What Are Tech Support Scams?
Tech support scams are a growing issue for consumers, posing serious personal information and financial risks. These scams typically involve someone impersonating a tech support professional from a legitimate, well-known company who offers to help unsuspecting victims solve computer-related problems like viruses.
The end goal of such fraud and scams is to trick victims, often older adults, into providing personal and financial information or allowing remote access to their computers.
The recent Geek Squad tech support scam involved scammers impersonating Best Buy employees. The scammers persuaded victims to provide remote computer access, after which they installed spyware and stole banking credentials.
Tech Support Scam Types
While they all aim to exploit unsuspecting victims for personal gain, tech support scams come in various forms and use different tools of communication and methods of fraud. Understanding the different types of scams can help people recognize warning signs and protect themselves from these malicious schemes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned the public about tech support scams targeting financial accounts using remote desktop software. Scammers are also constantly adapting their tactics, so staying up to date about the latest tech support scams is key to preventing a data breach.
Phone Call Scams
Phone call scams are prevalent, with many tech support scammers using robocalls to reach potential victims. Scammers then impersonate representatives from well-known tech companies or claim to be part of a support team that fixes computer issues.
They may ask for remote access to your computer or request personal information under the guise of verifying your identity. To protect yourself, be cautious when answering unfamiliar calls and don’t give out sensitive information.
Web Scams
Web scams often use pop-up ads or fake websites to try to trick you into believing your computer is compromised and needs tech support. To stay safe, never click on suspicious pop-ups or links in unsolicited messages.
These tech support scams cast a wide net and can be highly lucrative. One web scam generated more than $10 million from more than 20,000 victims. They can also lead to significant financial losses for individuals, with one U.S. couple losing $1.1 million in a web scam.
Email Scams
Email scams typically involve phishing attempts. Scammers send emails impersonating a legitimate tech support company or popular service like iCloud.
The scammers will often claim to have detected unusual activity on a victim’s account, then request their personal information or direct them to a malicious website. Always double-check a sender’s email address and avoid clicking on unknown links or attachments.
Avoiding Tech Support Scams
The No. 1 piece of advice government agencies offer to avoid tech support scams is to remember that legitimate tech support companies will never initiate unsolicited contact. If you receive a phone call or email telling you that your computer has been hacked or infected by malware, hang up the phone or do not reply to the message.
Here are five key tips to better protect your information and significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to a support tech scam:
- Always keep your computer's security software updated.
- Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, emails or pop-up ads offering tech support or claiming that your digital devices are infected or compromised.
- Educate yourself and stay informed and vigilant about the latest scam tactics.
- Never provide personal or financial information or remote access to your computer to someone you don't know and trust.
- Verify the identity of any person claiming to be from tech support before providing any information.
Individuals who are less computer literate are particularly susceptible to tech support scams and are encouraged to exercise caution. Be assertive in your interactions and safeguard your personal information.
What to Do if You Were Scammed
If you think you may have been scammed or are questioning an interaction, it’s crucial to act quickly. Take the following steps to protect your information and finances:
- Depending on how you paid, contact the proper financial institution (bank or credit card company) to stop the transaction.
- If you paid with a gift card, contact the issuing company and request a refund.
- Secure potentially compromised personal information and change any passwords and login information.
- Keep original documentation, emails, faxes and logs of all communications.
- Report the scam to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Response Center, your state attorney general's office, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Better Business Bureau.
Expect additional attempts at contact as tech support scammers often share the database of information they collect. Stay informed, be cautious moving forward and learn from your experience to avoid future scams.
Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making decisions about your health or finances.
FAQs
Two Things To Know To Avoid a Tech Support Scam
How to spot tech support scams? ›
If a caller says your computer has a problem, hang up. A tech support call you don't expect is a scam —even if the number is local or looks legitimate. These scammers use fake caller ID information to look like local businesses or trusted companies. If you get a pop-up message to call tech support, ignore it.
