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Tech support resources( If anything goes wrong, companies need to have trusted IT professionals there to offer tech support guidance

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Tech support resources( If anything goes wrong, companies need to have trusted IT professionals there to offer tech support guidance

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Hello, we are calling from Windows and your computer looks like it is infected. Our Microsoft Certified Technician can fix it for you.

Sound familiar? Whether you have just been scammed or simply want to find out more on the topic, you have come to the right place.

Tech support scams are a million-dollar industry and have been around since 2008. Every single day, innocent people are tricked into spending hundreds of dollars on non-existent computer problems.a

There is no sign of these scams slowing down despite several actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission.

Perhaps even worse, companies right here in North America are now pulling the same tricks and taking advantage of existing and prospect customers replying to online ads.

The purpose of this page is to gather all the information we have collected over time into one place which you can use as a goto resource when you need it.

Sections

How tech support scams work

Cold calls from fake Microsoft (etc) agents

Usually from India and operating out of boiler rooms, these scammers call people in the U.S, Canada, the UK, and Australia whom they find in the phone directory.

The scam is straightforward: pretend to be calling from Microsoft, gain remote control of the machine, trick the victim with fake error reports and collect the money.

If you ever get a call from a Microsoft or Windows tech support agent out of the blue, the best thing to do is simply hang up. Scammers like to use VoIP technology so their actual number and location are hidden. Their calls are almost free which is why they can do this 24/7.

As per Microsoft:

"You will never receive a legitimate call from Microsoft or our partners to charge you for computer fixes."

Toll-Free Numbers (TFN) for fraudulent tech support companies

Located in India but also in the US, these companies heavily advertise on popular search engines as well as websites with high traffic. People call them for assistance and get fooled with similar techniques employed by Indian cold callers.

Another source for these companies comes from some of their existing customers or customers of parent companies sent to them. The remote technician upsells the customer who only came to activate their software but ends up forking hundreds of dollars on "Windows support".

Fake pop ups claiming your computer is infected (reminding of FakeAV) are used by scammers to reel in innocent victims.

If you decide to call in for remote computer assistance, you need to be very careful about which company you are going to deal with. Simply picking the top ad on a search results page could end very badly.

Unfortunately, the company or technician being from the US is not a guarantee for honest service. Many businesses in the US are using dirty tricks to take advantage of people, with the unsavvy and elderly as their prime targets.

If you don't feel comfortable doing this online, brick and mortar computer repair shops are a good alternative.

Remote access

The 'technician' requests to have remote access to your computer (taking control of it) and may use one of the following programs. Note that these applications are perfectly legitimate, however, it is important to remember that if you run remote login software you are effectively giving a complete stranger total control of your computer.

Screenlockers

A method that has been gaining popularity by tech support scammers is to spread malware with the sole purpose of locking the user out of his own computer. We call this type of malware screenlockers and the installers are detected as Trojan.TechSupportScam . They may look like a BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) or a warning that you are using illegal software (asking for a registration key). The malware is offered as part of a bundle or posing as an installer for something else.

The ones that look like a BSOD usually have a telephone number on them that belongs to the scammers outfit. Once you call that number they will tell you a trick to get rid of the BSOD to gain your trust, but of course the trick was built into the program for that reason.

The type asking for a registration number, usually has a telephone number as well, but often they come with a few links that will open sites with popular remote assistance/desktop software like TeamViewer, LogMeIn, Ammy Admin, Supremo, and others. In these cases the scammers will ask you to install that software and give them your access code, so they can "repair" your computer. Selling you overpriced solutions and "service contracts" is the real goal obviously.

If you are interested in some examples we have blogposts about some of these:

Should you be confronted with one of these screenlockers, do a search on our forums for the displayed telephone number. With any luck we have already reverse engineered the screenlocker and you can find a removal guide among the Malware Removal Self-Help Guides for your particular version.

Tricks you should look out for

Once logged into your computer, the remote technician will attempt to trick you by fabricating errors or even viruses on your computer. They like to use the default Windows tools and turn them against you, hoping you'll get scared and follow up their directions.

