Desert Messenger

30 www.DesertMessenger.com March 2, 2016 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain MUSIC JAM SCHEDULE Quartzsite, Brenda, La Paz Valley As the season come to an end, some Jams listed below may have ended also. Sunday 1:30pm Wagons West RV Park, Brenda 6pm Black Rock RV Park, Brenda 6:30pm. Gold Star Gospel Acoustic Monday 6:30pm. Arizona Sun RV Resort 6:30pm Ramlin Roads, Hope 6:30pm Alliance Church Tuesday 1pm Kofa Mt. RV 1pm Brenda RV Resort, Brenda 6:30pm Community Bible Church now Gospel, Country w/amplified instruments. 7pm. Desert Gold, Brenda, Gospel Wednesday 12:30pm Desert Pueblo RV Bouse 1pm Gold Star, Acoustic 1pm. Crawford's RV 6:30pm. Holiday Palms,Country Jam 6:30pm. Scenic Road RV Acoustic Thursday 6:30pm Mt. Quail Music Jam 6:30pm. QIA, Show $1 donation 7pm. Brenda RV Resort, Gospel Friday 6:30pm JR's RV Park 6:30pm Split Rail RV Park Saturday 1 pm Desert Gold RV Park, Brenda, Country 1pm Park Place Acoustic 1pm Brenda RV Park, Brenda Acoustic 4pm Mt. Quail #2 E. Cowell Is your favorite jam listed correctly? Contact Rain at 928-916-4235 Editor@DesertMessenger.com BBB warns online users of tech support scams Phantom Menace Strikes Again! Return of the Tech Support Scam BY KELLE SLAUGHTER Young Padawan, beware. If you learn but one lesson, learn that professional tech scammers abide by a golden rule: Pretend to be the good guys, and they won't see you coming. Remember, the menace will be unsuspectingly disguised as the so- lution to the problem. Awaken the force within, and protect yourself. Tech Support Scams BBB has warned consumers about tech support scams for years. Unfortunately, the same scam still persists. It just re-emerges with new and different details. Old School The scheme starts out as an alarm- ing pop-up message on your computer warning that the com- puter was infected with malware or a virus. The pop-up purports that you can "fix" the problem by click- ing on a link. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions consumers not to click on the pop-up. Clicking on the "free security scan" that is offered allows the scammer to download harmful programs to the computer. Sound familiar? If so, be prepared, because the threat has evolved. New School The newest adaptation of the tech support scam begins with a telephone call from a "tech" who claims to work for a well-known computer business such as Micro- soft or Dell. Knowing that most consumers have concerns about viruses, in- fected files, and security breaches, the caller attempts to scare you by alerting you to a problem that they identified on your computer. The caller may use technical jargon excessively in order to confuse you and make you believe they are tech savvy. Ultimately, the caller wants you to believe the following: • You need threats removed from your computer immediately. • They can remove those threats and prevent further damage. • And, you can trust them to restore your computer to safe operation. After they have gained your trust, the scam escalates. The caller will ask you to allow them to have remote access to your computer. The caller will claim that gaining remote access will allow them to "fix" the computer. However, take caution, the strang- er may be infecting your computer with harmful programs or stealing passwords and other sensitive data. In the most recent variation of this scenario, the caller asks the con- sumer to open her online banking account for them to "refund" fees for the technical services per gov- ernment order. Ultimately, the true purpose behind the seemingly helpful tech support telephone call is to take unsuspecting consumers' money and steal their identity. Back to Training, Jedis. If you receive a call from some- one claiming to be tech sup- port, remember the acronym, S.K.A.T.E.R.: • Stay Calm and Alert. Beware of the unsolicited tech support caller who uses tactics to create a sense of urgency to get you to let them "fix" your computer. • Keep Control. Never give control of your computer to an unsolicited caller who claims to be "tech sup- port." • Access Denial. Never share your password or financial information with a "tech" caller. Remember that reputable companies like Microsoft and its partners would never make unsolicited telephone calls for computer security or soft- ware fixes. • Tell. If you get a tech support call, report the caller's information to your local law enforcement author- ities or to BBB at bbb.org/scam- tracker. • Early Detection. When you rec- ognize you have received an unso- licited tech support call, remember you always have the power to hang up immediately. • Research. A good rule of thumb to research and seek out a repu- table company if you have concerns about your computer's security. Check with BBB! For more information visit http://www.bbb.org/ DEADLINE : WED. MARCH 9 TH for the march 16 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

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