The tech support scam: fake pop-ups, calls and renewal notices

Scam guide · Updated October 27, 2026

The short answer

Tech support scammers try to scare you into believing there's a problem with your computer. The FTC gives two things to remember: legitimate tech companies won't contact you by phone, email or text to say there's a problem with your computer, and real security pop-up warnings will never ask you to call a phone number. (FTC)

How it works

According to the FTC, it often starts with a bogus warning, such as a fake pop-up that looks like it's from a well-known company and urges you to call a number, or a call or text from someone pretending to be a computer technician. Scammers may also run search ads or get their sites to show up in results for tech support. (FTC)

If you call, the FTC says they ask for remote access to your computer, pretend to scan it for viruses, claim to find a malicious program and offer to remove it for a fee. They often insist you pay with gift cards, a wire transfer, a bank transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app, because once you pay, it's hard to get your money back.

Two variations the FTC describes

• The fake government helper. The “technician” says your accounts were hacked or your name is linked to serious crimes, then transfers you to someone claiming to be from the government. That person says your money is at risk and you must withdraw it, put it in a “federal safety locker,” or buy gold or get cash and give it to someone. The FTC says someone who works for the government will never say you must transfer your money to “protect it,” and that there's no such thing as a federal safety locker.
• The fake renewal invoice. A message says you were charged hundreds of dollars to renew a tech support subscription, using names like Geek Squad, McAfee or Norton, and tells you to call within 24 hours to dispute it. The FTC says the scammers then ask for remote access, send you to a spoofed website to “process the refund,” and claim they refunded you too much and insist you pay them back.

What to do

1. Don't call the number in the pop-up or message. If you think a renewal notice might be real, the FTC says to contact the company using a phone number you know is real.
2. Check your card or bank account. The FTC says if you don't see a charge for a tech support subscription, the message was a scam. Ignore and delete it. If you do see one you didn't authorize, report it to your card company or bank and ask them to reverse it.
3. If you think there's a real problem, the FTC says to update your security software and run a scan, or go to someone you know and trust.
4. If you gave a scammer your username and password, change it right away, and change it anywhere else you use the same password.
5. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For steps if you paid or gave remote access, see the FTC's What To Do if You Were Scammed page.

Common questions

Will a real security warning ask me to call a number?

No. The FTC says real security pop-up warnings and messages will never ask you to call a phone number.

Does Microsoft or Apple call to say my computer has a problem?

The FTC says legitimate tech companies won't contact you by phone, email or text message to tell you there's a problem with your computer.

What if I gave someone remote access to my computer?

The FTC points to its What To Do if You Were Scammed page for steps, and says that if you gave your username and password you should change them right away.

How do I know if a tech support renewal notice is real?

The FTC says to check your card or bank account for a charge. If there isn't one, the message was a scam. To contact the company, use a phone number you know is real, not the one in the message.

Related: the gift card scam, the fake FBI recovery scam, the Apple Pay text scam, how to check if a link is safe and how to help your parents avoid scams.

ScamSensor isn't affiliated with the Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Apple, Geek Squad, McAfee or Norton. Source: FTC Consumer Advice, read October 27, 2026.

← All scam guides