Cybersecurity researchers disclosed on Monday that in the first quarter of 2021, they detected and blocked more than 200,000 tech support scam attacks in India.
In tech support scams, the scamsters use fear tactics to persuade unsuspecting people to pay for overpriced and unnecessary “support services” to fix a computer system, device, or software issue.
Once allowed access, cyber-criminal can install malware or other malicious codes on devices, causing damage to the data stored on them or, worse, harvest personal information.
Tech support fraud is still a major problem in India, according to a report by cybersecurity firm Avast.
Commenting on the report, Alexej Savcin, Senior Malware Analyst, Avast, said “Tech support fraud is increasingly common and targets some of the most vulnerable individuals. Criminals exploit victims through money or personal information,”
He added “Above all, 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,”
Cyber-criminals having access to this type of crucial data of personal information can use it to get access to financial accounts, medical records, and other vital services.
Furthermore, fraudsters go to tremendous pains to persuade victims of their legitimacy, including building web sites that replicate antivirus or firewall software warnings or even forming fictitious businesses to support their deception.
The researchers warned “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,”
Furthermore, fraudsters go to tremendous pains to persuade victims of their credibility, including building web sites that replicate antivirus or firewall software warnings or even forming fictitious businesses to support their deception.