Dufferin OPP Warn of Windows Computer Scam

(GRAND VALLEY, ON.) – Dufferin OPP have received recent complaints of following computer repair scam. The suspects advised home owner that there was something wrong with their windows program and that they needed access to that program to help repair it and then they needed owner to shut down the computer. The home owner quickly realized it was a possible scam and refused to comply and hung up the phone .

The following are some valuable tips taken from the OPP website :

• Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information. 
• Suspects typically include upsetting or exciting (but false) statements in their emails or phone conversations to get people to react immediately. 
• They typically ask for information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, social insurance or security numbers, etc. 
• Their emails are typically NOT personalized, while valid messages from your bank or e-commerce company generally are. 
• Don't use the links in an email to get to any web page, if you suspect the message might not be authentic; instead, call the company on the telephone, or log onto the website directly by typing in the Web address in your browser. 
• Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information. 
• You should only communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information via a secure website or the telephone. 
• Always ensure that you're using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information via your Web browser 
• To ensure you're on a secure Web server, check the beginning of the Web address in your browsers address bar - it should be "https://" rather than just http:// 

For more helpful crime prevention tips please visit the OPP website at www.opp.on.ca