Is this call or pop-up real?

When a call or a pop-up warns you that something is urgently wrong, it is hard to think clearly. Here is a short set of checks you can run in under a minute.

Four quick checks

• Who contacted whom? If they reached out to you, be suspicious. Safety comes from you reaching out to them, on a number you looked up.
• Is it a pop-up claiming to have scanned your computer? A web page or pop-up cannot scan your computer for viruses. If it says it found problems and gives a number to call, it is a scam.
• Are they asking you to move money? A real bank will never ask you to move your money to a « safe account ». That request only comes from scammers.
• Are you being rushed? Pressure to act this second, before you can check or ask anyone, is itself the warning sign.

Do this

1. Stop. Do not click, install, pay, or read out any code.
2. Hang up the call or close the pop-up window.
3. If you are unsure, look up the real number yourself and call to check.
4. Talk it over with someone you trust before doing anything with money.