Watch out for scammers preying on us old folks!

[RFW]

I have just narrowly saved a friend from getting scammed by a "tech support" on the phone. Having worked in IT for a number of years, I try to tell friends and family what to watch out for.

If, for any reason, they want access to your computer/phone by telling you to download something, you are being scammed.
No legitimate businesses require you to give them access to your personal devices. It's one of the most common methods they use to access your financial info and personal stuff to blackmail you later for money.

If, for any reason, they want to give you a "refund for a discontinued product/service" you don't think you have and they ask you to do more than just confirm the payment method they're sending a refund to, you are being scammed.
Same reason as above, it's a ploy to make you give access to your bank account and such.

If, for any reason, they want you to pay for anything with gift cards, you are being scammed.
Scammers love gift cards. They are almost untraceable when used and in most cases it's impossible to get your money back.

If, for any reason, they claim to be your long lost grandchild, stuck in a bad situation, needing financial help and they don't sound like anyone who know and know you at all, you are being scammed.
This goes without saying but most of us are kind and want to help people in need. Confirm they are who they claim to be. Even if they are telling the truth but never around unless they need help, they are not worth saving anyway.

If, for any reason, they claim to be from the government and tell you that you've done something illegal and if you don't do what they say, they will have you arrested, you are being scammed.
Call the department they claim to be from directly to confirm. Google the number and make sure it's listed on the .gov website. Don't give into pressure because if it were as serious as they want you to believe, you would probably have been arrested by now.

Trying to keep it brief here but there are more tricks they use to take advantage of us. If it sounds fishy, it probably is.
Stay safe, people!

 

[Devi]

If, for any reason, they want access to your computer/phone by telling you to download something, you are being scammed.
No legitimate businesses require you to give them access to your personal devices. It's one of the most common methods they use to access your financial info and personal stuff to blackmail you later for money.

I'd agree to this, EXCEPT with respect to Dell. Dell has a service where you download some software and turn it on so that they can repair your computer. (Works great, mostly, by the way.) But then, Dell is not calling you out of the blue — you would have to have called them directly.

(And, I do understand that you were talking about receiving phone calls that you didn't initiate.)

 

[RFW]

I'd agree to this, EXCEPT with respect to Dell. Dell has a service where you download some software and turn it on so that they can repair your computer. (Works great, mostly, by the way.) But then, Dell is not calling you out of the blue — you would have to have called them directly.

(And, I do understand that you were talking about receiving phone calls that you didn't initiate.)

That's right. Remote assistance is a thing. I still wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole though. They're mostly a bunch of incompetent fools. But then again, it's easier for me to say this as I maintain my own hardware.

 

[Devi]

That's right. Remote assistance is a thing. I still wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole though. They're mostly a bunch of incompetent fools. But then again, it's easier for me to say this as I maintain my own hardware.

I didn't find most of the Dell techs to be incompetent fools. Just sayin'.

ADDED: We also maintain our own hardware, and most software.