Tech support fraud

Definition
Tech support fraud occurs when the subject claims to be associated with a computer software or security company, or even a cable or Internet company, offering technical support to the victim.

Once the phony tech support company or representative makes verbal contact with the victim, the subject tries to convince the victim to provide remote access to their device. Once the subject has control, additional criminal activity occurs.

A variation of the fraud, where the subject contacts the victim offering a refund for tech support services previously rendered, has increased. The victim is convinced to allow the subject access to their device and to log onto their online bank account to process the refund. The subject then has control of the victim's device and bank account; With this access, the subject claims to have "mistakenly" refunded too much money to the victim's accounts, and requests the victim wire the difference back to the subject company. In reality, the subject transferred funds among the victim's own accounts (checking, savings, retirement, etc.) to make it appear as though funds were deposited. The victim wires money to the subject, thereby suffering a loss, and does not find out until later the "overpayment" was simply a shift of funds between the victim's own accounts; The refund and wiring process can occur multiple times, thereby exacerbating the losses.

Source

 * 2016 Internet Crime Report, at 11.