Computer Tip – You can be victim to a hoax/scam just for searching for technical help !
Just because a company shows up at the top of the paid or other search results doesn’t mean they are on the up & up!
I had a customer this week that searched for information about a problem they were having with a technology product. One of the paid/ad listings at the top seemed a good choice, but after they connected to my customer’s computer & said it was heavily infected with viruses, my customer sensed a scam & hungup & stopped the remote computer connection. My customer called me & we removed the remote connection software & checked to make sure the company had not infected their computer through this process!
I have included a sample search image below to illustrate the potential problem. The sample below is not the problem my customer searched for.
I searched for help about an HP OfficeJet 6500 in this example. Since I know that HP’s website is www.HP.com, I know that any results starting with that in the website address is valid, but other websites they simply have “HP” or “Hewlett-Packard” or “OfficeJet” doesn’t mean they won’t might try to get money from you or possibly infect your computer.
This does not mean you should ignore all non HP websites – I have found numerous solutions from sites not related to the product I am searching for answers on. The caution is when you call a phone number or click on a link & they want to start accessing your computer!
Sample search results
About the Author: Ray Bowyer, Computer Consultant
Ray Bowyer, Computer Consultant lives & works in the Boise, Idaho area & provides computer desktop & laptop repair, training, problem solving, computer networking, & virus removal for Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell & other Treasure Valley Idaho area small businesses, home offices & home computer users. Phone: (208) 631-7527. Email: consultant@raybowyer.com . Mailing Address: 1740 E. Fairview Ave., # 305, Meridian, ID 83642. Computer Repair & Services - Boise Idaho - Meridian Idaho. "Reducing computer frustration one problem at a time by providing computer TLC(Technical Loving Care)!"