When faced with a problem, like a product glitch or billing issue, many of us instinctively Google the company’s customer support number. However, this common practice is exactly what scammers are banking on.
Brad Whittaker learned this the hard way. After signing up for a free trial of YouTube TV, he encountered connection issues and turned to Google for help. He found what he thought was YouTube’s support hotline, but the person on the other end was an impostor. The scammer convinced Whittaker to download remote access software and open his banking app under the guise of removing fraudulent charges. In reality, there were no fraudulent charges, and Whittaker lost $5,000.
Fake numbers everywhere
Kristin Lewis, chief product officer at cybersecurity firm Aura, warns that fake support numbers for trusted brands are rampant online. Scammers pressure victims for sensitive personal or financial information and may ask you to install an app on your device—a major red flag.
Watching for online complaints
Posting complaints on social media or forums can also make you a target. Scammers create fake customer support accounts to respond to these complaints, leading to stolen personal and financial information.
The best way to avoid these scams is to go directly to the company’s website for customer service contact information, rather than relying on search engine results.
Comments
Join Our Community
Sign up to share your thoughts, engage with others, and become part of our growing community.
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts and start the conversation!