Anti Virus Scam

(CAMPBELLFORD, ON) – On Sunday December 7, 2014 Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report from an elderly male who believes he may have become a victim of an internet fraud.

An OPP officer contacted the 80 year old male who reported that he had received a telephone call from a male with an East Indian accent who told him that he was receiving internet viruses through his computer. The male victim advised Police that he provided his credit card information to the caller and was charged $199 for the transaction. The caller gained remote access to the victim’s computer but his bank was able to block the transaction as they believed it was fraudulent and cancelled his credit card, providing him with a new one. The victim was then referred to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises that “the anti-virus scam is a scheme that involves company representatives calling individuals and stating, for example, that it is Microsoft calling and that their computer is running slow or has viruses. They offer to repair the computer over the internet, which can involve the installation of software or the customers allowing the representatives remote access to their computer.

Recent variation being reported to the CAFC have involved the suspects identifying themselves as the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre and have taken a more aggressive approach with individuals by stating their computer is being used by hackers and that they will be held responsible if they do not allow the suspect to repair their computer.

Allowing a third party to download software or remotely access a computer carries inherent risks. Key loggers or other malicious software could be installed to capture sensitive data such as online banking user names and passwords, bank account information, identity information, etc.”

For more information on protecting yourself and loved ones from fraud, the risks surrounding fraud and tips on prevention please go online to www.antifraudcentre.ca or www.opp.ca

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