Recently, con artists have been calling people across the US and Canada saying that their iCloud accounts have been hacked. The phone’s caller ID may even say Apple, Inc., and they are told to hold for a technician who can help them “fix” the “problem.” At that point, they are asked to give remote access to their computer, where instead of fixing a non-existent problem, the con artists commit identity theft, get passwords, lock people out of their computer, and more.
This is just the latest scam among many that are targeting people. How can you protect yourself and avoid being scammed?
The following are some rules to follow to protect yourself from scams like this.
* Before responding to a so-called dire computer emergency that comes to your attention from a phone call or screen message, it is always best to take a breath, and DELAY ANY ACTION in the heat of the moment. There are wonderful local resources to help with your computer, and my students often contact me (liz@sandbox.iworkshopacademy.com) questioning the authenticity of an alert on their devices.
* Never allow remote access to your computer to a stranger who calls you out of the blue or as a response to an “emergency” phone number that pops-up on your computer screen. Apple, IRS, Microsoft, Yahoo are all big companies that never call you directly.
