A tech support scam starts with a scare: a pop-up that locks your screen, or a phone call from someone who says your computer has a virus. The goal is always the same. The scammer wants remote access to your device and a payment that is hard to reverse. Older adults are a frequent target, but anyone can be caught when a warning looks official.
How the scam usually goes
- The hook. A pop-up with alarms or a flashing warning, an unexpected call claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider, or a search ad for “support” that leads to a fake help line.
- The urgency. You are told your files, bank accounts, or identity are at risk right now.
- The access. You are asked to install a program so a “technician” can connect to your computer.
- The payment. You are charged for a repair, software, or a long “protection plan.” Some scammers ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Signs it is a scam
- A real security warning never asks you to call a phone number shown on the screen.
- Microsoft, Apple, and other tech companies do not call people out of the blue about viruses.
- Anyone who asks for remote access, gift cards, or a wire transfer to fix a computer is not legitimate support.
What to do instead
- Hang up on unexpected support calls.
- Close the pop-up. If the browser will not close, restart the computer. The warning is a web page, not a real infection.
- Get help on your terms. If you are worried, contact the company using the number or website on your receipt, the product box, or its official site, or ask a trusted family member.
More detail on spotting the fake screen is in How to Spot a Fake Tech-Support Pop-Up.
If you already let them in or paid
- Disconnect the computer from the internet and uninstall any program the caller had you install.
- Call your bank or card company right away to dispute the charge and ask whether to replace the card. Card payments are usually easier to dispute than gift cards or wire transfers.
- From a different, clean device, change passwords for email, banking, and any account you signed into while the scammer was connected.
- Run a full scan with your security software, or have a trusted local repair shop check the computer.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Why regulators go after the payment companies too
Scammers need a way to take card payments. The FTC has taken action against payment processors it says opened merchant accounts for tech support schemes. In one 2026 case, a processor agreed to a settlement and stricter screening of the businesses it serves, with money set aside for consumer refunds. Watching your statements for charges from unfamiliar companies is one of the simplest ways to catch a problem early.
Sources: FTC: How to Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams; FTC press release on the payment processor settlement.