A full-screen warning, a loud alarm, or a message saying your computer is infected and you must call a number right now: this is one of the most common scams out there, and it's designed to make you panic.
Signs it's fake:
- A warning that includes a phone number to call.
- A message claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your antivirus that appears in your web browser.
- Alarms, a recorded voice, or a screen you can't seem to close.
- Pressure to act immediately, or to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. No legitimate company asks for gift cards.
Microsoft and Apple don't show warnings that tell you to call a phone number, and they don't cold-call people about problems with their computers.
What to do right now:
- Don't call the number, and don't click anything inside the pop-up.
- Close the browser. If it won't close, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, choose Task Manager, and end the browser. On a Mac, press Command+Option+Esc and Force Quit the browser.
- When you reopen the browser, don't restore the previous tabs.
- Run a scan with Windows Security (built into Windows) and uninstall anything you don't recognize.
If you already called or let someone in:
- Disconnect from the internet right away by turning off Wi-Fi or unplugging the network cable.
- From a different device, change your passwords, starting with your email and banking.
- If you paid or shared card or bank details, call your bank or card company immediately.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Have the computer checked before you trust it again. Virus and malware removal is handled through our onsite service →
How honest remote support works: here's how our sessions run, so you know what to expect from any legitimate provider. You find us and book the time yourself, and the price is shown up front: $35 for the first 30 minutes. We email you a session code 15 minutes before your appointment, and a session only starts when you enter that code. If it runs long, we confirm with you before continuing. We don't cold-call or send pop-up warnings. Book a remote session — $35 for the first 30 minutes →