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Getting help if you have been scammed

Getting scammed is one of the worst feelings to experience. In many ways you feel like you have been violated and are really angry to have let your guard down. Perhaps you are even shocked and scared and don't really know what to do now. The following tips will hopefully provide you with some guidance.

If you already let them in

Revoke remote access (if unsure, restart your computer). That should cut the remote session and kick them out of your PC.

Scan your computer for malware. The miscreants may have installed password stealers or other Trojans to capture your keystrokes. Use a program such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to quickly identify and remove threats.

Change all your passwords (Windows password, email, banking, etc).

In some cases (you did not pay or called them names), scammers will seek revenge on your machine. Here are some things they might try and what to do to recover from them:

There are various 'hacks' to reset that password. One method is to use a Linux boot CD to mount Windows and then use the chntpw utilty. It is described here.

First, try to do a System Restore. If it fails, you should be able to reinstall them by going to the manufacturer's website and download the appropriate driver.

First, try to do a System Restore. If it is not available, check for backups you may have made and stored somewhere else. As a last resort, there are programs that can scrape your hard drive and attempt to recover the missing files.

If you already paid

Contact your financial institution/credit card company to reverse the charges and keep an eye for future unwanted charges.

If you gave them personal information such as date of birth, Social Security Number, full address, name and maiden name you may want to consult the FTC's website and report identity theft.

Reporting the scam

Report the scam

Shut down their remote software account

Write down the TeamViewer ID (9-digit code) and send it to TeamViewer's support (they can later on block people/companies with that information)

LogMeIn: Report abuse

Spread the word

You can raise awareness by letting your friends, family, and other acquaintances know what happened to you. Although this may be an embarrassing experience if you fell victim to these scams, educating the public will help someone caught in a similar situation and deter further scam attempts.

Investigate

While hanging up is the safest thing to do when you get a cold call, some people have gone on a mission to expose those scammers. While we don't endorse this behaviour, if you do have information to share, please let us know and we will update this page with any new relevant details.

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Tech support scams: help and resource page

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Hello, we are calling from Windows and your computer looks like it is infected. Our Microsoft Certified Technician can fix it for you. Sound familiar? Whether you have just been scammed or simply want to find out more on the topic, you have come to the right place.

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Affordability and scalability(Especially for small businesses, it’s important that tech infrastructures be scalable)

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By Aaron Charlesworth

The Small Business Association (SBA) estimates that there are 28 million small businesses in America and that this number is growing - fast. The SBA also reports that the rate of small business failures has declined, meaning this growing number of companies are thriving and finding success. But even the strongest business plan with the smartest leaders at the helm can stumble if one ingredient is missing: scalability.

Scalability refers to a business' ability to adapt over time. Small businesses have the greatest need for scalable solutions because they have the biggest potential for growth. On top of that, small businesses are most concerned with investment in the company; they don't have the luxury of a padded bottom line that larger, more established companies may enjoy.

Most people think scalability refers specifically to personnel. It is important to on-board the right number of people with the right skillset at the right time, and be willing to let go of others who no longer serve the business' mission and purpose. Scalability also refers to the infrastructure that makes the business tick - as a company scales up or down, it's important to make sure its technology solutions can easily adjust to support the new demands of the organization.

The easiest and most flexible technology to consider in preparation for scaling is a cloud-based communications system. With this in place, small businesses can save headaches in the short-term and improve the bottom line in the long-term. As leadership adds new employees - no matter where they are located geographically - a new line can be added to their system with a click on their virtual dashboard, significantly reducing the time, technical hassle and money. A traditional on-premise communications system, on the other hand, would require labor-intensive wiring and a significant added expense to add or remove access for a changing team.

A cloud-based unified communications system creates an environment that lets small business owners take control without the need for additional time and resources. Unified communications in the cloud allow businesses to easily scale their service up or down, adding users and phones as needed.

Small businesses that manage to adapt over time are the ones that plan ahead for the unknown. Having the right tools in place that are flexible enough to adapt with you can ensure maximum fitness of the business and enable leadership to focus on the work.
Aaron Charlesworth is the vice president of product marketing at Vonage. @Vonage.

