Sussex Police have issued a warning for computer software fraud.
In 2021, Sussex Police and Surrey Police received 290 reports of Software Service Fraud relating to vulnerable victims.
Computer software service fraud can start with either a phone call, an email or a pop-up message appearing on your computer.
The message usually states there is something wrong with your computer or internet connection and it needs to be fixed.
However, fraudsters will either demand payment to fix it or install software on your device which will allow them to access your personal and financial details.
Case Study
A 76-year-old man in West Surrey reported being a victim of a software service scam after he received a call from a female claiming to be from Microsoft.
The caller claimed the victim’s firewall was faulty and they required payment to fix the security issue on his device. The victim was instructed to make a payment of £700 via a Money Service bureau to India.
The victim was then told they would be called back when the problem was fixed. The victim never heard from the fraudsters again and later realised he had been blocked from using his laptop.
Protect yourself from software service fraud
- Genuine organisations will never contact to ask for personal or financial details, such as your PIN or full banking password.
- Never install any software, or grant remote access to your computer, because of a cold call.
- Don’t contact companies promoting tech support services via browser pop-ups.
- If you have made a payment, contact your bank immediately. They can help you prevent any further losses.
- If you granted remote access to your computer, seek technical support to remove any unwanted software. If you need tech advice, look for reviews online first or ask friends for recommendations.
Spot the warning signs of loan fraud
- You may have made several loan applications online and then been contacted by text, email or phone and offered a loan.
- You may be asked to make an upfront payment into a bank account, or transfer money using an unusual method.
- The scammers may claim that the fee is refundable and will be used as a deposit, administrative fee, insurance or because of bad credit history.
- You may be put under pressure to pay the fee quickly.
- Once the first payment has been made, the scammer might contact you again to ask for more payments before they can give you the loan.
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