Computer Support Scam

Posted in Announcements

Please be advised, there are computer support scams circulating out the internet again. These aren’t new, but they’ve taken on a new look. But they’re still fake!

If you see a message while browsing the web that your Apple or Windows computer or mobile device has a virus, or someone claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple calls and asks for your account name and password, you’re likely the target of a scam.

Scammers use any means they can—fake emails, pop-up ads, text messages, even phone calls—to try to trick you into sharing personal information, such as your Apple ID, Microsoft Account information, password or credit card information.

If you see pop-up alerts or ads, DO NOT CALL or CLICK

When you browse the web, you might see a pop-up ad or a page warning you about a problem with your device. It might even look like the alert is coming from Apple or Windows. It is not. These alerts are pop-ups, designed to trick you into calling a phony support number or buying an app that claims to fix the issue. Don’t call the number. Simply navigate away from that page, or close the window or tab, and you can contact the Help Desk to have a UIS support analyst assist you with a virus scan on your computer.

These screenshots are examples. There are thousands of variations of this scam whose exact appearance and wording can take any form.

Whatever you do, never call any phone numbers that appear.

Never allow anyone to remotely log in to and control your computer

Examples of the scam browser popups: