Tech Support Scams: Fake Virus Warnings and "Microsoft" Calls

You are reading the news or checking email when the screen suddenly freezes. A bright red warning fills the page, an alarm starts beeping, and a message says your computer is infected and you must call a support number immediately or lose your files. It is frightening by design, and that fear is the scam.

Sometimes it starts the other way, with a phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your antivirus company. Either way, the goal is the same: to get inside your computer or your bank account. This guide explains how these scams work, shows what they look like, and gives you a calm plan for shutting them down.

What it is

A tech support scam convinces you that your device has a serious problem, then either charges you to “fix” a problem that does not exist or takes remote control of your computer to steal information. The criminals impersonate trusted technology brands because those names lower your guard.

The danger is not really to your computer. It is to your trust. Once a “technician” is on the phone or sharing your screen, every reassuring thing they say is aimed at getting your money or your account logins.

How it works

1. A scary pop-up, email, or phone call warns of a virus, a hack, or a compromised account.
2. It gives a “support” number to call, or a button to click.
3. The “technician” asks to connect to your computer remotely so they can “take a look.”
4. Once inside, they pretend to find serious problems, charge a fee, install real malware, or quietly open your banking sites. Many insist on payment in gift cards.

There is a cruel second act that often follows months later. A different “agent” calls to say the company is closing or owes you a refund. They ask you to log in to your bank so they can “send” it, then claim they accidentally refunded too much and pressure you to repay the difference in gift cards. It is frequently the same crew, returning to a known victim.

A real example

Walter, 70, is browsing when his screen locks up with a flashing Microsoft logo, a loud alert tone, and a phone number to call “before your identity is stolen.” He calls. A polite technician has him install a screen-sharing program “so we can secure your computer,” then opens a normal system window full of harmless files and points to them as proof of a serious infection.

To “protect” Walter’s money during the cleanup, the technician says his bank account is exposed and the safest step is to buy gift cards and read off the numbers while the security team works. Walter buys $2,000 in cards before his daughter stops by, sees the screen-sharing session, and hangs up the call. The files were ordinary, and the only thing infected was the trust the scammer manufactured.

By the numbers

• Tech support fraud caused about $1.46 billion in reported losses in 2024 (FBI IC3). See more elder fraud statistics.
• Among victims 60 and older, tech support scams were one of the most common crimes reported, accounting for roughly $900 million in losses in 2024 (FBI IC3).
• In 2024 the FBI and partners made more than 215 arrests across joint operations targeting tech support and government impersonation crews, about a 700 percent increase over the prior year (FBI IC3).

Red flags to watch for

• A pop-up with a phone number, a countdown, or an alarm sound.
• An unexpected call from “Microsoft,” “Apple,” or “your antivirus company.”
• A request to download software or grant remote access to your computer.
• Any payment, or a “refund,” that involves gift cards.
• A claim that you were “refunded too much” and must repay the difference.

How to protect yourself

1. Do not call the number in a pop-up. Real companies do not put warnings with phone numbers on your screen.
2. Close the pop-up. If it will not close, restart the computer or hold the power button to shut it down.
3. Never let someone who contacted you take remote control of your device. That is the moment the theft begins.
4. Keep your devices updated and use the built-in security, so you do not feel you need a stranger’s “help.”
5. Shrink your exposure. Scammers often reach victims with cold calls using numbers bought from data-broker and people-search sites. Removing your information from those sites, which a privacy or data-removal service can do for you, cuts down on those calls.
6. Pick a trusted helper in advance. Decide with your family who you will call for any computer worry, so a fake “technician” is never the person you turn to.

If you’ve already responded

If you already gave access or paid, disconnect the computer from the internet, then have a trusted person or a reputable local repair shop check it for any software the scammer installed. Call your bank or card company, and change your important passwords from a different, safe device. Keep receipts for any gift cards you bought, and report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

In the news

• FBI: older fraud victims lost $4.9 billion in 2024 (AARP)
• 10 key numbers from the 2024 FBI IC3 report (CyberScoop)

Sources

• FTC: How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams
• FBI: 2024 Internet Crime Report
• FBI: Annual Internet Crime Report (press release)
• FBI IC3: Elder Fraud