Concept
concept:technical_support_scam
Also: computer support scam, fake Microsoft support scam
A scam in which callers falsely claim that a victim’s computer has a virus or security problem and offer to fix it for money.
A scam in which callers falsely claim that a victim’s computer has a virus or security problem and offer to fix it for money.
“I’m sure you’re familiar with the fake Microsoft support scam calls.”
“They’ll try to convince you that your computer has a virus and they can help”
| Direction | Predicate | Other entity | Origin | EP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| outgoing | USES | remote access software | Explicit | 143 |
| outgoing | USES | social engineering | Derived | 143 |
| outgoing | USES | gift-card laundering | Explicit | 143 |
| outgoing | USES | money mule | Explicit | 143 |
technical support scam USES remote access software
Technical-support scammers ask victims to provide control of their computers through remote-access software.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jack Rhysider EP 143 Details
“they’ll ask for control of your computer to fix it”
technical support scam USES social engineering
The scam relies on convincing victims that their computers are infected and manipulating them into following the scammers’ instructions.
Derived Confidence 94% · Jack Rhysider EP 143 Details
“They’ll try to convince you that your computer has a virus and they can help”
technical support scam USES gift-card laundering
Technical-support scammers use gift cards as a payment method and launder the card numbers through secondary markets.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jim Browning EP 143 Details
“As soon as you read out that number, that’s as good as them taking the value of that card because they can launder that almost immediately”
technical support scam USES money mule
Some bank-oriented scams instruct victims to mail cash to an address controlled through a money mule arrangement.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jim Browning EP 143 Details
“mail your cash to an address, and it’s a money mule address”