Don't Fall For Scammers' Apple Store Ruse

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA - Tech scammers apparently are attempting to trick people into letting them have remote access to their computers by claiming to be calling from Apple Stores in South Hills Village and Ross Park Mall.

Bethel Park Police stated on the department’s Facebook page that several residents reported receiving an automated message claiming to be Apple tech support requesting the recipient call an 800 number to fix a problem with their Apple device

The phone number on the caller ID is the number for the South Hills Village Apple Store to convince people the call is legitimate, but it’s not.

KDKA-TV has reported that people also have received automated calls that falsely appear to originate in Ross Park Mall Apple Store.

The Better Business Bureau has issued an alert warning consumers that con artists across the United States and Canada have been using the Apple Store trick in an attempt to gain remote access to people’s computers.

“Allowing a scammer to access your computer can open you up to the risk of identity theft,” bureau spokeswoman Paula Fleming said. “Scam artists can install malware that records passwords or hunts for personal information, such as bank account numbers, on your computer.”

Here’s how the bureau recommends protecting yourself against tech support scams:

• Never give a stranger remote access to your device. Granting someone remote access to your computer allows them to install malware and access your files.
• Be wary of anyone calling and claiming to be from a big-name tech company. Most big tech company employees will not call customers who have not asked to be called.
• Don't believe Caller ID. Victims report falling for this scam because the calls appear to come from Apple Support. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so don't believe what you see on your phone.
• Think twice when you see a pop-up notification on your computer that isn’t from a program you installed. Scammers make tech support scam pop-ups that look like they’re coming from your computer, but they are actually ads displaying in your Internet browser.
• Look for misspellings. Look out for spelling and grammar mistakes when dealing with a suspicious looking email claiming to come from Apple Support. Additionally, check the copyright at the bottom of the email - if it looks even slightly different, then it's likely a fake.

Photo: R. Crap Mariner via Creative Commons.