Chat Hack Scam

[Mamacat7]

Monday night I went to the HP WEBSITE for support because my laptop screen is flickering. I hit the CHAT window for help FROM THE HP WEBSITE PAGE. I was connected to someone. I told them my issue. They said they needed to connect to my laptop remotely to check it so I gave them permission to do that. I am NEVER comfortable doing this but I was on HP's website, right? There was a message that popped up that said that I could disconnect at any time if I did not feel comfortable with the remote access. After a few chat messages, It was pretty evident that English was not this person's best language and after almost an hour of them "checking" my laptop, I shut the access off and my screen issue was not resolved. I did not get any kind of email from HP about my CHAT session like you usually do afterwards and can find no record of it happening. Now, I am concerned that this may have been a hacker. Has anyone else had this happen? I know that you NEVER respond to emails and phone calls because of scammers but I was on HP's website so I figured I was safe. Now I do not feel like this was an actual HP rep and I don't know what to do!

[Ric_ob]

As for scammers in the community:

Be alert for scammers who may be posing as HP support representatives, particularly those who claim to be “HP Helpdesk”.

Only call numbers from people who have a HP badge on their profile page.

If you think you have received a fake HP Support message, please report it to us by clicking on the blue "Report Inappropriate Content" button above the message in the Private Message portion of the Community.



Thank you!



Kind regards,



Ric_Ob

[Dragon-Fur]

@Mamacat7 

Welcome to the HP User Community.

I am sorry this happened.

Sounds wrong in my opinion...

If you were able to open a random Chat session on a website, it was not HP Support.

In so much that I am aware,

HP Support does not post / host pop-up Chat sessions with HP Support representatives.

How to contact HP Support

Initiate contact with  HP World-Wide Support

In the USA, first contact is made online - submit your case using your in-warranty device serial number.

The serial number is checked -- the case submission is accepted or not, depending on the status.

After submission, contact options are presented on the screen.

Yes, in some regions and during certain hours of the day, Chat is supported.

Why the "go around" to actually speak with HP?

HP does  not generally accept out-of-warranty submissions for help.

Case submission is deliberately structured to protect both the interests of HP and the consumer.

What if?

IF you have a registered and in-warranty device

If you cannot submit your case to HP - let us know and we can ask for help.

Who is "real"?

There are SO MANY sites on the Internet -

Some of the "get help" sites are legitimate - their wording might be persuasive but the site does not say "We are HP."  Legal claims are taken seriously in the corporate world - some websites skate on the corners of what is allowed.

Some sites are merely fronts for scams and various nefarious activities.

For example,

If it is "too easy", too fast, and the first thing they want is access to your computer, this is a RED flag - hang up.

If they want to dig in your personal data AT ALL, this is a red flag - hang up.

If they want a credit card - just in case - this is a red flag - hang up.

If they tell you that your computer is full of bugs and needs security software - hang up.

What to do?

What you do now depends on the extent of what happened to your computer.

Consider anything accessible on the computer as a potential security hole.

Passwords, bank records, contracts, documents, personal images, letters, medical records, web history, address books...

All of it is vulnerable to a fast moving, skilled, and determined hacker.

Change your passwords,  call your bank, contact anyone in an address book that could have been compromised  -- do what you can to protect yourself moving forward.

Scan your data using your best security software.

Take a minute to forgive yourself.  You are NOT the only one to be tricked.

Talk to someone -- family, colleague, friend, church or community -- get some personal support.

READ – Be Informed – Be Aware

HP Fraud Alert: Protecting Yourself from Scams | HP® Official Site

HP Fraud Alert: Protect Yourself from Scams, Report Suspicious Calls

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