Federal Trade Commission Warns of

Norton Antivirus Email Scam

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent out a warning to consumers to watch out for a Norton Antivirus phishing email scam. These scammers want you to think that you have a problem with your computer that doesn't exist! They want you to pay for tech support services you do not need, put viruses on your computer or steal your personal information.

Here’s how the scam works: a consumer receives an email or a phone call, from a company, like antivirus and antimalware provider Norton. They tell the consumer they are about to be charged for a company product, like a new order or auto-renewal, and that they should contact the company via a certain phone number if there’s a mistake. They usually provide a link to click on for renewal that could potentially be malware or a virus.

If you call, you’ll be most likely be connected to a scammer. You should NEVER call this number back if you are contacted by one of these fraudsters. You should also NEVER click the link provided in the email. This is the best way to protect your personal information from these scammers.

Some scammers might also ask you to “verify” your credit card information, while others might say they need your password to remote into your computer so they can remove/add the Norton program. But if you let them, they could install malware, block you from getting to your own files, and sell you worthless services.

A real-life example of this scam happened recently in the Bay Area in California. Local television affiliate KRON 4 reported on this scam last month.

"During the first incident, the victim was directed to cancel their subscription online by opening a web browser on their laptop. Opening the browser allowed the scammer to gain access to the victim’s laptop remotely and accessed their bank account information. A second incident occurred where a scammer posed again as a representative from Norton Antivirus, telling the victim the company accidentally deposited a large sum of money in the victim’s account and requested they transfer money back."

You can read the whole article here from KRON 4.

The FTC suggests the following to make sure you keep your personal information and computer safe:

If you get an email, phone call, or text you’re not sure about from someone posing as Norton or any other company:

Do not answer the phone of any phone number you do not know.
If you do answer the phone, don’t give your bank account, credit card, or personal information over the phone to someone who contacts you out of the blue and hang up immediately!
Don’t click on any links, emails or texts from a company or any person you do not know.
Make your passwords long, strong, and complex.
If you did give out your password, change it right away. Update your computer’s security software, run a scan, and delete anything it identifies as a problem.
Never give your password to a stranger on the phone, even if they claim to be from a company you recognize.

You can read more from the FTC here and report any of this kind of antivirus scam here.

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043 or visit www.illinoissmp.org.

April and May 2023 Workshops

April 5, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP and Benefit Access Presentation

Dolton Public Library (14037 Lincoln Ave. Dolton, IL 60419)

April 6, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Garden House Apartments (515 S 2nd Ave. Maywood, IL 60153)

April 12, 2023, at 1:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Valley Kingdom Christian Academy (5217 149th St. Oak Forest, Il 60452)

April 13, 2023, at 10:45 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

West Suburban Senior Service (439 Bohland Ave. Bellwood, IL 60104)

April 18^th at 10:00 am – Senior Expo

Buffalo Grove Park District (225 McHenry Rd, Buffalo Grove

April 19, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Forest Park Public Library (7555 Jackson Blvd. Forest Park, IL 60130)

April 25, 2023, at 1:00 pm – Spanish SMP with Benefit Access Presentation

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St. Blue Island, IL 60406)

April 28, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

The Barn (231 Civic Drive Schaumburg, IL 60193)

May 1, 2023, at 5:30 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

May 4, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

Garden House Apartments (515 S 2nd Ave. Maywood, IL 60153)

May 4, 2023, at 1:00 pm - SMP Types of Fraud and SMP Bingo

Schiller Park Public Library (4200 Old River Rd. Schiller Park, IL 60176)

May 5, 2023, at 10:30 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave, Evanston, IL 60202)

May 10, 2023,at 11:00 am - SMP Presentation & Bingo

The Quinn Center (815 Lexington St. Maywood, IL 60153)

May 10, 2023, at 12:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

Salerno's Pizzeria & Sports Bar - Hodgkins (9301 W 63rd St. Hodgkins, IL 60525)

May 11, 2023, at 10:00 am – North Riverside Senior Fair

North Riverside Parks & Recreation (2401 Desplaines Ave. North Riverside, IL 60546)

May 12, 2023, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Waukegan Township Community Center (411 S Lewis Ave. Waukegan, Illinois 60085)

May 16, 2023, at 7:00 pm – Bilingual SMP Bingo

Bensenville Community Public Library (200 S Church Rd. Bensenville, IL 60106)

May 17, 2023, at 12:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

May 17,2023, at 10:00 am - SMP Bingo

Oak Park Senior Services (130 S Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302)

May 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo #2

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

May 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm - Leyden Township Community Health Fair

Bradley A. Stephens Community Center (2620 N. Mannheim Road Franklin, IL 60131)

May 23, 2023, at 1:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Calumet City Public Library (660 Manistee Ave. Calumet City, IL 60409)

May 23, 2023, at 10:00 am – South Chicago Heights Senior Fair

South Chicago Heights Senior Citizen (3140 Enterprise Park Ave. South Chicago Heights, IL 60411)

May 26, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

The Barn (231 Civic Drive Schaumburg, IL 60193)

May 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

May 31, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP BINGO

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church (1101 N 23rd Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160)

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.

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