Teamviewer scam - beware

A customer of mine have just had someone pull this on them. Someone called her and said there is something wrong with your computer and we need to check it. (She is an oldie with no real knowledge of computer security).

She was told to switch on her machine and walked through how to download Teamviewer. Once they were in, with her permission, they could do what they liked. Luckily she does not do any e-banking. She does however use her card to do e-shopping.

When she was asked to pay for the service over a 'secure line' she did smell a rat and told them to get off her machine. However, they could have left a keystroke trojan in her machine. I have told her to switch her machine off and not use it until I can get there tomorrow to check everything out.

Please take note there are a lot of people out there ready to scam anybody - especially the vulnerable.

Hi, echrada.

I'm sorry to see this has expanded to Scotland. It has been happening in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. for some time. (Example: TechIsOnline, Techies Online, www.techisonline.com) Also of interest: Bogus Support Organizations use Live Operators to Install Malware.

I use Teamviewer to help family and friends resolve PC issues so when I read your title I got nervous that the Software had an issue. As for the scam, I'm sadly not surprised one bit

Thanks for that Corrine, I have know about this scam for some time but have not had first hand experience with it. None of my customers have ever rerported anything like it here. I will now send out an email warning all of them about this.

Victek said:

echrada said:

A customer of mine have just had someone pull this on them. Someone called her and said there is something wrong with your computer and we need to check it. (She is an oldie with no real knowledge of computer security).

She was told to switch on her machine and walked through how to download Teamviewer. Once they were in, with her permission, they could do what they liked. Luckily she does not do any e-banking. She does however use her card to do e-shopping.

When she was asked to pay for the service over a 'secure line' she did smell a rat and told them to get off her machine. However, they could have left a keystroke trojan in her machine. I have told her to switch her machine off and not use it until I can get there tomorrow to check everything out.

Please take note there are a lot of people out there ready to scam anybody - especially the vulnerable.

.
I'm curious as to how these scammers identify themselves on the phone so people will believe they're legitimate? How do they even know you have a computer?

Apparently they just try random numbers as mostly every household has a computer these days and whoever falls for their patter is the next victim.

echrada, now that these scammers are apparently expanding, is there a reporting agency in your country such as NFA in the U.K.? Home | Action Fraud

In fact, if Seven Forums members from other countries have information on similar reporting agencies, please let us know.

Corrine this is the only one I know of

Report a fraud | Action Fraud

Thanks, echrada. That is the same one that I have.