Cybercriminals often send fraudulent email or text messages, or call and claim to be from Microsoft, Apple, your anti-virus company or internet provider. They may even set up fake online pop-ups with warning messages to call and get the “issue” fixed. They offer to help solve your computer problems or sell you a software license.

Once they have access to your computer, they could retrieve your online banking usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive personal or financial information.

Remember: Microsoft, Apple, your anti-virus company or internet provider will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited technical support. Any communication must be initiated by you.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Never give control of your computer, or your credit card information to someone who reaches out to you unexpectedly.
2. Never provide your online password or multi-factor authentication (MFA) code to anyone – even your Bank. 
3. Tell a friend. You might know these email/text messages or calls are fake, but chances are you know someone who doesn’t.

Check out this first-person story shared by a retired business consultant and what he did about falling victim to a tech support scam: