Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | 3:21 p.m.
Phone calls or messages about computer viruses might be a scam that can cost hundreds of dollars and put personal information at risk, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office warned today.
Perpetrators of the technical support scams in Nevada have been known to charge to have supposed viruses diagnosed and removed, Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt said in a news release.
There might be nothing wrong with the computers, and victims are instructed to contact fraudsters who ask for access to the computers and make it seem like they’re infected, officials said.
The scammers have been known to charge more than $100 to eliminate the supposed virus, and they hide under names of legitimate technical support companies, officials said.
Furthermore, when given access to computers, the scammers can infect the machine with a real virus and steal personal data, officials said.
People who think their computer has been infected should use anti-virus software to confirm and remove a virus or take their machine to an authorized repair center, officials said.
People who think they’ve been victimized should contact their banks and credit card companies, place fraud alerts with the credit bureaus and update passwords for online accounts, officials said. They should also contact local police, the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General’s Office, officials said.
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