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Police warn of computer tech support scam

SINGAPORE – Pop-up messages that claim your computer has been infected with a virus or that your information has been leaked could likely be a scam, police warned.

SINGAPORE – Pop-up messages that claim your computer has been infected with a virus or that your information has been leaked could likely be a scam, police warned.

Since January this year, more than 20 police reports have been lodged of unauthorised charges to their credit cards, after the victims provided their card details thinking they were buying software for the fake virus.

The pop-up messages claim that the computer has either been infected by a virus or that users’ passwords and information have been leaked. This will be followed with a toll-free number, advising victims to contact “Microsoft” to resolve the issue.

Once the call is made, victims are connected to operators who claim to be employees of Wetechconsultants, Microsoft or Apple and instructed to download an application from a website (www.remote.me, www.anydesk.com, www.fastsupport.com) or enter commands to their computers.

In doing so, scammers were able to gain remote access and control of victims’ computers.

The victims are then asked to purchase “anti-virus software”, as well as share their personal particulars and credit and debit card details.

In a statement on Sunday (June 4), police advised the public not to fall victim to these fake tech support pop-up messages on computer screens.

To avoid getting scammed, police advise the following preventive measures:

•    Ignore the pop-up messages and do not call the toll-free number provided.

•    Do not panic and do not follow instructions to install applications or type commands into your computer.

•    Do not give out your personal information, credit/debit card details, bank account details, or email account details.

To seek advise on scam-related issues, the public may call the anti-scam helpline at 1800-722-6688 or go to www.scamalert.sg

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