Scam calls that have been around for years are becoming common again in Finland. Often the scammer claims to be calling from Microsoft or Amazon.
The Cyber Security Center’s leading expert reminds that if there are elderly people or other people in need of IT support, it would be a good idea to tell them too that technical support scams are on the move again. Adobe Stock / AOP
Scam calls from technical support have again become more common in Finland, informs the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
In a technical support scam call, the caller pretends to be a savior: he announces that he is calling, for example, from Microsoft’s technical support and tells the recipient of the call that his computer has viruses.
During the call, the scammer asks the victim to download a program that enables remote connection to his computer. He claims that viruses can be removed from the computer with the help of a downloadable program. In reality, a program that enables remote access may actually be malware. The downloaded program can also create a “backdoor” on the computer, which allows the fraudster to gain access to the device in the future as well.
The technical support scam call has been a scam that has been around for years in Finland and around the world.
– Scams have been improved for a long time, so there is no shame if you have ended up a victim of a scam, leading expert of the Cybersecurity Center Taneli Kaivola says in the announcement.
How to act?
If you are not sure of the caller’s identity or organization, do not give out any of your personal information.
Do not install any apps requested by the caller on your devices.
If a fraudster has had access to your device, contact your bank immediately.
Report the matter to the police.
It is worth checking the devices that the fraudster may have had access to.