The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Yourself from the FastSupport.com Scam
In the time it takes you to read this sentence, three more people will become victims of a tech support scam. That‘s the alarming frequency of these schemes that use fraudulent pop-up messages and high-pressure sales tactics to trick unsuspecting computer users into handing over access to their devices and credit card info.
One of the most prevalent versions of the tech support scam involves a website called FastSupport.com. You may have seen an ominous pop-up message warning that your computer is infected with viruses and urging you to call a support number for help. But if you do, you‘ll likely end up losing hundreds of dollars and control over your most personal data.
Don‘t become another statistic. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll equip you with everything you need to know to spot the FastSupport.com scam, remove any malware it may have installed, and keep your computer safe from future threats.
What Is the FastSupport.com Scam?
FastSupport.com is a legitimate remote desktop software tool that allows tech support agents to access a user‘s computer remotely in order to diagnose and fix issues. The problem is, it‘s also become a favorite tool of scammers who use it to gain unauthorized access to victims‘ devices and sensitive data.
Here‘s how a typical FastSupport scam unfolds:
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The victim encounters a pop-up message or dialog box while browsing the web that claims their computer is infected with viruses. The message looks like an official alert from Microsoft or Apple and includes a phone number to call for support.
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If the victim calls the number, a "technician" answers and claims to be a certified support agent. They instruct the victim to visit fastsupport.com and enter a unique access code to allow them to connect to the computer remotely.
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Once connected, the scammer uses various scare tactics to convince the victim their device is compromised and needs immediate help. They may open harmless system logs and claim they are evidence of hacker activity, or type commands to simulate an attack in progress.
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The scammer then pressures the victim into paying hundreds of dollars for phony support services and unnecessary software. In some cases, they even install actual malware onto the computer so they can maintain access and steal more sensitive info like login credentials and financial data.
The scammers behind fake FastSupport calls go to great lengths to appear legitimate. The websites and pop-up messages are carefully designed to mimic actual alerts from Microsoft or Apple. The "technicians" use detailed scripts and technical jargon to sound convincing. And since they‘re asking victims to willingly grant remote access, anti-malware programs won‘t always stop them.
But make no mistake, if you get an unsolicited pop-up or call claiming your computer has a virus and instructing you to visit FastSupport.com, it‘s a scam. Microsoft, Apple, and other legitimate tech companies will never contact you this way to warn you about malware.
Pop-up Warnings are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Tech support scams have been around for over a decade, but they‘ve exploded in frequency and sophistication in recent years. What used to be a niche type of phone fraud has mushroomed into a multi-million dollar global criminal industry.
Consider these eye-opening statistics:
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In 2021, the FBI‘s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 23,903 complaints about tech support scams from victims in 70 countries. That‘s an average of 65 complaints per day.
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Microsoft estimates that 3 out of 5 consumers have encountered a tech support scam in the last 12 months. Of those, 1 in 5 lost money.
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Consumers reported losing over $347 million to tech support scams in 2021, up 137% from the previous year. The median individual loss was $500.
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Tech support scams disproportionately impact older adults. The average victim age is 62, and nearly 60% are over the age of 60.
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1 in 4 tech support scam victims experienced a negative emotion afterwards such as anger, fear, or embarrassment, even if they didn‘t lose money.
Clearly this is a widespread problem that impacts people of all ages and geographies. And the scammers show no signs of letting up, as they continue to find new ways to reach more potential victims.
How Scammers Trick You into Giving Remote Access
The key to the FastSupport scam‘s effectiveness is tricking victims into voluntarily giving remote access to their computers. Once the scammers are connected, they can do virtually anything they want without triggering antivirus protections.
The remote access tool itself, called GoToAssist, is a legitimate program developed by LogMeIn. It‘s commonly used by authorized technical support agents to connect to customers‘ devices with their permission. The scammers simply create free accounts to use the tool for malicious purposes.
Scammers use a variety of psychological manipulation tactics to pressure victims into granting that access and believing their scare stories:
Authority – They pose as certified Microsoft or Apple technicians to project a false sense of credibility. The pop-ups and websites use official logos and branding.
Urgency – Messages and technicians emphasize the supposed "critical threat" to your device and data to make you feel you must act immediately. Some even claim the CIA and FBI are monitoring the attack.
Confirmation bias – Showing system logs and harmless error messages that look suspicious to the average user convinces them the scammer‘s claims are legitimate.
Shaming – If victims are skeptical, scammers use belittling comments to make them feel stupid for not taking the threat seriously.
Tech jargon – Using complex technical terms and acronyms gives the impression the scammer has expert knowledge and makes victims less likely to question them.
