More than ever before, fraudsters are using text messages, emails, and phone calls to get remote access to consumers’ computers, phones, and tablets. Understanding how these scams work—and knowing how to protect yourself—is essential to safeguarding your account and identity.
What are remote access scams?
A remote access scam is a type of fraud where criminals pretend to be someone from your financial institution, the government, or another trusted organization. They tell you that your account or device has been compromised and pressure you into installing remote access software so they can fix the issue. Once installed, they then take over your account or steal your money, passwords, and private information.
Here’s what you can do to stay safe.
Drop: Fraudsters can’t get access to your devices if you don’t install anything. When in doubt, hang up the call, trash the email, delete the text, or close the website. Then, call us at the number below to verify if something is truly needed
Stop: Be cautious of unsolicited contact. Even if a message or call sounds important, take a moment before downloading software or allowing access to your device. Be extra careful if someone pressures you to act right away, asks for an access code, or pushes you to install a specific program.
Remove: If you think you’ve been targeted, remove any remote access software and run an anti-virus scan to remove any viruses. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, ask a professional to check and clean your device. Removing suspicious software is critical to stopping fraudsters from having continued access to your computer or phone. |