Buyer beware of Canon printer: I recently bought an inexpensive Canon all-in-one printer model MG3620 from Target. When I tried to connect it to my MacBook and download the driver, I...

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

I recently bought an inexpensive Canon all-in-one printer model MG3620 from Target. When I tried to connect it to my MacBook and download the driver, I got an error message that announced a “critical error.” It said to call a support number. When I did, the tech had me go through a bunch of things and he concluded my computer had a Trojan worm. He wanted me to proceed to investigate with him. I got a bad feeling and told him I would only deal with Apple and he hung up. I did some research and evidently this is a scam where he eventually would have charged me $99. Btw, I never have been able to connect and the printer is going back. I did run an antivirus check with a Bitdefender, supposedly the best antivirus program for at least Mac, and nothing showed up. What is Canon doing, allowing something like this fraud to be perpetrated on purchasers?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If anything I buy is DOA, it goes back immediately. I'm not going to mess around with a new item to get it to work. Do not settle for junk!

bleirer

Was it this? They say to type usa.canon.com/support directly into the address bar at the top of the browser, not into a search engine. Apparently fake support sites using Canon logo can pop up in the search.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/to-our-customers/official-canon-product-support

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

at least call Canon. their CS reps are very good. 800-652-2666

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

jerryc41 wrote:

If anything I buy is DOA, it goes back immediately. I'm not going to mess around with a new item to get it to work. Do not settle for junk!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

lamontcranston

Isn't that called "Ransomware" where some unknown tech freezes your computer and you have to pay a large sum to have him repair it? I didn't know it would attack MAC equipment.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

bleirer wrote:

Was it this? They say to type usa.canon.com/support directly into the address bar at the top of the browser, not into a search engine. Apparently fake support sites using Canon logo can pop up in the search.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/to-our-customers/official-canon-product-support

I don’t know anything more than to say I followed the instructions in the box and had this experience. I guess I am fortunate that it was not worse.

User ID

genocolo wrote:

I don’t know anything more than to say I followed the instructions in the box and had this experience. I guess I am fortunate that it was not worse.

Some small detail was an exception to your belief that that you were clean and careful. Some little slip-up got past your most careful efforts.

bleirer

genocolo wrote:

I don’t know anything more than to say I followed the instructions in the box and had this experience. I guess I am fortunate that it was not worse.

So you called the 800 number given in the instructions and got a scam, or did you go through the website? I'm sure Canon support is fine, I just called them a few days ago, but I'm just wondering where you got misdirected to the scammer.

User ID

bleirer wrote:

So you called the 800 number given in the instructions and got a scam, or did you go through the website? I'm sure Canon support is fine, I just called them a few days ago, but I'm just wondering where you got misdirected to the scammer.

Typically the official download is actually handled by a 3rd party server. When you get to the page with the “Press Here to Download” button, the button you really want is smallish and is further down the page. Higher up on that page are large impressive “Press to Download” buttons that lead to places you did not intend to go. Yes, the 3rd party DL server used by the “good guys” is also polluted by the “shady guys”. It’s an imperfect world.

Thaz just one example. There are many others but the thing is they are seldom truly dishonest. They are usually just cleverly misleading and confusing.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

genocolo wrote:

I did run an antivirus check with a Bitdefender, supposedly the best antivirus program for at least Mac, and nothing showed up.

Although your computer is likely clean, I suggest that you run Malwarebytes as well as your antivirus. I've had occasions where Malwarebytes detected (and eliminated) evil that had evaded my antivirus. There's a free version you can download and run.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you can edit the title of your post, you should change it to something like “beware of look-alike Canon support websites”. You obviously got a scammer, not actual Canon support, which is completely reputable (from my long experience). If you haven’t already returned the printer, go to the actual Canon USA website, download the correct driver installation package, and if the install fails, call or chat with the REAL Canon support.

johnec Loc: Lancaster county, PA

bleirer wrote:

Was it this? They say to type usa.canon.com/support directly into the address bar at the top of the browser, not into a search engine. Apparently fake support sites using Canon logo can pop up in the search.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/to-our-customers/official-canon-product-support

That is exactly what it is (fake support sites). I had the very same experience as the OP. You can't let your guard down for even a second. What a shame that we live in a world where you have to be skeptical every moment just to protect yourself.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

TriX wrote:

If you can edit the title of your post, you should change it to something like “beware of look-alike Canon support websites”...

Title changes can only be made for an hour after posting, same as opening comments and replies (the exception is in Buy/Sell forum).

Misplaced blame has become rampant in our society, made more dangerous by how quickly comments can be seen by others and passed along. Critical, thoughtful examination of facts is a nearly extinct art.

tcthome Loc: NJ

My neighbor went thru something like that with an HP printer. Finally he found someone thru a friend & they fixed it for nothing. McAfee tried that with me once. I said so I can go online & tell everyone you want to charge me for something I already paid for that doesn't work & wala! , My problem vanished all of a sudden.

With Canon you have to go thru the Canon website & nowhere else, I have had good experiences with Canon for tech support.