Tech support scams work by creating urgency and fear: a scary pop-up, an unexpected phone call, or a message claiming your computer is infected or your account is compromised. The goal is always the same: get you to act quickly, before you have time to think it through or ask someone else. Once you know the pattern, it becomes much easier to recognize.
The golden rule: A real company (Microsoft, Apple, your bank, Amazon, the IRS) will never call you out of the blue, or show you a pop-up, asking you to pay them or give them remote access to your computer. If that's happening, it's a scam, every time.
Common warning signs
- A pop-up appears saying your computer is infected, often with a loud alarm sound and a phone number to call "immediately."
- Someone calls claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, or your internet provider, saying they detected a problem with your device.
- You're asked to install a remote-access program so someone can "look at" your computer.
- You're asked to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency: real companies never ask for payment this way.
- There's pressure to act right now, with warnings that waiting will make things worse.
What to do if it happens to you
- Don't call the number on the pop-up. Close the browser window or restart the computer instead. The pop-up itself usually can't actually harm anything: it's designed to scare you into calling.
- Hang up on unexpected callers claiming to be tech support, even if they sound professional or know some of your information. Real companies don't cold-call about computer problems.
- Never install software or give remote access to someone who contacted you first. If you called a company yourself for a known reason, that's different.
- If you already gave access or paid, disconnect the computer from the internet, and contact your bank or card company right away if any payment was involved. It's okay. This happens to smart, careful people, and acting quickly helps.
The best long-term protection
Having someone you trust to call and double-check before acting on anything urgent-sounding is often more effective than any software. If something feels off, it's always okay to pause and ask. A real company will never penalize you for taking a moment to verify.
Want a second opinion, or your computer checked?
If you're ever unsure whether something is a real problem or a scam, call us first, no charge for the phone call. We can also set up protection so pop-ups like this are less likely to appear at all.
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