Malicious Geek Squad scams | How to protect yourself in Canada

We can all have issues with our devices or tech applications, and sometimes we seek immediate assistance. However, an imposter is different from what we are seeking in this regard. Nonetheless, some people get them and become victims of Geek Squad Scams. 

Basically, people involved in the scams act as an imposter who tries to assist you as tech support or a helping hand for your devices, account, or applications. They are after your personal information, so they can have forbidden access to your devices.

Here’s how these scams typically unfold: 

Some of us can be extremely vulnerable when it comes to our devices or personal accounts, which scammers target. They look for a weak section and then try to target them with the help of email, text, fake websites, or even a phone call.

• Frauds reach out to you with the help of phone calls, text messages, fake websites, or even emails and pretend to be the buy geek squad.
• Once they make a successful contact, they have different strategies to try out. For instance, they can say that your device has been completely compromised. Or that you need to confirm your identity by providing all the sensitive information, including your social security or credit card number.
• Remember, they target your vulnerability and thrive on your fear. Sometimes they can even ask you to download a certain application or malware to access your device remotely.
• The final step is completely looting you in different ways, and they can even use blackmailing for that purpose.

When we talk about the statistics, we can safely say that most people who fall into these scams are older than 60 years old. 

Also, it is important to know that most of these can start with phishing emails that are very convincing that you eventually click on them.

Now is a time actually to talk about these scams in detail.

Phishing Emails 

The first tactic that geeks squad scammers use is phishing emails. On any coming day, you can receive an email from a fraudster claiming to be a geek squad technician. The email can tell you that your device has very dangerous malware, and you must do something immediately.

Most of us need to be more tech-savvy, and there is a possibility that some of us respond to this type of email. Now suppose that you respond to that email or, worse, call the number in the message. 

In that scenario, the false technician will pressure you to download the anti-virus software. Because you are falling for a scam, you will not understand that you are giving remote access to your mobile.

Red flags 

• Remember, the email or phone calls from these attacks will be unsolicited.
• In this case, the hacker or the scammers will ask you to download a certain software so they can “solve” your problem.

Auto-renewal scams 

Geek Squad auto-renewable scams are scary, and particularly in New York, the county sheriff’s office reported that victims lost more than $22000 to this.

In this particular scam, victims usually receive a phone call. The scammers can claim that you have signed up for the Geek Squad subscription service, and you will be billed if you don’t do something about it right away.

Because the targets are vulnerable people, they pick up such calls. In that scenario, the scammer will say he needs your credit card information to check for auto-renewal. Once you provide that, you can end up with an empty bank account within hours. 

The scammers will ask you that they will try to cancel the sign-up that accidentally happened, and this way, you can end up losing all your money. 

Red flags

• You will get an invoice or a notice for auto-renewal you have yet to request.
• It can have grammatical or spelling errors, and even the logo can be weird.
• There will be a nonofficial number.

Browser pop-up scams

This one is common, and almost everyone knows about it. Here is how it happens: you are browsing a particular website and suddenly receive a pop-up saying your device has been infected with a virus. 

The pop-up can be compelling, and you may click it. Once you click on it, it automatically lets you download software that can be a tracking device or ransomware. In our case, this pop-up can be from the geek squad fake team.

Once that software is on your device, it will track your activities and eventually steal your personal information or bank account details.

Red flags

• The pop-up can be filled with adult pictures or unsolicited streaming websites.
• You cannot go back even if you try the back key repeatedly.
• The pop-up will keep on appearing.

Fake BestBuy.com password reset scam

Any day, you can receive a fake email claiming that your password reset for bestbuy.com did not work out and that you need to log in with your details to reset your password. 

You can be convinced if you have an account on the website because it can happen sometimes. 

But the sad news is that even people who don’t have a BestBuy account fall into this scam. You will be redirected to a fake website if you click the link. 

And God forbid, if you log in with your real account, the hackers can steal your password to shop for gifts or commit financial blunders on your behalf.

Red flags 

• The call will be from an unofficial number.
• If you click on the link, you will be redirected.

Protection plan scams

Sometimes, you can receive a phone call from someone who will try to sell you a protection plan so you can be safe online. While this can be a service-selling tactic that may not have dire consequences, sometimes it can be malware that can hack your entire system. 

Red flags 

• You will receive a call that will have no official background.
• The scammer claims to be from a company you have yet to hear of.
• They will tell stories about protecting yourself online and needing the right software.

Preventive measures if you are scammed

If you believe a geek squad scammer has scammed you, you need to take these preventive measures immediately.

• You should immediately disconnect your device from the internet because this way, the hacker cannot get into your system anymore.
• It is essential to delete any program or application you have installed on the instructions of a scammer.
• Make sure to run reputable anti-virus software.
• Immediately switch on your VPN so your location or IP address can be anonymous.
• It is essential to enable two-factor authentication on your financial accounts and change all your passwords.
• Be in a hurry to report the fraud to your credit card issuer or Bank.
• You can go to identitytheft.gov to file an official report with the federal trade commission.

Tips to secure yourself from scams

• You need a reputable VPN on your device so there are no unsolicited pop-ups. The VPN will also protect your safety by making you anonymous and keeping it difficult to track you down.
• Ensure you do not respond to phone calls or messages you don’t know about.
• Never try to click on links.

PureVPN- Your ticket to stay safe from Geek Squad scammers

PureVPN is a VPN service that provides optimal security while you are on the internet. It will help you protect your information and ensure your privacy rights are not violated on the internet. It has been certified by Well known audit firm, encrypting all data by default.

If you want to be sure that you are no longer in the red alert area with the geek squad scams, then our PureVPN is here to save the day.

• PureVPN lets you browse anonymously so you are not being tracked by malicious actors.
• PureVPN has 6500 + servers in 70 countries and that will help you change your location.
• Also, the VPN encrypts your communication channels with AES-256-bit encryption.

Conclusion

We are constantly amid information, and that is why we are at risk of being scammed by fake geek squads. 

However, you must remember that the support team will never call you from an unofficial number or ask about your personal information. 

To be safe, installing something on your device that protects you 24/7 is important, and PureVPN is your best bet.

Frequently Asked Questions