New Hampshire Security Team Scam of the Week: Fake browser security alerts

"Scam of the Week" from the State of New Hampshire Security Team at the Department of Information Technology:

Imagine you're on the web when a full-screen alert takes over your browser. The alert shows an Apple or Amazon logo, a red warning symbol, and a message that your account was just used for a large purchase. The alert tells you to call a support number immediately, and it blocks the rest of the page so that number is the only thing you can click. You recognize the logo and are worried about the large purchase, so you quickly call the number.

But this alert is actually a scam! If you call the number, you won’t be talking to support staff, but a cybercriminal instead. They’ll ask you to verify your account by providing personal information, or they might try to get you to pay a fake fee. If you do this, you’ll be falling right into the cybercriminal’s trap!

Follow these tips to avoid similar scams:

• Never call a phone number that appears in an unexpected alert on your screen. Instead, go to the organization’s official website to find the support number
• If an alert claims you were charged, sign in to your bank’s website directly to review your recent transactions
• Always stop and think before you act!