You open your email and find a message saying your account will be closed unless you click a link right now. Or maybe a pop-up appears warning that your computer is infected and you must call a phone number immediately. These are scams, and knowing how to spot them can save you a lot of trouble.
What Are Tech Support Scams?
Tech support scams are tricks designed to make you think something is wrong with your computer, your account, or your identity. The goal is to get you to hand over money or personal information. They show up as pop-up warnings, fake phone calls, text messages, and emails.
The Most Common Warning Signs
- Urgency: Messages that say you must act in the next hour or something terrible will happen. Real companies almost never send messages like this.
- A phone number to call: Legitimate tech companies like Microsoft or Apple do not call you unsolicited or ask you to call a special number through a pop-up.
- Spelling mistakes and strange addresses: A message from “Amaz0n” or “[email protected]” is not from a real company.
- Requests for remote access: If someone asks to connect to your computer to fix a problem you did not report, hang up or close the window.
- Requests for gift cards: No legitimate company, government agency, or tech support service will ever ask you to pay with a gift card. This is always a scam.
Scam Phone Calls
Many tech support scams happen by phone. The caller may say they are from Microsoft, Apple or your internet provider. They may say your computer has a virus, your account has been hacked, or your warranty is expiring, and that you must act right now.
Your internet provider and your bank will never call you out of the blue about a technical problem. These companies do not monitor your device for viruses and then call you when they find something.
If this happens to you, hang up. Do not call back any number they give you.
What to Do When You See One
- Do not click any links or call any phone numbers in the message.
- If a pop-up will not close, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on Windows or use Force Quit on a Mac to close the browser.
- If you already called a number, end the call immediately.
- If you gave someone remote access to your computer, disconnect from the internet right away and tell someone you trust.
- Do not let anyone you did not contact first access your computer.
If You Have Already Paid, Shared Details or Given Access
- If you have not already done so, unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi. The computer should then be offline, so a remote session that depends on the internet should stop.
- Contact your bank or card issuer straight away if you paid or gave card or bank details. Use the phone number on your card, not one from the scam.
- Change your passwords from a different device that you know is safe, such as a phone. Start with your email and bank accounts. Once a password is changed, the old one should stop working for that account.
- If you are not sure your computer is safe, get professional help. A trusted computer repair service can check it before you use it again.
Then report the scam, as described below.
How to Report a Scam
You can report tech support scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Reporting helps authorities track these scams and warn others.
The best protection is simply knowing these tricks exist. Once you recognise the pattern, the scams become much easier to spot and ignore.
Last updated: October 9, 2026