Newberry Co. warns of fake technicians looking to hack into your PC

Newberry Co., SC (WOLO) — Scammers have been around since the beginning of time. Many times using your vulnerability to take advantage of you and get your hard earned money. One thing that appears to be changing along with the times, are the way scam artists are going about getting your private information.

With technology evolving so quickly, law enforcement officials say those preying on you are advancing right along with it. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents of yet another scam. According to Newberry officials, the latest method of deception is an attempt to hack in to your hard drive.

Authorities say the fake workers present themselves as Microsoft Technicians who claim they have a “Warning Virus Alerts”for your computer. When you call them at what Newberry officials say is a fake Microsoft number, they appear on your PC through  ‘Ultra Viewer’ where your personal hard drive has now been hacked into. At this point, Newberry officials say the scammers try to scare you by telling you that accounts have been set up using your identity, and even that child porn sites were visited under your name.

They say they can help stop the hackers, but first you are required to purchase bitcoin or a gift card to pay them for the false assistance and bogus virus alerts. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office wants to make sure you are aware that Microsoft technicians will not call your home, and if they do officials say it is a scam. One major red flag, attempting to call a legitimate Microsoft company according to them, “next to impossible”.

If you come across incidents similar to this one, deputies are asking you not to fall for it. Ignore the offer and notifying authorities immediately.