Tech Support Scams: How They Work and How to Stop Them

A tech support scam starts with a scare: a pop-up that seems to lock your screen, a call from someone who says your computer has a virus, or an email about a subscription you don’t remember buying. The goal is always the same. The scammer wants remote access to your device and a payment that is hard to reverse.

The FTC’s rule is simple: legitimate tech companies won’t contact you by phone, email, or text about problems with your computer. Older adults are a frequent target, but these scams catch careful people of every age because the warnings look official.

This guide covers the four ways these scams start, what happens next, the warning signs, and exactly what to do if you already let someone in or paid. It was checked against Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer advice on October 7, 2026.

Four ways tech support scams start

1. The pop-up. A web page fills the screen with alarms, a flashing warning, or a fake “Microsoft” or “Apple” logo, and tells you to call a number right away. It’s just a web page, not a real infection. See How to Spot a Fake Tech-Support Pop-Up for how to close it.
2. The call. Someone says they are from Microsoft, Apple, your internet provider, or a security company and that they’ve detected a problem with your computer.
3. The search ad. You search for help with a printer, email, or bank account and click an ad that leads to a fake support line run by scammers.
4. The renewal or refund email. An “invoice” says your antivirus or computer protection plan renewed for several hundred dollars. Call to cancel, it says. The person who answers offers a refund, which leads to the next step.

What happens next

• Remote access. You’re asked to install a program so a “technician” can connect to your computer. Once connected, they can see your screen, open files, and move the mouse.
• A fake diagnosis. They show you normal system messages and call them proof of a virus or hacking.
• The payment. You’re charged for a repair, software, or a long “protection plan.” Some ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• The fake refund. In the refund version, they ask you to log in to your bank “to receive the refund,” then secretly change the numbers on the screen to make it look like they sent too much. They ask you to send the difference back by gift card or wire. No refund was ever sent.
• The escalation. Some move on to claiming your bank account is compromised, or that a government agency is involved, and that you must move your money to a “safe” account. That’s a scam. No real agency or bank asks you to move money to protect it.

Warning signs

• A security warning that tells you to call a phone number. Real ones don’t.
• An unexpected call, text, or email about a problem with your computer.
• Any request for remote access from someone who contacted you first.
• Payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.
• A refund that requires you to log in to your bank while they’re connected.
• Being told to keep it secret from family or the bank.

What to do instead

• Hang up on unexpected support calls.
• Close the pop-up. If the browser won’t close, force-quit it or restart the computer.
• Don’t call numbers in emails or pop-ups. If you’re worried about a charge, check your card statement or log in to the company’s account the way you normally do.
• Get help on your terms. Contact the company using the website you type yourself or the number on your receipt or product box, or ask a trusted family member or a local repair shop.
• Only use support you sought out. Remote access is safe only when you started the contact with a company you know.

Set up a parent’s computer to resist these scams

• Keep the operating system and browser up to date, with automatic updates on.
• Use a standard (non-administrator) account for everyday use where possible, so software can’t be installed without a separate password.
• Bookmark the bank, email, and other important sites so nobody has to search for them.
• Put your number on a sticky note by the computer: “Computer problem? Call [name] first.”
• Practice once: show them what a fake pop-up looks like and how to restart.

The FTC’s short video on this, with one retiree’s story, is a good thing to watch together: How to Avoid a Tech Support Scam.

If you already let them in or paid

1. Disconnect the computer from the internet (turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the cable).
2. Remove any program the caller had you install. If you’re not sure which, have a trusted local repair shop check the computer.
3. Call your bank and card company right away to report the charges, ask to reverse them, and ask whether to replace your card. Card payments are usually easier to dispute than gift cards or wire transfers. If you paid with a gift card, call the card company; see Report Gift Cards Used in a Scam.
4. Change passwords from a different, clean device, starting with email and banking and any account you signed into while they were connected. Turn on two-step sign-in.
5. Run a full scan with your security software once you’re reconnected.
6. Watch your accounts for a few months. If you shared your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov and consider a credit freeze.
7. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Expect follow-up calls. Scammers sometimes call back saying there was an error in a refund, or offering to recover your money for a fee. Both are the same scam. See Refund, Settlement, and Recovery Scams.

Checklist

• Everyone knows: real tech companies don’t call about your computer.
• Nobody calls a number shown in a pop-up or a surprise invoice email.
• No remote access for anyone who contacted you first.
• Important websites are bookmarked.
• A trusted person’s number is by the computer.

FAQ

My screen says my computer is locked. Is it?

Almost certainly not. It’s a web page designed to look like a system warning. Close the browser, or restart the computer. If the warning comes back when you reopen the browser, don’t restore the previous session.

I got an email saying my subscription renewed for $399. What should I do?

Don’t call the number or click anything in the email. Check your card statement or the account where you normally manage that subscription. If there’s no charge, delete the email.

Is it ever safe to let someone access my computer remotely?

Yes, when you started the contact with a company you know, using contact details you found yourself, and you can watch what they do. Never when they contacted you first.

They said my bank account was hacked and I need to move my money. Is that real?

No. No bank, tech company, or government agency asks you to move money to keep it safe. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card.

Sources

• Federal Trade Commission, “How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams,” consumer.ftc.gov, accessed October 7, 2026.
• Federal Trade Commission, “What To Do if You Were Scammed,” consumer.ftc.gov, accessed October 7, 2026.

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. If you lost money, contact your bank or payment provider right away and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.