How do I know if Microsoft support is legit? ›
One of the ways to identify whether an email is from Microsoft support is to check the sender's email address. Microsoft support uses the following domains to send emails: microsoft.com. microsoftsupport.com.
How many people fall for tech support scams? ›
And the reported losses are way up. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center 2022 annual report, more than 32,000 people fell victim to tech support scams and reported losing over $806 million. This is a 136 percent increase year-over-year.
Is it true that you get a call from technical support asking if your computer has been fixed? ›
If you get an unexpected call, email, or pop-up message from an unfamiliar company about a computer problem, it is likely a tech support scam. And be aware that scammers may also pretend to be from a local business or a well-known company.
What is one tactic commonly used in tech support scams? ›
Tech support scammers often call and pretend to be a computer technician from a well-known company. They say they've found a problem with your computer. They typically ask you to give them remote access to your computer and then pretend to run a diagnostic test.
Where do most tech support scams come from? ›
Technical support scams can begin in a variety of ways. Some variants of the scam are initiated using pop-up advertising on infected websites or via cybersquatting of major websites.
How do I know if a Microsoft security alert is real? ›
These notifications can include security codes for two-step verification and account update information, such as password changes. Check the email address contains the domain @accountprotection.microsoft.com. You can also view the email's message headers to be sure the email is from Microsoft.
How do I know if a text from Microsoft is legit? ›
If you receive:
- A text with a help link. No action is needed on your part. We've completed the process for you.
- A text with a security code. Use the Microsoft account security code in the message to verify your Microsoft account info as needed.
What do I do if I get a Windows Defender security warning? If you get the Windows Defender security warning, close your web browser, reopen it, and check if the warning still appears. If it does, reinstall the browser, look for suspicious apps on your computer, or run an antivirus scan.
In today's digital age, tech support scams have become increasingly prevalent, targeting both individuals and small businesses. Scammers pose as legitimate technical support representatives, aiming to exploit victims' trust in well-known tech companies.
Should you receive an unexpected phone call from Microsoft technical support? ›
Don't provide any personal information. Warning: If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Support, hang up. We do not make these kinds of calls.
Who are the victims of tech support scams? ›
Tech support scam stats
Tech support scam cases have reached record numbers with 32.5K yearly victims (around 89 victims per day) in 2022. Victims have reported the highest average financial loss to tech support scams in 2022 ($24.8K per victim).
Does Microsoft lock your computer and tell you to call them? ›
Microsoft (or any other legitimate company) will never lock up your computer with a popup banner asking you to contact them for assistance. To kill the stuck browser process, do whichever of the following works: Press F11 to exit the browser from full screen mode, then close the tab.
How do you know if your computer has been compromised? ›
10 signs that your computer has been hacked
- Unusual pop-ups and ads. Suspicious pop-ups ads, and fake antivirus messages usually appear in your browser or on your desktop. ...
- Slow performance. ...
- Unusual network activity. ...
- Suspicious programs. ...
- Missing or modified files. ...
- Unrecognized emails. ...
- Browser changes. ...
- Disabled security software.
Check the recent activity on your computer: Look for anything you don't recognize -- recently accessed files, login events, browser history, and system logs. Review installed programs: Look for remote access programs you didn't install. Some of the most common apps include LogMeIn and TeamViewer.
How do you know if you are chatting with a scammer? ›
You might be dealing with an online scammer if they request sensitive personal information, money, or insist on speaking on a chat app of their choice. You might be dealing with an online scammer if they request sensitive personal information, money, or insist on speaking on a chat app of their choice.
How do you deal with tech support scams? ›
What to do if you've been scammed
- Disconnect from the scam. ...
- Scan your computer. ...
- Change your passwords. ...
- Contact your bank and credit card companies. ...
- Report the scam. ...
- Update your operating system and software. Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. ...
- Seek the advice of a professional.
It's probably a scam if:
- A call or text sounds too good to be true. ...
- Someone you don't know has your personal details. ...
- A message contains links or attachments. ...
- You feel pressured to act quickly. ...
- Someone requests money in an unusual or specific way.
