Cybersecurity researchers pointed out that over 2 lakh tech support scams were reported in India in the first quarter of this year.
In such scams, the fraudsters use scare tactics to trick individuals to purchase overpriced “support services” to fix an alleged computer device or software problem. Once the access is granted malware or other malicious programmes could damage the data on the devices or hamper the personal information, added Avast.
A report by the cybersecurity company Avast points that tech support fraud remains a massive issue in India.
Tech support fraud is increasingly common and targets some of the most vulnerable individuals. Criminals exploit victims through money or personal information,” said Alexej Savcin, Senior Malware Analyst, Avast.
He further added that it is important to remember that whether it’s a phone call or a website, legitimate tech support won’t ever proactively seek you out to fix an issue. If in doubt, don’t engage, give access to your devices, or share any personal information.
Criminals with access to this type of sensitive data can use it to gain entry into financial accounts, health records, or other essential services.
In addition, fraudsters go to great lengths to convince victims of their legitimacy, including creating web pages that imitate antivirus or firewall software warnings or even setting up fake companies to validate their con, the report added.
“Once on the phone, scammers try to convince the callers to establish a remote connection to their computer and sometimes download a second remote management software without the user knowing to keep up a constant connection to the user’s PC,” the researchers said.
