You're just browsing the internet when suddenly, your screen is filled with an alarming pop-up. It flashes and beeps, warning you that your computer is infected with a serious virus. The message might even have a well-known logo from a trusted company like Microsoft, Apple, or Geek Squad. A phone number appears with a bold message: "Call immediately for tech support!" Your first instinct might be to click or call, but here’s a crucial piece of advice: don't. That urgent security message is a scam.
The Anatomy of a Tech Support Scam
Tech support scammers are criminals who want to trick you into giving them money or remote access to your computer. They use fear and urgency to cloud your judgment, hoping you’ll panic and do exactly what they say. These scams often come in a few forms:
- The Pop-Up Alert: This is the most common one. The scammer has a website that triggers a full-screen pop-up that mimics a real security alert. It might even lock your browser or make it difficult to close the window. The goal is to make you believe your computer is in critical condition and you have no choice but to call the number.
- The Unsolicited Call: The scammer calls you directly, claiming to be a representative from a tech company. They might even use a "spoofed" phone number to make it look legitimate on your caller ID. They'll use technical jargon to convince you they’ve detected a problem with your device.
- The Fake Website: They create websites that look exactly like those of legitimate tech companies. These sites might appear in your search results through paid ads, and once you're there, they'll try to get you to call a fake "support" number.
Once you’re on the phone, the scammer will try to get you to give them remote access to your computer. They'll then pretend to run diagnostics, showing you harmless system files and claiming they are proof of a serious virus or malware. To "fix" this non-existent problem, they'll demand payment, often through hard-to-trace methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Your Scam-Spotting Guide
You have the power to stop these scams. Just remember a few key things:
- Legitimate Companies Don't Call You: Microsoft, Apple, and other reputable tech companies will never call you out of the blue to tell you there’s a problem with your computer. They also won't use pop-up alerts with a phone number for you to call.
- Be Skeptical of Urgency: A real security alert will tell you to run a scan or update your software, not to call a specific number immediately. Scammers use urgency to get you to act before you can think.
- Look at the Details: Check the URL of any website you're on. Does it look exactly like the official site, or is there a weird typo? Scammers often use slightly altered URLs to trick you.
- Do Not Grant Remote Access: Never give anyone you don’t know remote access to your computer, and certainly not to someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
What to Do If You See a Fake Alert
- Close the Browser: Don't click on any buttons on the pop-up. If you can, just close the browser window. If it's a full-screen takeover, you may need to force-quit the program (using Task Manager on Windows or Force Quit on a Mac) or simply restart your computer.
- Verify Independently: If you're concerned about your computer's health, go directly to your antivirus software's official website and run a scan. Don’t use the information from the suspicious message.
- Report It: You can help stop these scammers by reporting them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
By staying calm and following these simple steps, you can protect your computer and your wallet from these deceptive scams.
