Financial Wellness
Shield Yourself from Tech Support Scams
Sooner or later, we all need a little help with our computers. Unfortunately, scammers know this too. They look for people who might feel unsure or vulnerable and reach out in any way they can—via pop-up message, email, text, social media, or even by phone—offering "tech support." If someone contacts you out of the blue to offer help, it's almost always a scam.
These scams can show up on your screen, warning that your device is infected or hacked. But the real goal is to get access to your personal and financial information. No matter what excuse they use, if you engage with these scammers, your money and privacy are at risk.
Here's how these scams usually play out:
Gaining access: They'll ask for remote access to your computer or device. This gives them a window into everything you have stored—banking information, passwords, and more.
Fake troubleshooting: Next, they pretend to find a big "problem" and offer to fix it for a fee. Sometimes, they'll actually change your settings, making your device less secure.
Getting your money: They'll ask for payment, often by bank transfer, credit card, or even gift cards or cryptocurrency—methods that are hard to trace. Real tech support will never ask for payment this way.
Another red flag: Some scammers ask you to withdraw cash and mail it to them. No legitimate company will ever do this.
Unnecessary services: They might try to sell you expensive maintenance programs, updates, or warranties you don't need.
False refunds: They'll ask if you were happy with the services you got. If you say, "No," they'll offer you a refund. To process this refund, the scammer requests sensitive information such as credit card or bank account details or again request remote access to your computer. Once you provide it, the scammer either:
Sometimes, scammers claim the company is "going out of business" and offering refunds. This is just another trick to get your personal info or money.
No matter what their story, they're not giving refunds.
Threats and harassment: Sometimes, the fake support rep will take control of your device and/or bank account and will not release control until you pay a ransom. They might threaten to destroy your device or continue to call in a harassing manner.
Fake ads and pop-ups: Scammers also create fake customer service websites and ads that show up in search results. They might offer free "security scans" and hope you'll call the number listed.
Disconnect from the internet and restart your computer in "safe mode."
Run a scan with trusted security software and remove anything suspicious.
Change any passwords that you shared. If you use these passwords for other accounts, change those accounts, too.
If you've paid for bogus services with a credit card, call your credit card provider and ask to reverse the charges. Check your statements for any other charges you didn't make.
If you think your personal or financial information was accessed, click here for more reporting and victim assistance resources from the Federal Trade Commission.
At Tower, we care about your safety. If you think your finances might be at risk, call us right away.
How tech support scams work
Scammers often pretend to be from big tech companies like Microsoft, Google, or Apple. They try to scare you by saying there's a problem with your device and claim they can fix it for you, but you must contact them directly.Here's how these scams usually play out:
Gaining access: They'll ask for remote access to your computer or device. This gives them a window into everything you have stored—banking information, passwords, and more.
Fake troubleshooting: Next, they pretend to find a big "problem" and offer to fix it for a fee. Sometimes, they'll actually change your settings, making your device less secure.
Getting your money: They'll ask for payment, often by bank transfer, credit card, or even gift cards or cryptocurrency—methods that are hard to trace. Real tech support will never ask for payment this way.
Another red flag: Some scammers ask you to withdraw cash and mail it to them. No legitimate company will ever do this.
Unnecessary services: They might try to sell you expensive maintenance programs, updates, or warranties you don't need.
False refunds: They'll ask if you were happy with the services you got. If you say, "No," they'll offer you a refund. To process this refund, the scammer requests sensitive information such as credit card or bank account details or again request remote access to your computer. Once you provide it, the scammer either:
- withdraws money directly from your account—often by transferring from another account to make it look like they "overpaid" your "refund" —but in reality, it's your OWN money.
- runs a Zelle, ACH, wire transfer, or fake merchant card charge they control to make it all seem legit.
Sometimes, scammers claim the company is "going out of business" and offering refunds. This is just another trick to get your personal info or money.
No matter what their story, they're not giving refunds.
Threats and harassment: Sometimes, the fake support rep will take control of your device and/or bank account and will not release control until you pay a ransom. They might threaten to destroy your device or continue to call in a harassing manner.
Fake ads and pop-ups: Scammers also create fake customer service websites and ads that show up in search results. They might offer free "security scans" and hope you'll call the number listed.
How to avoid tech support scams
Here are some tips to keep yourself safe:- Never give control of your computer, phone, or tablet—or share passwords—with anyone who contacts you. Be careful letting anyone remote in.
- Ignore phone numbers in emails, voicemails, or pop-up ads that you never requested.
- Check your account activity regularly to spot signs of fraud, such as suspicious online transfers from your accounts or credit card purchases.
- Don't click any links warning of problems detected on your device. Look at pop-ups and emails closely for signs that might indicate fraud, such as spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Do not trust caller ID alone to authenticate a caller. Criminals spoof caller ID numbers. They may appear to be calling from a legitimate company or a local number, when they're not even in the same country as you.
- Keep your security software up to date.
- If you need tech support, or if you suspect your device has been compromised, take it to an authorized retailer for a thorough malware checkup. Don't rely on an online search for device repair without verifying that the repair company is legitimate.
If you've responded to a scam
If you think you might have downloaded malware from a scam site or allowed a cyber-criminal to access your computer, don't panic. Instead:Disconnect from the internet and restart your computer in "safe mode."
Run a scan with trusted security software and remove anything suspicious.
Change any passwords that you shared. If you use these passwords for other accounts, change those accounts, too.
If you've paid for bogus services with a credit card, call your credit card provider and ask to reverse the charges. Check your statements for any other charges you didn't make.
If you think your personal or financial information was accessed, click here for more reporting and victim assistance resources from the Federal Trade Commission.
At Tower, we care about your safety. If you think your finances might be at risk, call us right away.
Resources: The Federal Trade Commission, FTCvideos, eFraud Prevention
