The FBI is warning of widespread scams in which criminals pose as security or tech professionals offering fraudulent technology support to victims for financial gain.
The bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center issued an alert on the scams this week, warning of criminals offering fake tech services — such as help resolving compromised email — in order to gain access to would-be victims’ electronic devices.
The FBI said it received about 11,000 complaints related to tech support fraud last year, amounting to almost $15 million in losses, an 86 percent increase over the previous year. The complaints largely originated in the United States, but the FBI received reports from victims in a total of 85 different countries.
