How to Identify and Avoid Tech Support Scams Targeting Computer Users

Tech support scams are absolutely rampant.

Fraudsters are targeting computer users every year by masquerading as someone who can help fix non-existing problems on your computer. What’s worse is that scammers are getting smarter.

…but wait, there’s good news.

When you know what to look for, these scams are extremely easy to identify. This guide covers exactly how these scams work and how to avoid being scammed.

What You’ll Discover:

1. How Do Tech Support Scams Work?
2. Common Signs of a Tech Support Scam
3. Who Do Scammers Target?
4. How To Protect Yourself From Tech Support Scams
5. What To Do If You’ve Been Targeted By A Scammer

How Do Tech Support Scams Work?

Tech support scams operate quite literally the same way every single time.

Someone calls or shows up on your computer claiming to work for Microsoft, Apple, Avast, McAfee, or another well-known company. Then they insist that your computer has a problem that needs to be fixed.

According to the FBI’s 2024 report, over 36,000 victims reported tech support scams with losses totaling nearly $1.5 billion.

Here’s the general process these scammers follow:

• Pop ups show up on the computer saying it has a virus
• It provides a phone number you can call to speak to a “technical expert”
• Once you call the “expert” asks to remote access the computer
• You’re then asked to pay for services never performed

Scam reporting communities have exposed thousands of variations of this simple scam process. As verification websites have grown in popularity, online communities dedicated to exposing scams have become a godsend.

Take 먹튀픽 for example. This Korean scam reporting community translates to “scam pick” or “fraud selection.” These helpful websites allow users to look up websites and phone numbers to see if they’ve been reported as scams. Being able to cross-reference numbers and websites like this provides another layer of security to an already great online safety tool belt.

But what makes these scams particularly nasty is…

They try to instil panic into their victims.

Scammers will say things like your data is at risk, your identity is about to be stolen, or your bank accounts are about to be emptied. Scare tactics are an effective way to get victims to hand over money.

And it works.

Fear overrides logic, and before you know it the scammer has your money, bank info, and access to your computer.

Common Signs of a Tech Support Scam

Knowing what to look for when it comes to spotting a tech support scam is easy.

There are blatant red flags that anyone can identify. Knowing what to look for can save thousands.

Watch out for these warning signs:

• You did NOT call the tech support company
• You are being threatened or told to act quickly
• You are asked to remote access your computer
• They want you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto
• You are pressured into not researching their claim

Tech companies will NEVER cold call you about problems with your computer.

Full stop. Big companies like Microsoft and Apple have been saying this for years. If you receive a pop up on your computer or someone calls you about malware on your computer…do NOT trust them.

The FTC reported that consumers 60 and older are five times more likely to lose money to tech support scams than younger people.

Pressure to act quickly and not investigate their claims is another huge red flag.

Fraudsters want you to give them money right now. They don’t want you to Google their phone number or computer repair service.

Who Do Scammers Target?

It should be no surprise that scammers go after specific groups of people.

They don’t choose targets randomly. Scammers analyze who they believe will be most likely to fall for their tactics. Let’s take a closer look at who’s most likely to be targeted by tech support scammers.

• Seniors over the age of 60
• People who recently googled computer help
• Anyone who clicked on a sketchy ad
• Easily flustered people

Scammers look for people who’ve recently been searching for computer help online. They “poison” search results with scam numbers and websites.

Say you search “how to fix my computer” or “remove virus from computer.” Chances are you could click on a scammers website instead of a legitimate tech company.

This process is known as search poisoning.

Many scammers use this to great effect. The websites they use look nearly identical to the real deal.

How To Protect Yourself From Tech Support Scams

Protecting yourself from tech support scams is fairly straightforward.

There are several steps anyone can take to prevent these scams from causing harm. Here are a few to use to avoid becoming a victim.

Keep your computer up to date. Always install the latest software updates for your OS and browser. Developers constantly release security patches to fix vulnerabilities.

Install good antivirus software. Antivirus applications like MalwareBytes and Norton will block malicious pop ups and warn you when you browse to suspicious websites.

Never allow remote access to your computer. Unless you initiated the contact and are asking for help from a verified source, never allow anyone remote access to your computer. This is how scammers gather your information and install malware.

Double check anything that seems suspicious. If a pop up comes on your computer saying it has a virus, close your browser completely. If someone calls you claiming to be from Microsoft, hang up and call Microsoft directly.

Here’s a golden nugget of information:

Never pay for tech support with gift cards.

If someone ever asks you to pay for tech support services with a gift card, it’s instantly a scam. Real tech companies do not accept payments this way.

What To Do If You’ve Been Targeted By A Scammer

Unfortunately, there are tons of scams out there.

If you think you’ve been targeted by a scammer, read this:

If you received a call from a suspicious number:

• Hang up the phone immediately. Don’t engage with the scammer, hang up and block the number.
• Take note of what happened. Document how the conversation went and where the call was from.
• Report the scam. Fill out an account on ReportFraud.ftc.gov with your information.

If you gave remote access to your computer:

• Pull the internet cord. Disconnect from the internet immediately to stop the hacker from doing any more damage.
• Scan your computer. Install antivirus software and run a full scan.
• Change your passwords. From a different computer, change all passwords.
• Monitor your bank accounts. Keep an eye out for any strange activity.

If you gave money to the scammer:

• Contact your bank. IMMEDIATELY call your bank or credit card company and inform them.
• Contact local authorities. File a report with local authorities. They’ll open a case and provide a police report number.
• File a complaint with the IC3. The IC3 is the Internet Crime Complaint Center run by the FBI. Fill out a report and they’ll investigate.

There have been many stories where people who followed these steps got some if not all of their money back from scammers.

Wrapping Things Up

Tech support scams continue to increase every year.

People are getting tricked out of their hard earned money by clever scammers every day. The reason these scams work is because people let their guard down and trust too easily.

Here are the biggest takeaways from this guide:

• Tech companies will NEVER cold call you
• If a pop up appears with a phone number, it’s a scam
• Never pay anyone for tech support with a gift card or cryptocurrency
• Report any and all scam attempts

Scam reporting websites and communities help us all. If you get scammed or stumble upon a scam, report it. Make sure others know about it too.

Stay safe out there and always think twice before trusting a tech support scammer.