How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams

How a Tech Support Scam Works

Tech support scammers use different tactics to trick you into believing there’s a virus or other issue with your computer.

Tech support scams often start with a bogus warning about a problem with your computer. It could be a fake pop-up warning that looks like it’s from a well-known company and urges you to call a phone number to get help. Other tech support scams might start with a call or text message from a scammer who pretends they’re a computer technician from a well-known company.

[Listen to an FTC undercover call with a tech support scammer.]

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

If one of these tech support impersonators gets you on the phone, they ask for remote access to your computer and pretend to scan it for viruses. They claim to find a malicious program and offer to remove it for a fee.

They often insist that you pay with gift cards, a wire transfer, a bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. They want you to pay in one of these ways because it’s like using cash — once you pay, it’s hard to get your money back.

Other Types of Tech Support Scams

Serious crimes and bogus helpers

Sometimes, the fake tech support specialist with remote access to your computer pretends to scan it for viruses and claims to discover that someone hacked your accounts. Or that your name is linked to serious crimes, like money laundering or drug trafficking.

That’s when the tech support impersonator transfers you to someone who supposedly works for the government and can help you. That’s a lie. This person is a scammer who may give you a badge number or open a case number. Both are fake. How can you know? Because of what comes next. He says your money is at risk and you have to protect it immediately. He might say to

• withdraw money from your account to “protect it,”
• deposit money in a “federal safety locker,” or
• buy gold or get cash and give it to someone.

And that’s how you know it’s a scam. Because someone who works for the government will never say you must transfer your money to “protect it.”

Someone who works for the government will never tell you to put your money in a federal safety locker. There’s no such thing.

Someone who works for the government will never demand payment. Not in cash. Not in gold.

Fake invoices and subscription renewals

In another type of scheme, scammers send notices about automatic renewals for tech support subscriptions. You might get an email or text message that says you were charged hundreds of dollars to renew your tech support subscription. To get your attention, the scammers use the names of well-known companies like Geek Squad, McAfee, and Norton.

The message says you must call a phone number within 24 hours if you want to dispute the charge. If you call, the scammers ask for remote access to your computer. They take you to a spoofed website that looks real and tell you to enter your bank or credit card information to process the refund. After you do that, they claim there was an error in the amount entered. They say they refunded you too much money and insist you pay them back with gift cards, a wire transfer, a bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.

If you get a message about a tech support subscription renewal and you think it’s real, contact the company directly using a phone number you know is real. Do not use the number included in the message.

Also check your credit card or bank account for an unauthorized transaction for a tech support subscription. If you see one, report it to your credit card company or bank and ask them to reverse it and give you back your money. If you don’t see a transaction for a tech support subscription, that tells you the message was a scam. Ignore and delete it.

How To Avoid a Tech Support Scam

Most tech support scams rely on elaborate stories, threats, and pressure to con you into giving up your financial information or your hard-earned money. But remembering these two things will help you 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. Real security pop-up warnings and messages will never ask you to call a phone number.

Not sure if it’s a scam? Talk to someone you trust — a friend, a family member, a neighbor. Talking about it could help you realize it's a scam.

If you think there may be a problem with your computer, update your computer’s security software and run a scan. If you need help fixing a problem, go to someone you know and trust. Many software companies offer support online or by phone. Stores that sell computer equipment also offer technical support in person.

What To Do if You Were Scammed

Read What To Do if You Were Scammed for specific steps to take if you

• paid a scammer
• gave a scammer your personal information
• gave a scammer access to your computer

If you gave your username and password to a tech support scammer, change your password right away. If you use the same password for other accounts or sites, change it there, too. Create a new password that is strong.

Report Tech Support Scams

If a tech support scammer contacts you, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

When you report a scam, the FTC uses the information to build cases against scammers. Are you skeptical that reporting scams will make a difference? This video shows how your story helps the FTC stop scammers.