Description

Fake HP site that I accessed for chat assistance on setting up new printer. I was quickly told that I was being transferred to tech support & stay online with assistant until I received a phone call from a technician. Once that person called & I let assistant know I was on phone with him, the chat session ended & website closed. A few hours, several technicians (each calling from various numbers) with total remote access to my computer, I was charged a $450 service fee & receiving high pressure, urgent recommendations to spend up to an additional $1700+ on encryption program necessary to proceed with printer setup. Thankfully, I was suspicious & so was my credit card company (Chase VISA), so I didn’t lose money, but unknown scammers spent time going through everything on my computer & now I’m waiting for a new credit card & a report on what other personal information might have been gathered from my computer or what unwanted tracking programs, viruses, phishing scams or malware might have been involved and/or installed. I know scammers have my name, address & phone number along with now outdated credit card info. In addition to HP fake site, some of the “reputable” sounding names mentioned were Windows Microsoft Security, Blatant Technology & Symantec SSL. This all required me leaving my printer & computer alone while the various technicians called periodically to update me on progress.