December 01st, 2015

    A friend of mine was recently tricked in a computer scam, just like many people before him. A pop-up says that there is a virus attacking your computer and you need to take immediate action! Just press the help button or "stop the virus" button right away! Once you do, you open the floodgates of "germs" which enter your computer. It does the opposite of what it tells you. Once infested, it's a nightmare to try to fix. If this ever happens to you, DO NOT click anything! Don't be tricked into "taking immediate action!" Just calm down and call somebody you know.
    The Click4Support button is another scam to "help you out". Do not tap on that button unless you are positive about the site you are on. Instead of causing havoc, these scammers pretend your computer is in need of repair or immediate attention, when in actuality it isn't. The scammers want you to pay them money to fix your computer, when there is no need of repair. In some cases, people pay hundreds of dollars for nothing. 
    Sometimes these scammers put you on a monthly plan that does nothing for you. Other times, small fees are removed from your bank account without your consent or knowledge. I recently saw a charge of $7.95 for Archives.com and when I looked further into it, I saw I'd been charged $7.95 every month for over a year! What did I get in return? Nothing. Check your bank accounts regularly for any suspicious behavior. Ask somebody you trust about it. You can always report any issues to the Federal Trade Commission. We live in a new age. Things are not as simple as they used to be. That is good in some cases, but seems bad in most cases!

---