14 DAY TRIAL // After ruining Microsoft's reputation for years, and recently also targeting Apple customers, tech support scammers have started picking on Dell's customers with a voracious appetite.
During the past year, tens of Dell customers have started reporting being picked on by aggressive tech support scammers that were calling them about their Dell laptops and computers.
Unlike typical tech support scams that rely on ads and scareware, or hunt tech support forums for victims, these particular individuals were calling Dell customers that previously had a problem with their laptop in the past, as 10ZenMonkeys reports.
Scammers have access to sensitive, private Dell customer data
Scammers were not only calling Dell customers at home without the users reporting any issues, but seemed to have access to data like the customer's name, his Dell PC or laptop model, contact information, support history, and Dell's unique service tag and express service code for each computer.
The issue is widespread, with numerous users complaining about scammers on Dell's website (1, 2, 3, 4) and other online tech support forums (1, 2).
All the data points to a data breach on Dell's side, to which Dell has refused to officially acknowledge, even if support representatives told 10ZenMonekys that this might have happened.
Dell is well aware of the issue, can't protect customers
Dell has even issued a public warning about this ongoing scam, but they've been vague when it came to explaining how scammers came to be in possession of sensitive Dell customer information.
Regardless if Dell knows about the ongoing scam operation or not, only by educating themselves can users avoid falling victims to such (old school) tricks.
Even the FTC took notice last November, after similar tech support campaigns also ramped up against Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Unfortunately, their investigation did not target the same individuals behind this campaign, which many users reported having a classic Indian accent.
"We recommend that you not engage such callers, and never give them your credit card information, access to your computer or any other personal information," said Dell's Laura Thomas in the company's statement on this issue. "Remember, if you’re unsure, trust your gut and simply hang up."