Intro – What is the scam?

Welcome to Get Smart About Scams, presented by Educators Credit Union, where we’re dedicated to ensuring the safety of our members’ accounts. This audio series discusses the types of scams you may encounter online and in your daily life, how to spot them, and what to do if you think you may have fallen victim.

Sometimes referred to as “tech support scams,” pop-up scams are one of the earliest types of scams since the invention of computers and the internet. You might consider them an outdated threat, but fraudsters are evolving with the times to create smarter, more reliable-looking pop-up scams. They are even beginning to buy ad spaces on mobile app platforms with the intention of tricking you into tapping their ad.

Red flags to look out for: 

Here are some telltale signs of pop-up scams:

1. The most obvious first sign of a pop-up scam is an unprompted window that appears suddenly on your computer or phone screen.
2. These pop-ups often have bright, alarming colors such as a lot of red, bright blue or yellow.
3. It will likely feature urgent or frightening language such as “Your computer is compromised!” or “A virus has been detected on your device! Act now to protect your data!”
4. The ad may feature a phone number to call or prompt you to tap the ad to take you to assistance. It may even use an official logo from a company like Microsoft or Norton.
5. You may notice typos or grammatical errors. Some errors may be more obvious than others, so even if you only see one typo or grammatical error, be cautious.
6. If you end up contacting the phone number on the ad, the scammer will likely be pushy, aggressive and insist they are the only one who can solve your problem.
7. They may demand payment in the form of wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency. No reputable tech support will ask for payment in these forms.

Common questions that we receive regarding this scam 

Some things you can do to avoid falling for pop-up scams include:

1. First, take a caution-first mentality. Assume that the ads you see may be a scam and look for signs of legitimacy, including proper grammar and sharp quality photos and logos.
2. Download and use an antivirus and adblocker on your devices. This should stop any pop-up ads or viruses in their tracks. But make sure you are downloading software from a reputable company. When in doubt, research the software on a search engine such as Google before installing anything.
3. Don’t click on any pop-up ads. There are some pop-up ads that are real, but it’s safe to assume they may be a scam and navigate to the company’s official website via Google to learn more about an offer or sale.
4. If you receive a pop-up that has locked your browser on a desktop computer, don’t click it to try to unlock the browser. Instead, on your keyboard, press the “Control,” “Alt” and “Delete” keys at the same time to bring up the Task Manager and “Force Close” your frozen browser window.
5. Never call a phone number provided on a pop-up. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a pop-up ad, Google the company’s official website and call the number listed there. If there is no company listed in the pop-up, it’s almost certainly a scam.
6. If you find yourself in touch with tech support of any variety, be skeptical if they request remote access to your computer or try to install software on it. Giving remote access can open your computer to a malicious actor taking over your device. They could potentially install viruses or steal personal information like card numbers, bank account numbers and social security numbers.

Outro 

Do you suspect you may have fallen victim to fraud? We are here to assist Educators Credit Union members every step of the way. Please give us a call at 262.886.5900. Take care and stay safe. Insured by NCUA. Membership eligibility required.