Scam alert from AARP North Dakota

Have you received an urgent phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple or another well-known tech company warning you that your computer has a virus?

The caller tries to convince you to provide remote access to your computer so they can show you the “problem.” Once they have access to your computer, they will pull up some data that looks threatening and then convince you to pay them to fix your computer. They will ask you for your credit card number to charge you for the repair. They may even try to sign you up for a worthless maintenance plan.

While they have access to your computer, they could install software that puts your computer and the information you store on it at risk.

There is another common tech scam as well. A message pops up on your computer screen warning you that your computer has a virus and it appears to freeze your computer. Do not follow the instructions in the pop-up. Just shut down your computer and restart to get rid of the phony ad.

What should you do to protect yourself?

Hang up on anyone who calls you claiming to be from tech support warning of a virus on your computer.

When on your computer, rely only on on-screen messages from your software security that will prompt you to do things like install updates to your security system. If you are concerned about the security of your computer, go to someone you trust for help.

For information about scams and fraud, sign up for the Fraud Watch Network at http://www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.