![Scammers Impersonate IT Helpdesk to Spread Rogue Antivirus]()
Scammers Impersonate IT Helpdesk to Spread Rogue Antivirus
Nov 15, 2010
Criminals are posing as IT support staff, calling unsuspecting U.K. internet users to push rogue antivirus software. GetSafeOnline.org reports this as part of their Internet safety week campaign. These scam operations often involve up to 400 people using sales techniques and social engineering to deceive victims. The goal is to obtain credit card information through the sale of rogue antivirus software or gain remote access to the victim's system for future use. Typically, the scam begins with an unexpected call. The caller, pretending to be an IT helpdesk technician, builds rapport with the victim, presenting themselves as trustworthy by using personal information available online. The victim is then questioned about computer problems like slow email or internet browsing. Once the victim admits to an issue, the caller exaggerates the problem and offers a solution for a small fee. The caller might say, "For a small fee, we can install something to fix your system and clean it c...
