HP Smart App Online Support Fraud

[jensbiz]

On September 25, my HP Envy 4250 would not print in color.  I ran a diagnostic and the HP Support pop up directed me to *bleep* for assistance.  Since it was an HP Support pop-up, I had no reason to suspect the number was not legitimate.  I was connected to Mike agent #6863.  I was disconnected and called back and was connected to "Mike" again.  He informed me there was no way he could disconnect me but I was lucky to get him again.  As I explained my issue and he asked me to run more trouble shooting, he explained that my issue was not printer-related rather an issue with network communication and to fix it would be a fee.  He also needed access to my computer through a chat/app called Zono, I think?   I did not leave my computer as he asked me questions and fixed the issue.  I did not see him perform anything questionable however, he did ask about my security and even encouraged me to remove it from my computer as he stated that was what was causing the network communication errors with how codes were being received.  I ended up paying $199 for the fix. I paid with PayPal as I did not feel comfortable giving my credit card over the phone.  The company the charge came from was called TruBronzerLLC.  Once the chat ended, I immediately disconnected the chat app and changed my PayPal password.  Long story short, 2 days later, I received a cell phone voicemail message from the *bleep* number.  It was 2 min and 58 sec long.  The voice sounded like "Mike" but in a foreign language with sounds of traffic and cars in the background.   Since then, I have started receiving a ridiculous amount of spam that I cannot block and an AVAST pop-up asking me to set up an account that I did not initiate.  So far I have not had issues with additional PayPal charges or credit card charges.   Is there anything else on my computer that I need to search for and remove?  My security software has not indicated any suspicious attacks, but there are just too many little oddities, including my printer suddenly not printing color again that have me concerned. (Fixed printer with virtual assistant this time.) Anyone else dealt with this?

[Repairatrooper]

Fraud artists and hackers are out there and go to extreme lengths to get money and useful information. Sadly once they have  foothold in your computer, putting fake "popups" is easy to do and that sounds like what has happened here. Cleaning up all traces can be a difficult proposition and you might want to seek a local trusted computer store to check your machine and ensure that no other malware, spyware or backdoors are still installed.