The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Submitted by Flin Flon RCMP Since February 2011, the RCMP in Manitoba have received a number of complaints involving fraudulent telephone solicitations for anti-virus software. In this scheme, company representatives cold call individuals and tell them that their computer system is running slow or has viruses. An offer is made to repair he computer remotely over the internet by installing certain software and giving the caller access. Payment is made by credit card and prices range from $35 to $469. Allowing a stranger to download software or remotely access your computer is risky. Malicious software designed to capture your personal information including web sites visited, sensitive documents, and passwords puts you at risk of financial loss and identity theft. Common warning signs of this type of scam include: Unsolicited calls representing a computer repair company or imitating your local internet service provider. The caller states there is an urgent need to address threats to your computer. You're directed to download software and provide your user name and password for this new download. You're asked to provide your credit card number to pay for the service. If you receive a call which resembles the anti-virus scam please advise your local police service and contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or Antifraudcentre.ca.
