Nearly every internet user has encountered some form of the tech support scam in their browsing history. Although these tech support scams are rather common, the level of sophistication can vary as the majority of these are just online phishing scams.

The most common tech support scams involve a user getting a pop-up window, or redirected to a webpage, that warns the user that their computer is or may be infected by a virus. From there, the user either downloads software recommended by the warning, or calls a phone number. In either scenario, a scammer will be trying to either get the user to send them money, or steal bank account information, or other sensitive data.

Tech support scams use various forms of pop-up windows and redirects to confuse and scare novice internet users. Sometimes the pop-up shows that a scan was completed on your computer that identified harmful viruses or malware. Some of these scams will even warn that your computer has been traced by the FBI or other law enforcement agency.

Frequently, these scammers will be rather sophisticated and will be playing a numbers game. They set up a pop-up that scares as many viewers as possible into thinking they can get in real trouble, or their computer will be destroyed by a virus. The scammers then tell users the only way to solve the problem is by paying for and downloading their anti-virus software, or calling a phone number. If a victim is lucky, the software will do nothing. All too often, the “anti-virus” software will actually be malware.

Another way these scammers operate is by getting victims to call the tech support hotlines offered in these pop-ups. Users should independently source major companies’ phone numbers, rather than use the ones provided by a pop-up. Generally, these pop-ups should just be ignored. 

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