These high-pressure tactics can fluster even savvy computer users into letting down their guard and handing over remote access. Always treat unsolicited tech support offers with extreme caution, even if they appear to come from a trusted source.
What to Do If You‘re a Victim of the FastSupport Scam
If you or a family member did call a FastSupport number and allow remote access, don‘t panic. There are steps you can take to mitigate the damage and secure your device and data. Acting quickly is critical to minimizing your risk.
Step 1: Hang up the phone and shut down your computer immediately. This cuts off the scammer‘s remote access session so they can‘t do any additional damage. If you paid them with a credit card, call your card issuer to dispute the charges and request a new card.
Step 2: Disconnect your device from the internet. Unplug the ethernet cable if you have a wired connection, or turn off the WiFi adapter if you‘re on wireless. This prevents any malware from transmitting your data or "phoning home" to the scammers.
Step 3: Scan your computer with antivirus software to detect and remove any malware the scammer may have installed. Use a different, trusted device to download well-known antivirus tools like Malwarebytes, Norton Power Eraser, or Microsoft Safety Scanner. Transfer them to the infected computer with a USB drive and run the scans in Safe Mode if possible.
Step 4: Back up all important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. The scammer may have installed ransomware that could encrypt your data, so preserving a copy is critical. Disconnect the drive when not actively backing up to minimize exposure.
Step 5: Change the passwords for all online accounts you may have accessed on the compromised device. That includes email, online banking, social media, shopping sites, and cloud storage accounts. Use a different, secure device and create strong, unique passwords for each account. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible for an extra layer of protection.
Step 6: Report the scam to the proper authorities. File reports with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI‘s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If you‘re outside the US, contact your country‘s consumer protection agency. You likely won‘t recover money you already paid, but your report helps law enforcement track and shut down the scammers.
Step 7: Continue monitoring your device and accounts for any suspicious activity. Run regular antivirus scans and review your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges. Consider enrolling in an identity theft monitoring service, which will notify you of any unusual use of your personal info and help you recover if your identity is stolen.
No one wants to deal with the stress and inconvenience of a computer scam. But taking swift action to cut off the scammers, clean your device, and secure your accounts can stop the bleeding and minimize long-term damage to your finances and digital life.
How to Protect Yourself from Tech Support Scams
While scammers are constantly developing new ways to fool people, you can outsmart them by following some basic precautions:
Be extremely skeptical of pop-up alerts and unsolicited calls. As a rule, legitimate tech companies will never contact you this way to warn you about a computer problem. Don‘t click on any links or call any numbers in pop-ups.
Protect your personal info. Never give sensitive data like your full name, address, Social Security number, or credit card number to an unsolicited caller or pop-up. Legitimate support reps will never ask for this info to verify your identity.
Don‘t let strangers remote in. If you didn‘t initiate the support request, don‘t visit any provided websites or enter access codes to let someone connect to your computer. Hang up or close the pop-up immediately.
Check before you call. If you think you‘re getting a legitimate support call from a company you do business with, hang up and call them back directly at their publicly listed customer service number to verify. Remember that Caller ID can be spoofed to look like a real company.
Turn on pop-up blockers. Enable pop-up blocking in your web browser settings to prevent the types of malicious pop-ups tech support scammers use. Don‘t override the blocker to view a pop-up unless you initiated an action requesting it.
Keep software up-to-date. Install updates for your operating system, web browsers, and plugins as soon as they‘re available. Many will patch security vulnerabilities and add new protective features against the latest threats.
Back up your computer regularly. Get in the habit of backing up all important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage at least once a week. That way if a scammer locks you out of your data, you won‘t lose irreplaceable files.
Share these tips with friends and family, especially those who may be more vulnerable like older adults. You could head off a lot of grief by teaching loved ones how to spot and avoid tech support scams.
Key Takeaways
Tech support scams like the FastSupport.com pop-up are a serious threat capable of quickly relieving victims of their money and sensitive data. The scammers exploit people‘s lack of technical knowledge and fears about cybercrime to pressure them into surrendering remote access to their computers.
If you encounter an unsolicited pop-up or call claiming your device is compromised, don‘t engage or follow any provided instructions. Hang up or close the message immediately. If you did allow remote access, shut down your device and take steps to scan for malware, change passwords, back up files, and report the incident.
With proactive measures like using pop-up blockers, keeping software updated, and backing up data regularly, you can significantly decrease your risk of falling victim. Stay vigilant and share these tips to help protect your community.
You may not be able to single-handedly shut down the multi-million dollar tech support scam industry. But by learning to recognize the signs of a scam and taking steps to secure your devices and data, you can deprive the scammers of what they want most: easy money and your valuable information. Don‘t let them win!
