MDSO provide tips on how to deal with online pop-up scams

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is cautioning people not to fall for online pop-up scams that can cause their computers to be infected with viruses or even locked.

According to MDSO’s Cyber Crime Bureau, the tech support fraud could include a pop-up with a bright red warning or a blue screen that claims that a user’s computer is infected or locked.

The pop-up could also have the Microsoft or HP logo to make the warning appear more authentic.

MDSO said that Microsoft or HP will not contact a person or use a pop-up

Part of the scam involves a person’s computer freezing, and the pop-up advising a user to call the technician that is provided.

MDSO is reassuring users that their computer isn’t being infected by a virus when this happens, and refers to it as a “digital shakedown.”

The goal during the digital shakedown is for scammers to gain remote access to a user’s computer.

If a scammer is successful in gaining remote access, they can then install malware and steal a user’s passwords that are saved on their computer.

MDSO is providing three red flags to look out for so that a user isn’t caught up in the scheme:

• unsolicited contact
• remote access requests
• payment methods

Scammers will ask for payment to “resolve” a computer’s issues by asking a user for either a wire transfer, Bitcoin or gift cards.

If a person’s computer is locked, MDSO said that they should restart their computer to get rid of the pop-up.

In the event that someone has given the scammer access to their computer or has shared information, MDSO said to disconnect the internet and call your bank.

People are also encouraged to report these types of online scams.