Sterling Heights resident Shirley Kollar says she was alarmed when she got a call saying there was something wrong with her computer.
The person on the other end led her to believe the hard drive had been compromised and was at great risk They told her her the computer could be fixed, but that it would cost $200.
Both she and her husband forked over the money just before realizing it was all a big ploy to make some cash - all while getting backdoor access to her sensitive information.
Dave Schippers, Walsh College professor of cyber security, says that’s the goal. They want to get in your computer and then take it over, by loading their own software into the system.
And he says Kollar is not alone. He has friends and even students who have been targeted by the same exact scam.
For hackers, getting access is like getting a digital golden ticket.
Schippers has some tips of what you can do if you've fallen victim to this scam. If you gave them your credit card information, cancel it immediately. Also, make sure to take your computer to a professional who can restore it if it’s been compromised.
