will hear a voice, a female/males voice coming from your computer telling you, you need to call an 800 number or you will loss all your data and information.  It will tell you do not turn off the computer. Sometimes you will hear loud sirens.

Don't believe it! This is a scam, pure and simple. These messages and sounds are all designed to scare you, make you leave your common sense aside, and intimidate you into calling that number.
The message on your screen will probably have an "OK" button that, when you click it, closes and then immediately reopens the alert, making you feel trapped, and reinforcing the illusion that you have only one option, to call that number.
Don't fall for this! It's all a scam, trying to get you to call them. They are trying to scare you to believe you got infected.

What happens if you call
You will reach someone who will claim to be able to help you.  They will act like Microsoft, Dell or some software company that is here to help you.

• They'll tell you that there is a problem with your computer, which your computer is fine. (Sometimes you might have an infection that was from some where else., 
• If you ask them who they are or who they work for, they will tell you anything to convince you to move forward with their agenda - Microsoft, Google, Apple, etc.
• They will try to get you to download some software on your computer. That will give them remote access to your computer. And claim to help you get the viruses off.
• They will walk you though some areas on your computer and try to convice you that you have problems with your computer.
• Their goal is to convince you to pay them to "remove" these supposed "infections." They may also try to sell you a service contract. The "scan" was free, but the "solution" carries a fee.
• They will try to get you to pay them $40 or more. I have seen some cases over $2,000. They will try to get your bank account information or charge card number. They will pretend to "fix" the "problems," however they install programs on your computer to try to steal your money and identity and passwords instead. In essence you'll be paying them to infect your computer, and in the long run this may cost you far more than the charge for just this "fix."
• Now they are in your computer and if you refuse to pay them, they will lock your computer down until you pay them. 

Signs this is a scam

• Anytime someone calls you telling you your computer is infected or a popup comes up. It’s all fake, it’s just advertising to get you to fall for it.

What you should do when this happens instead of calling
Don't call that number. Do anything else instead. I suggest:

• Stop.
• Take a breath.
• Don't panic.
• If you're hearing an urgent voice or siren from the computer, turn your volume or speakers off.
• Look at what is actually going on: You are probably looking at a web site. There is some text on the screen. Your browser might be "stuck" in an alert. That's it. Nothing is going to explode, no one's going to die.
• Don't believe anything it says on the screen, no matter how convincing or authoritative it sounds.
• Try to close the web browser.
• Try to restart the computer, or try powering it off and on again.
• If yours is a newer computer, it might have a very clever setting that "remembers" exactly what you had open (programs, documents, web sites) when you turned it off, so that when you turn it back on again, it reopens everything just the way it was. Unfortunately, in this instance that's exactly what you don't want, since you may end up stuck in that fake "virus" alert all over again.
• If you can't figure out how to get out of that alert, call All-In-One Computer Services  in Loveland CO. 970-667-8800. We are here to help

What you should do if you did call that number and let that stranger get into your computer
We suggest:

• Hang up right away. There is no need to be polite or to explain yourself.
• Immediately turn your computer off, forcing it to power off if necessary. That will knock them off your computer.
• Turn your computer back on again.
• If you find that you're still stuck in that fake "virus" alert, contact All-In-One Computer Services.
• If you authorized payment to that stranger on the phone, immediately call your bank or credit card company, report that you were scammed, and contest the charges.
• Don't beat yourself up about this. Anyone can be fooled, especially if they're taken by surprise with just the right phrasing in just the right moment. Yes, we have all been fooled from time to time.
• Learn from this. Next time the scam may present itself in a more sophisticated way--Better phrased text, better graphics, a less-generic, more-targeted pitch. They might even use the name of someone you know and trust.

​
How did this happen?
From the growing number of calls I'm getting from my clients about this problem, here's what I think probably happened:

• You were using your web browser.
• You were searching for something, or you indirectly started a search.
• You clicked an interesting link in the search results.
• You landed on a malicious web site that started this process, i.e. that web site immediately put up a fake "virus" alert, designed to keep you trapped.

Or, you might have clicked a link on some other web site, or in an advertisement, or in an email, and then landed on a malicious site.

This is relatively easy to make happen. All the scammers have to do is:

• Create the malicious web site, which simply displays the alert and won't close when you click OK.
• Put a number of popular keywords on it - Sex, money, health issues, popular product names, celebrities, news items, etc., so it's likely to be found when people search for those things.
• Submit that web sit to search engines like Google and Bing.
• Set up their toll-free numbers, gather and train their people to answer the phones.
• Sit back and wait for people like you and me to search around, find their site, and click on it.

Where to go from here

• Be skeptical.
• Don't believe everything you read on your computer screen.
• Don't give strangers access into your computer. Only work with people you trust, or recommended by someone you trust.

​How to contact us:
email: jeff@lovelandcomputers.com
web: http://www.LovelandComputers.com

On a regular basis we recommend you bring in your computer every 6 months. We will keep your protection updated, make sure your latest updates are done. Check your hardware and do a tune-up.
 
All-In-One Computer Services
1327 West Eisenhower Loveland CO 80537
970-667-8800