A window appears on your computer screen: “WARNING: Your computer has been compromised. Call Microsoft Support immediately.” There’s a phone number. There are flashing graphics. Your computer may even be making an alarming sound. The message looks completely official.
Call the number, and a helpful, professional-sounding person walks you through a “fix.” They may ask you to install remote access software so they can “see the problem.” Once you do, they have complete control of your computer, your files, and any financial accounts you’re logged into.
Tech support scams are consistently among the most-reported fraud categories. AI has made the fake alerts more convincing, the fake support agents harder to distinguish from real ones, and the follow-up phishing more targeted.
How the Scam Escalates
The initial pop-up is just the entry point. Once you call, the real manipulation begins. The “technician” will often show you fabricated diagnostic screens that appear to confirm infections. They’ll reference specific details about your device to seem credible. Then they’ll ask for payment, often in gift cards or wire transfer, to “fix” the nonexistent problem.
No legitimate company will ever ask you to pay for tech support using gift cards. Ever. This is universally a scam.
What Real Tech Companies Will Never Do
- Contact you unsolicited about a problem with your computer
- Ask you to call a number displayed in a pop-up window
- Request remote access to your computer to fix a problem they detected
- Ask for payment in gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- Threaten to disable your computer if you don’t act immediately
What to Do
- Close the window. If you can’t close it, force-restart your computer. The pop-up is not a real alert.
- Never call a number displayed in a pop-up warning. Look up the company’s official support number on their website.
- Never install remote access software at the direction of someone who contacted you first.
- If you already gave someone access, disconnect from the internet immediately, change your passwords from a different device, and call your bank.
- Report tech support scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.