I came across this story I want to share because it got me thinking about how far scammers will go to get your money—even sending an Uber to your house. The victim caught onto the Geek Squad scam before it was too late, but the incident serves as a reminder of how far scammers will go to get your money.
The story goes that an 80-year-old woman replied to a phishing email from “BestBuy/GeekSquad” regarding appliance installation. With this scammer, timing is everything. In the woman’s case, her dishwasher had just died, and a new one was scheduled for delivery and installation. Moreover, the email seemed authentic, so the woman called the number in the email.
The scammers told her she owed $160 for the installation. It seemed like a logical charge. Then, the scammers employed an old trick and asked her to install remote administration software on her computer to “help her make the payment.”
After she logged into her bank and savings accounts with scammers watching her screen, the bogus man on the phone claimed they accidentally transferred $160,000 to her bank account instead of $160. They then said they needed her help to ensure the money was “returned.”
If she did not return the money, the person on the phone warned her he was expecting to lose his job over this transfer error. So, they emailed her about where to wire the money. They offered to send an Uber when she told them she didn’t drive. The woman didn’t lose any money.
More about the Geek Squad scam
This story ended in favour of the intended victim, but others haven’t been so lucky.
The fake email claims that Greek Squad has automatically renewed the Geek Total Protection subscription. It claims that $499.99 (in other emails, lower amounts) is being charged for their services. It also contains a fake invoice number, renewal date, and service name.
These scams work when recipients believe they have been charged for something they have not purchased (for example, a Geek Total Protection subscription). Scammers behind this phishing email attempt to trick recipients into calling the +1-808-666-6112 number.
How do I spot a Geek Squad scam email?
Here are ten ways to spot a Geek Squad scam:
- The email doesn’t include your name
- Check for grammatical and spelling mistakes
- Verify the sender’s email address
- Check the graphics and logo for distortions or blurriness
- Check if the email tries to create an urgency
- Does the email requires you to submit personal information
- It asks you to reach out.
- The information provided in the email doesn’t add up
- Search the web for similar scams
- It uses vague or generic details about your purchase.
If you’re a consumer and want to learn how to protect yourself online against phishing attacks then please visit www.InternetSafetyUniversity.com for our free masterclass.
Finally, don’t forget to download our mobile and interactive app FRAUDSTER available on Apple and Android. You can learn more at www.FraudsterApp.com