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Why Scalable Technology Matters for Small Business - Small Biz Daily

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By Aaron Charlesworth The Small Business Association (SBA) estimates that there are 28 million small businesses in America and that this number is growing - fast. The SBA also reports that the rate of small business failures has declined, meaning this growing number of companies are thriving and finding success.

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Easy upgrades and maintenance( For companies looking to cut IT costs by investing in more streamlined solutions, SAP is here to help.)

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Easy upgrades and maintenance( For companies looking to cut IT costs by investing in more streamlined solutions, SAP is here to help.)

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How SAP helps to Maximize Business Performance

June 11, 2013

Companies of all shapes and sizes can benefit from employing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to streamline their operations. Everyone from the smallest mom-and-pop shop to the largest multinational corporation needs technological resources to stay organized, and ERP business solutions have been helping in this arena for over a decade.operations. Everyone from the smallest mom-and-pop shop to the largest multinational corporation needs technological resources to stay organized, and ERP business solutions have been helping in this arena for over a decade.

SAP is a DISYS partner in the effort to supply organizations with the ERP tools they need. SAP helps businesses maximize their performance by giving them step-by-step guidance with setting up their tech infrastructures. While there are many companies out there capable of supplying adequate ERP tools, SAP services go above and beyond. Here are a few ways:

Wide-ranging experience
SAP stands out because of its wide-ranging experience as a provider of ERP services. The company has provided tech solutions for everyone from government financial institutions to small businesses, and it's been able to optimize the IT resources of each. SAP helps with every step of the way, beginning with implementing and testing solutions and finishing with maintaining them once they're in place.

Easy upgrades and maintenance
For companies looking to cut IT costs by investing in more streamlined solutions, SAP is here to help. SAP's business management tools make it easier for companies to oversee their operations using less hardware and software than before, and the company can offer guidance to businesses on how to phase out the old infrastructure, upgrade to newer systems and fully appreciate the money-saving benefits that its technologies have to offer.

Affordability and scalability
Especially for small businesses, it's important that tech infrastructures be scalable. If an enterprise invests too little in its tech infrastructure, it might run out of space to store all of its data and be forced to delete files, but if it invests too much, it may be wasting money on resources it doesn't need. SAP makes sure that companies invest in scalable tech systems, ensuring they don't spend one dollar more than is absolutely necessary. Businesses need to get the most out of their IT budgets.

Tech support resources
If anything goes wrong, companies need to have trusted IT professionals there to offer tech support guidance, and SAP has experienced, trained experts on hand who can help with everything from storage problems to data breach attacks. SAP is dedicated to maximizing business performance, and that means ensuring not only the most successes, but also the fewest failures. SAP is there to help when things go bad.

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How SAP helps to Maximize Business Performance - DISYS

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Companies of all shapes and sizes can benefit from employing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to streamline their operations. Everyone from the smallest mom-and-pop shop to the largest multinational corporation needs technological resources to stay organized, and ERP business solutions have been helping in this arena for over a decade.operations.

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Wide-ranging experience ( SAP stands out because of its wide-ranging experience as a provider of ERP services)

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Wide-ranging experience ( SAP stands out because of its wide-ranging experience as a provider of ERP services)

# data[].attributes.body
Companies of all shapes and sizes can benefit from employing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to streamline their operations. Everyone from the smallest mom-and-pop shop to the largest multinational corporation needs technological resources to stay organized, and ERP business solutions have been helping in this arena for over a decade.operations. Everyone from the smallest mom-and-pop shop to the largest multinational corporation needs technological resources to stay organized, and ERP business solutions have been helping in this arena for over a decade.

Wide-ranging experience
SAP stands out because of its wide-ranging experience as a provider of ERP services. The company has provided tech solutions for everyone from government financial institutions to small businesses, and it’s been able to optimize the IT resources of each. SAP helps with every step of the way, beginning with implementing and testing solutions and finishing with maintaining them once they’re in place.

Easy upgrades and maintenance
For companies looking to cut IT costs by investing in more streamlined solutions, SAP is here to help. SAP’s business management tools make it easier for companies to oversee their operations using less hardware and software than before, and the company can offer guidance to businesses on how to phase out the old infrastructure, upgrade to newer systems and fully appreciate the money-saving benefits that its technologies have to offer.

