DETROIT – Like so many scams, this one began with a phone call.
Laura White of Washington Township received a call saying something was wrong with her computer.
White described what the caller told her, "I'm calling because we are getting notifications from your computer that it's trying to download and your downloads aren't being accepted."
White knew there was nothing wrong with her computer, so she was immediately on alert. She took an important step that you should consider if you get a similar call.
"I googled that phone number and found a whole list of people who had been contacted by this lady," she said.
The computer repair scam has become so successful because our computers have become so important to us.
"For some, its the only way to communicate with the outside world. So, when you talk with seniors who may have gotten that call some seniors that get that call- they get very upset," said Melanie Duquesnel, CEO of the local Better Business Bureau in Southfield.
If the scam artist thinks you are frightened, he will either ask you to pay for a repair, for credit card information, or even worse, he might try to take control of your computer. Duquesnel says legitimate computer companies do not operate that way.
Sometimes the scammers will claim to be with a generic "Computer Repair Service." Other times, they will pretend to be with legitimate companies, such as Microsoft.
"Microsoft says absolutely not we never reach out to our customers that way," said Duquesnel.
Stop the Scammers Before You Lose Money
It is important that if you get that call to not give any information or pay any money during that initial call. Do not let them pressure or intimidate you into doing something you will regret.
"If you're really really afraid, unplug your unit, take it to a reputable computer company and have them run their diagnostics on it," said Duquesnel.
White is extremely happy she didn't lose any money, but she's worried about other people who may not be so lucky.
"There are people that have worked all their lives that put money into a savings account, retirement account, and they're getting duped and ripped off by this," White said.
She shared another line of defense you might want to try. "I think the easiest thing for me to save my own sanity and my own anger. I won't answer that phone," said White.
Ruth to the Rescue Scam Fighting Strategy
Ruth to the Rescue has received so many complaints about all type of scams: the fake IRS scam, computer repair service, fake sweepstakes, and fake federal grants.
As White suggested, one important defense is to stop answering the phone. That's the first line of defense in the Ruth to the Rescue Scam Fighting strategy. If you use these four steps, you should be able to fight off scam artists, no matter what story they might be telling you.
1) IGNORE! Use caller ID to help you avoid callers you don't recognize. Plain and simple, if you stop answering strange numbers, scammers will not be encouraged to call you back. Just avoid them all together.
2) RESIST! Don't give out any personal information over the phone or allowed yourself to be pressured into making a quick payment. No matter what the claim, don't let them push you into doing something that could be a big mistake.
3) Instead, VERIFY! If you think the call may be legitimate, find a legitimate way to contact the organization that's calling for you. If they claim to be from
DTE, call the actual number on your bill. If they claim to be from Mastercard, call the number on the back of your card. Do NOT call the number they leave on the message and expect to get good information. Scammers work in teams, the person may sound different, but that person is likely part of the scheme.
4) NOTIFY! Warn family and friends about the call, and share information with the police, IRS, or Federal Trade Commission.
Ruth to the Rescue Scam Alert Week
This week (July 21st - July 24th) on Local 4, Ruth to the Rescue will do a new Scam Alert every day, starting at 5 p.m. We hope you will watch and tell your friends and family (especially seniors) to tune in.
Local 4 Consumer Expert Ruth Spencer will highlight some of the most common scams, as well as a newer one making the rounds. On Thursday, July 23rd, we will have a live phone bank of experts from the Better Business Bureau to answer questions about scams: How to spot them? How to handle those calls?
How to verify any claims that might disturb you?
Join us in the fight against scam artists who are trying to steal your money.