Marlborough Resident Targeted By Fake Comcast Worker: PD

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Marlborough police are warning residents about a new phone scam targeting Comcast customers. A resident got a call from a fake Comcast employee. The fake employee told them to go to their computer and hit the windows key and the letter R key at the same time, followed by additional prompts, police said.

This is a scam – Comcast, Microsoft and companies like it will not call you, according to police. If you get a call like this, police said you should hang up, as the scammer could be trying to remotely access files on your computer. Here are some tips to avoid tech support scams, courtesy of the FTC:

Phone calls

Tech support scammers may call and pretend to be a computer technician from a well-known company. They say they've found a problem with your computer. They often ask you to give them remote access to your computer and then pretend to run a diagnostic test. Then they try to make you pay to fix a problem that doesn't exist. Listen to an

If you get a phone call you didn't expect from someone who says there's a problem with your computer, hang up.

Pop-up warnings

Tech support scammers may try to lure you with a pop-up window that appears on your computer screen. It might look like an error message from your operating system or antivirus software, and it might use logos from trusted companies or websites. The message in the window warns of a security issue on your computer and tells you to call a phone number to get help.

Online ads and listings in search results pages

Tech support scammers try to get their websites to show up in online search results for tech support. Or they might run their own ads online. The scammers are hoping you'll call the phone number to get help.

If you're looking for tech support, go to a company you know and trust.

2 things to know to avoid a tech support scam 1. Legitimate tech companies won't contact you by phone, email or text message to tell you there's a problem with your computer. 2. Security pop-up warnings from real tech companies will never ask you to call a phone number.

Click here for more tips about what to do if you believe you were scammed.