ALERT: Fake phone calls are the latest threat

The bad guys have come up with a new way to take your money and ruin your day.

  • You get a call to your cell phone
  • It says it’s from someone you know and have in your address book. Often it’s the boss or owner of the company
  • You answer the phone
  • They don’t sound quite like themselves but that’s because they are in a noisy place or have a cold, are in the car, are in a hurry…
  • They need some urgent information from you. Credit card numbers, need money transferred, need a password…
  • You just gave that information to a scammer

It’s not callerID that they are spoofing. They are actually spoofing the phone number. So this way when they call it comes up just as you have that person in your address book. My bookkeeping person got a call like this from me the other day. It came up on her phone as “ABCELL” which is what she has me listed as. Except I was standing next to her and not making a call.

It never stops. Every time we shut down one vector of hacking it just moves them into another.

Here’s how you thwart them

  • Never give you sensitive information to a caller
  • If you think you need to provide this information, do not hit redial. Call them back using your saved contact information and then provide it

Now the bad guy/gal will tell you that you can’t call them back for some very good reason and they will get mean about it. Don’t listen. Hang up. Call the person that called you. Better to be cautious, than to be responsible for an empty corporate bank account.

Be safe out there.

_________________________________

About Harbor Computer Services

Harbor Computer Services is an IT firm servicing Southeastern Michigan. We work exclusively under contract with our clients to provide technology direction and either become the IT department or provide assistance to the internal IT they already have. We have won many awards for our work over the years, including the worldwide Microsoft Partner of the Year in 2010. We’re the smallest firm to have ever won this most prestigious award. Most recently we were recognized as one of the top 20 visionaries in small business IT by ChannelPro Magazine (2015). In 2016 as the top Michigan IT firm for Manufacturing. In 2017 as a top 100 most influential Channel leader by Forrester.

There are a few simple things that make Harbor Computer Services the best choice for your business. •We are Professionals •We are Responsible •We are Concerned About The Success of Your Business

 

 

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *