Remote access fraud is a type of banking scam in which a hacker poses as a bank employee and requests that you download a screen-sharing app for remote access.
Nowadays, online fraud is very common and continues to grow. Every other day, we learn of a new online scam that poses a risk to all of us. The most recent is a new remote access scam that can steal your personal information and more. Continue reading to learn more about the new online scam and how to avoid it.
What is a remote access scam & how can you keep yourself safe?
Remote access fraud is a type of banking scam in which a hacker poses as a bank employee and requests that you download a remote access app for remote access. The scammer can lure you in with the promise of quick access to your bank account information, specifically internet banking, via a specific screen-sharing app. Hackers will be able to view and access your personal information such as CVV numbers, OTP details, passwords, and more if you download and start using the said app to gain easy access to your banking information. Your personal information may be used by these hackers to steal money from their accounts without you being aware of the fraud they have committed.
Once you understand a few key facts, avoiding remote access scams becomes fairly simple. To begin with, company and government tech support specialists never cold call people, so if you receive a call claiming to be from computer tech support, it is almost certainly a scam. Even if your caller ID indicates that the call is coming from a known number, scammers can easily spoof their calls to hide their location. Second, legitimate computer companies do not include their phone numbers on security warnings or advise people to call them as a first line of defense, preferring instead to use diagnostic and repair programs. It’s a scam if you get a pop-up or virus warning on your computer telling you to call a phone number. If a pop-up refuses to close, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and open the Task Manager in Windows, or Command + Option + Escape in Mac. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, never grant remote access to anyone you don’t know, as this allows them to circumvent much of your cybersecurity.
What should you do if you’ve been scammed?
There are still ways to recover from a remote access scam if you’ve already been a victim. Inform any financial institution associated with any payment method you provided to the scammer, such as your credit card issuer or bank, of the scam. While it may be difficult to recover funds directly from your bank account, disputing credit card charges for fraud is frequently simple, and credit cards generally have better security features for customers. You should also file a complaint with the South African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS), where you can create a protective registration for your identity. You can also contact the SAFPS on 0860 101 248 or through SAFPS@safps.org.za.
As digital threats evolve to avoid detection, repairing any damage done to your computer can be more difficult. The safest method is to wipe your hard drive and reinstall your operating system from scratch, but this is a drastic and time-consuming procedure. If you have a Windows computer, you can use the System Restore feature to restore your computer to a point before the scam, which can help you remove malware that the scammer may have installed. If that isn’t an option for you, you can at the very least install and run a legitimate malware cleaning program like Malwarebytes on your computer in the hopes that it will remove the malware. While your chosen solution is working, you should also disconnect your computer from the Internet in case the scammer installed a remote access trojan that allows them to reconnect to your system. To avoid receiving any more scam pop-ups, you should reset all of your passwords and possibly install some kind of ad blocking software after your computer has been cleaned.
Remote access scams can be devastating, but they aren’t as difficult to handle if you know what to do and act quickly.
The Nihka Technology Group is a South African technology company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Group is focused on bringing the digital future to both the private and public sectors, locally and globally by delivering innovative, integrated technologies and intelligent solutions. Nihka offers end-to-end multi-dimensional consulting with an emphasis on integrating the human potential. Bringing EQ into AI.
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