Residents of the Sunshine Coast are being targeted by fraud-artists once again, this time with the promise of essential computer repairs.
Sunshine Coast RCMP have received multiple reports of people receiving suspicious phone calls associated to what is often referred to as, the Microsoft Scam.
“What typically happens is a resident receives a phone call, often from someone claiming to be from a reputable company such as Microsoft,” said Const. Harrison Mohr. “The caller tells the resident that they have error files on their computer indicating a virus, and that for a fee of around $50, the caller will remotely access their computer and remove the virus.”
Mohr said the resident is told to download software, which the scammer can use to access on-line banking information and personal data. The scammer then tells the resident that instead of taking the payment, the company mistakenly deposited money into the resident’s bank account, and they ask that the resident send a money order to the company to refund the overpayment. The money order gets cashed, while no overpayment ever occurred.
“These scammers can be very persuasive and believable, so we want the public to be aware that this is a scam, and downloading software to allow someone to remotely access your computer carries inherent risks,” he said. “Unfortunately it is often the elderly that are targeted by these scams, so we ask that people talk with their parents, grandparents and neighbours, to help them avoid being victimized.”
It is extremely difficult to track these types of scammers, but residents are encouraged to report any attempted fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Anyone who has fallen victim to this, or any scam, should also report the incident to Sunshine Coast RCMP at 604-885-2266.
