Blog · 2026-06-01 · Security
How to spot a tech support scam before it costs you
Fake pop-ups, alarming phone calls, and impersonated Microsoft or Apple agents are the most common way people lose money to tech scams. Here's what to look for — and what to do if it already happened.
The five signs it's a scam
Real tech companies don't call you out of the blue, don't demand gift cards, and don't lock your screen with a phone number to call. If any of these show up, stop and step back.
- A pop-up says your computer is infected and gives a phone number to call
- Someone claims to be Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, or your bank and wants remote access
- Payment is requested in gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- You're pressured to act immediately or something bad will happen
- They ask you to install software like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or UltraViewer
What to do right now if you already gave access
Speed matters. The longer they have access, the more they can take.
- Disconnect the computer from Wi‑Fi and unplug the ethernet cable
- Call your bank and credit card companies from a different phone
- Change passwords for email, banking, and shopping from a different device
- Uninstall any remote-access software they installed
- Get the machine professionally cleaned before using it again
How we help
We come to your home, disconnect and clean the machine safely, help you contact your bank, and set up simple protections so it doesn't happen again — password managers, two-factor authentication, and a real antivirus.