Security News > 2021 > July > Tech support scams subside somewhat, but Millennials and Gen Z think they're bulletproof and suffer

Millennials and Gen Z - not Boomers - fall prey most frequently, according to Microsoft in its 2021 Global Tech Support Scam Research report, released Thursday.

Tech support scams involve cybercriminals convincing users they have malware or other problems with their computer that can best be addressed with unsolicited proactive assistance.

Microsoft commissioned YouGov to survey netizens in 16 nations about their tech support scam experiences.

What may seem surprising to many who act as ad hoc tech support for their older parents is that the study found people aged 18 to 37 were the most likely to continue interactions once targeted by scams - 23 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials failed to ignore scammers.

Men fell for tech support scams more than women, the survey found.

A tech support professional told The Register stolen information like credit card numbers can end up sold on the dark web, leaving a gap between the scam incident and when the card is used or a bank alerts the victim of the fraud.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/07/23/microsoft_tech_support_scam_research/