How to Spot a Tech Support Scam: A Guide for Seniors
Scammers pretend to be Microsoft, Apple, or your bank. Here is how to tell, and what to do.
The most common tricks
- A pop-up with a loud alarm and a phone number to call.
- A phone call saying your computer or account has a problem.
- An email about a charge you did not make, with a number to call to dispute it.
Warning signs it is a scam
- They contacted you first. Large companies do not normally call to say your computer has a problem.
- They create panic and ask you to act right now.
- An unexpected caller or pop-up asks for remote control. Legitimate remote help starts with a provider you chose and contacted yourself.
- They ask for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
What to do
- Hang up or close the window. You do not have to be polite to a stranger who pressures you.
- Never give out passwords or card numbers.
- If you already let someone in, turn off the computer's internet connection and ask someone you trust for help.
- If you paid, call your bank right away.
If you shared a password, change it from a trusted device. Report a suspected scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Read the FTC’s tech support scam guidance for additional steps.
When in doubt, ask first
It is always fine to say, "Let me call you back," and then look up the real number yourself. Asking someone you trust costs nothing and can save you a lot.
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