Affordability and scalability
Especially for small businesses, it’s important that tech infrastructures be scalable. If an enterprise invests too little in its tech infrastructure, it might run out of space to store all of its data and be forced to delete files, but if it invests too much, it may be wasting money on resources it doesn’t need. SAP makes sure that companies invest in scalable tech systems, ensuring they don’t spend one dollar more than is absolutely necessary. Businesses need to get the most out of their IT budgets.

Tech support resources
If anything goes wrong, companies need to have trusted IT professionals there to offer tech support guidance, and SAP has experienced, trained experts on hand who can help with everything from storage problems to data breach attacks. SAP is dedicated to maximizing business performance, and that means ensuring not only the most successes, but also the fewest failures. SAP is there to help when things go bad.

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How SAP helps to Maximize Business Process  Performance

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How SAP helps to Maximize Business Process  Performance

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Using Technology to Increase Your Business Productivity

Most everyone can agree that business productivity can be traced to an organization's ability to successfully execute on overall strategy. What else ensures business success? Businesses need engaged and highly productive employees executing on goals that are aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.

And, if execution is the key to a successful business—what are the steps to increasing your business productivity for greater execution on your strategic goals? How do you know your business alignment and people performance are working at optimal levels to maximize business productivity resulting in the best possible results?

Greatest benefits of business productivity software:

Using technology to maximize your business productivity creates the platform to realize true business success. Business productivity software ensures organizations have the tools to overcome the challenges of executing on strategy every day and prospering in today's economic times. Increased business productivity can be traced to the automation of processes allowing for faster communication of strategy, increased time spent on strategic priorities and greater project completion rates.

The following are additional ways business productivity software drives business processes more efficiently to gain optimal results:

Create an open and communicative environment. By centrally locating the performance appraisal information within a formal online framework, managers can more easily communicate business strategy and create measurable goals for their employees that will support overall company objectives. It also allows for greater visibility, thereby allowing employees to see the whole picture and understand better how individual goals fit into the company's business objectives. This creates energized and engaged employees, thereby raising the business productivity of the company.

Connect teams virtually within the company. Create employee portals and team sites to help people work productively across the organization, no matter what location or team. You will eliminate "corporate silos" that effectively cut off communication because employees can utilize technology to reach out to others working on similar projects or find experts to answer their questions throughout the organization.

Motivate your employees using technology. Based upon the information gathered in an online performance evaluation, managers can compare current skills with those required for advancement or other recognition or reward opportunities that present themselves as the manager tracks progress on employee goals throughout the year. You may also find you need to redirect employees to different departments if you feel their business productivity could increase elsewhere. If there are impediments to better performance, the company should review why it is happening and try to eliminate these through better allocation of resources or additional training.

Monitor business productivity and employee progress on goals. Online business productivity software solutions enable managers to more easily track progress during every phase of goal completion and offer immediate reinforcement or coaching to keep performance and deadlines on track. This process leads to greater business productivity because your organization is staffed with a workforce of people who are continually learning new skills and being challenged to do their very best. When it comes to the people who work for you, alert, motivated, and happy employees will work harder. Encourage your staff by rewarding them for their successes, using both monetary and non-monetary incentives.

Analyze performance - Today's technology provides advanced reporting and business analysis capability to help you gain a deep understanding of business performance, customer preferences, and market trends. And, your executives and business managers can access performance metrics and analytical reports and use this information to work together to set or redesign strategy.

Conclusion:

Generally speaking, employees want to be appreciated for their hard work. Business productivity software can bridge the gaps in communication and convey to each member of your team that they are valued. With your people working at their highest capabilities and your business aligned from top-to-bottom, you will be creating a workforce that is engaged, productive and loyal. Feeling valued is the key to employee loyalty which leads to greater business productivity.

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CRM Software and Customer Experience Solutions | SAP

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Go beyond CRM software to transform your front office and deliver a real-time customer experience. Explore how SAP software solutions can help.