If you take away one rule about tech-support scams, make it this one. A real company will not phone you out of the blue to fix a computer problem you did not report.
Scammers pretend to be names you trust: Microsoft, Apple, your bank, or the tax office. They call, email, or make a scary message pop up on your screen. Then they ask for one of three things: permission to control your computer from afar (this is called remote access), for you to install a program, or for you to read out a code that was texted or emailed to you.
The rule
If someone contacts you first and asks for remote access, a payment, or a code, the answer is always no. Real companies do not work this way.
- They do not cold-call to say your computer has a virus.
- They do not ask you to install software so they can « help ».
- They do not ask you to read back a security code. That code is for you alone.
What to do instead
Hang up, or close the message. You do not owe a caller politeness or an explanation. If you are worried it might be genuine, look up the company yourself and contact them directly.
- End the call or close the pop-up.
- Find the company’s real number yourself: on the back of your bank card, on a printed statement, or on their official website. Do not use a number the caller gave you.
- Call that number and ask if anything is really wrong.