Overseas call centre gets access to personal computers
Issue Date: - Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Consumers are being warned against allowing access to their computer by an overseas call centre wanting to perform maintenance.
Computer users have reported receiving an unsolicited call from an overseas company claiming to be a Microsoft Windows service provider and offering to resolve issues with their computer. The issues were detected, they say, because of poor performance reports being sent from the computer.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll said the consumer is requested to log on to a website “Support on Click”, create a username and password and inform the caller. This allows the caller to gain access to the computer to perform maintenance remotely.
“This maintenance is fairly basic and results in little, if any, improvement,” Ms Driscoll said
“The danger here is allowing an unknown third party access to your computer where they can possibly retrieve usernames, passwords and personal information as well as bank account and credit card details.”
The consumer is required to pay a fee for the maintenance carried out as well as ongoing support and protection. The maintenance contract cost varies from $145 to $385 for 1-3 years.
“WAScamNet received a report from a consumer who told us, when she refused to pay, they changed the password on her computer, locking her out.” Ms Driscoll said.
“Consumers should be extremely cautious about allowing anyone access to their computer system and to use only reputable and known companies to service their computers. Also, make sure virus protection and firewall software is kept up to date.”
Asia-Pacific Director for Internet Safety for Microsoft, Ms Julie Inman-Grant, said the company will never contact customers and ask for access to their computer system. Nor do they employ contractors to do so.