Technical support scams, or tech support scam, is a type of fraud in which a scammer claims to offer a legitimate technical support service. Victims contact scammers in a variety of ways, often through fake pop-ups resembling error messages or through fake "helplines" advertised on websites owned by the scammers.
Technical (or tech) support scams are a type of fraud where a scammer claims to offer a legitimate technical support service. Victims are tricked into contacting these scammers in a variety of ways. The most common way are fake pop-ups that look like errors or warning messages telling you you need to contact someone immediately. Another method is the use of fake "helplines" advertised on websites that promise to help you solve a non-existent problem.
Once they have your attention, tech support scammers use several tactics to fool victims. In general, they will always try to sound legitimate by claiming to be from a genuine, even well-known company. They’ll present the “problem” as something urgent creating a sense of fear and panic. They will rush you into getting your credit card out rather than listen to your better judgment. A tech support scammer’s goal is to gain access to your sensitive details on your computer, like credit card or bank information, or any other useful personal details.
Technical support scam examples:
To get out of the support scam windows:
- Press Esc on your keyboard.
- Click the X at the top-right corner of the support scam windows. If you can see the URL, please send it to us to analyze it.
If you encounter a technical support scam by phone, the first thing to do is to ignore this and never call the number or provide information.
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