Posted: Friday, January 10, 2014 4:16 pm
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Updated: 4:17 pm, Fri Jan 10, 2014.
chaffeecountytimes.com
Local residents are being warned of a phone scam targeting computer owners.
Megan Smith with Brass Tacks computer services in Buena Vista said she received about four complaints Friday about the scam.
As Smith recounted, people received a call from a person claiming to be with Microsoft, who informed them their computer may have been infected with a virus. The caller was then able to “remote in” to the computer, controlling it from a remote location. At that point, the caller claims the computer was, indeed, infected with a virus and offers to fix the problem for a fee, at which point they ask for credit card information.
“The first person who came in had his account debited several times,” Smith said.
Smith said this isn’t the first time Brass Tacks has received complaints about computer scams, and recommended residents hang up the phone and find in-person tech support.
“If people get a call saying something like that, they should go to someone they can look in the eye,” Smith said. “The word needs to get out, so when ‘Microsoft’ calls you, you can say, ‘I’m taking it to my local tech.'”
The Buena Vista Police Department and Chaffee County Dispatch have been informed of the scam.
Chaffee County undersheriff John Spezze said complaints about phone scams come in “sporadically.” He offered general advice for suspicious phone calls. “One thing I can tell you for sure, don’t ever give out personal information for anything,” he said, citing birthdays, social security numbers and bank information. “A lot of times they’ll say they’re a representative of the company. If you’re in doubt, call the company directly.”
The computer calls aren’t the only scam residents are being warned about.
Atmos Energy issued a nationwide scam alert earlier this week about emails portraying a “bogus” bill from the company.
“The fraudulent billing message references a fake account number and contains links to spam,” Karen Wilkes, Atmos Energy vice president of regulatory and public affairs, said in a statement. “The email provides links to view your bill but if the recipient clicks on the link it takes them to a compromised website that harbors malware. We are asking anyone who receives this email to delete it immediately and do not click on any links.”
Wilkes also stated “if you are an Atmos Energy customer who receives this email and the account number displayed in the email does not match your Atmos Energy account number or the email appears suspicious, please do not click on any hyperlinks. Instead, visit http://www.atmosenergy.com/ and log into your account to review your statements.”
Questions about the email scam can be directed to Atmos at 1-888-286-6700.
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Friday, January 10, 2014 4:16 pm.
Updated: 4:17 pm.