Tech Support Scams Use Deceptive Tactics to Steal Money, Personal Information

These scams often begin with a bogus pop-up

(FTC) – The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning that tech support scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to trick people into believing their computer has a virus or serious problem, pressuring them into paying for fake services or giving up personal information.

These scams often begin with a bogus pop-up warning that appears to be from a well-known company and urges the user to call a phone number for help.

In other cases, scammers make unsolicited calls or send text messages while pretending to be computer technicians from reputable companies.

Scammers may create fake websites or online ads that appear in search results for tech support. Once a victim calls, the scammer requests remote access to the computer and pretends to scan for viruses.

They falsely claim to find harmful software and offer to remove it for a fee, insisting on payment through gift cards, wire transfers, bank transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps, methods that make it difficult to recover the money.

Some scams escalate further by introducing a second impersonator who pretends to be a government official. They claim the victim’s accounts are linked to criminal activity such as money laundering or drug trafficking.

To “protect” their money, victims are told to withdraw funds, deposit them in a so-called federal safety locker, or convert the money to gold or cash and hand it over. These demands are clear signs of a scam, as government agencies never instruct people to transfer money or pay in these ways.

Another common tactic involves fake invoices or subscription renewal notices from companies like Geek Squad, McAfee, or Norton. Victims are told they were charged for tech support services and must call within 24 hours to dispute the charge.

When they call, scammers request remote access and guide them to a fake website to enter banking or credit card information. They then pretend to issue a refund but claim an error was made and pressure the victim to send money back using untraceable payment methods.

To avoid tech support scams, experts urge people to remember two key facts: legitimate tech companies will not contact customers directly to report a problem, and real security pop-ups will never instruct users to call a phone number.

If unsure, individuals should speak with someone they trust. If there is a real concern about the computer, they should update security software and run a scan or seek help from a trusted source or store.

Those who have already paid a scammer, shared personal information, or allowed remote access should take immediate action by changing passwords, securing accounts, and contacting their bank or credit card company.

Suspicious charges should be reported and, if possible, reversed.

The Federal Trade Commission encourages anyone targeted by a tech support scam to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Each report helps the FTC build cases and stop scammers from targeting others.

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