IT technician fraud. Was it a virus...or was it your money?

17/07/2019

The arrival of the digital world to our finances brings advantages and ease but also the threat of cybercrime.

Here is the latest strategy developed by cybercriminals so that you are on the alert:

  1. You will receive a phone call from someone posing as a computer technician from a well-known company, alerting you that you have a problem with your computer, mobile telephone or other device (for example, a computer virus).
  2. To solve the problem, they will ask you to make a payment, usually of a small amount, and they will ask you for all the details of your bank card (number, expiry date, and CVV – the three-digit security code contained on the back of the card) in order to process the payment through their applications.
  3. They will then ask you to download a series of programs or apps to connect to your computer in remote control. While the cybercriminals "work" on the alleged problem, they will advise you to put your device on silent mode and not worry about it.
  4. But what are they really doing? They are accessing your bank accounts and making transfers in their favour or making internet purchases with your card number. With your screen on stand-by and your mobile phone on silent, you won't notice that they are taking money out of your account!

In the face of the threat of cybercrime, we recommend that you pay attention to suspicious phone calls, and that you do not give third parties any personal or confidential information about your banking products.

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