QuickBooks Users Beware: How to Stay Safe from Online Scammers

TL;DR: The Summit Hosting team is committed to ensuring your security against cyber-attacks, both within and outside our environments. As part of that commitment, we have an obligation to inform you that, recently, scammers have been creating fraudulent websites that mimic the official QuickBooks site to trick users into paying for unnecessary technical support. These websites download files and generate false error messages, prompting you to call a given phone number and pay for unnecessary technical support. To protect yourself, use Intuit's knowledge-base website directly, and verify the legitimacy of any phone numbers.

Introduction

As businesses continue to rely on technology for their daily operations, cyber-criminals have become more sophisticated in their attempts to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. One such scam that has recently emerged involves QuickBooks users being tricked into paying for unnecessary technical support services through fraudulent websites. In this blog post, we will discuss the scam and provide tips on how to protect yourself against it.

How The Scam Works

The scam begins when QuickBooks users search for support on Google. Scammers have created fake websites that look similar to the official QuickBooks website. These websites may offer "technical support" services and encourage users to take action. However, they also have the ability to download files to your computer without your knowledge.

Once you visit the scammer's website, they can send fraudulent QuickBooks error messages within your application, convincing you that there is an issue with your company file and giving you a phone number to call for help. These prompts are not legitimate and should immediately raise red flags.

How to Spot a Legitimate QuickBooks Error Message

It's important to note that any legitimate QuickBooks error message that comes up from within your application will contain the following:

• A searchable error code(s).
• A link to an Intuit Knowledge-based article for troubleshooting assistance

It is rare that a phone number would be displayed, and if one is, it should be verified by using Intuit's website.

How to Protect Yourself

To best protect yourself from this scam, we recommend that you always use Intuit's direct knowledge-base website to search for resolutions to your issues. This will eliminate the possibility of landing on a fraudulent and potentially malicious website. However, should you choose to use other avenues, such as a search engine like Google, always double-check the website you are visiting to ensure it is the official QuickBooks website.

If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a website or have any doubts about a phone call or email, do not hesitate to contact the QuickBooks support team.

Summit Hosting is here to help!

We have a great responsibility to educate and inform our users on matters of cyber-security. Threats such as this one could have a widespread impact and affect your access and data if you or someone within your business were to fall victim.

The best defense against any cyber-attack is knowing how the attacks are carried out and how to identify them. The Summit Hosting team is always on and will continue to help your business be "always secure," both inside and outside the hosted cloud environment.

For more information about how we help you stay secure, refer to our Blogposts discussing various facets of cyber security Here, Here, and Here. And to learn more about Summit Secure Workspace click Here!

In conclusion, it is important to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions when using QuickBooks or any other technology. By being aware of potential scams and following the tips provided, you can protect yourself and your business from cyber-criminals.