Okay, I made that part up about “Fake News” just to get your attention!  Now that I have it, you might as well stick around to see what I am really talking about in this post.

Although it’s not fake news, I want to educate you about fake tech support. 

When you purchase a  computing device or peripheral devices for it (printers, cameras, external drives, etc.),  there is often a toll-free phone number to call for tech support.  (In the business, we call this “first-level support.”)  When you have a problem, you call the number which is published by this large, well-known computer/printer company.  Like the picture above, however, you’re participating in an illusion.  In almost every case, you are not speaking to the actual company you called.  You are speaking to an outside, third-party company which handles calls made to the published phone number.

Unfortunately, these companies are not always trustworthy – in fact, I’d say they’re dishonest a great majority of the time.  They will say and do anything to get you to purchase “support” from them even though you called for what should be free support.  They will tell you they can’t help you because your computer is infected or corrupted, etc.  If you make the mistake of allowing them access to your computing device, they will often really put the pressure on and do all they can to panic you into buying what they are selling.

In a simple phrase, don’t do it!  Don’t allow anyone else onto your computer without first checking with us.  I know that sounds egotistical but I promise you, I’m just looking out for you.  We have a banner on our Remote Technical Support page (www.4kcc.com/rts) and I’m going to post it here because it’s the truth.  I can’t tell you how much I hate seeing one of our customers ripped off by these unscrupulous companies.  Remember, call us before you allow anyone else onto your computing device.