5 Ways to Spot a Tech Support Scam Before It Costs You

If you've ever had a computer screen suddenly flash red with a loud warning sound and a phone number to call "immediately," you've met a tech support scam. These are designed to feel urgent and scary on purpose - and they specifically target people who aren't sure whether the warning is real. Here's how to tell the difference, and what to do instead.

1. Real companies don't call you out of the blue

Microsoft, Apple, and your internet provider do not monitor your computer and call you when something's wrong. If you get a phone call saying your computer is sending out errors or viruses, hang up. This is true even if the caller knows your name or a little bit about your computer - that information is often easy to find or guess.

2. A frozen screen with a phone number is a trap, not a warning

The most common version of this scam is a browser pop-up that fills your entire screen, sometimes with a loud alarm sound, claiming your computer is infected and instructing you to call a number right away. This is not Microsoft or Apple - it's a webpage designed to look alarming. It cannot actually see or scan your computer. Don't call the number. Instead, hold down the power button to shut the computer off completely, then turn it back on. In most cases the pop-up disappears and nothing is actually wrong.

3. No legitimate company asks for gift cards

If anyone - claiming to be tech support, the IRS, a utility company, or even a family member in an emergency - asks you to pay by buying gift cards and reading them the numbers, it is a scam, without exception. Real companies and real emergencies are never resolved with a Target or Apple gift card.

4. Be wary of anyone asking to "remote in" to your computer

Remote access tools are genuinely useful - I use them myself to help clients without needing to drive over. But you should only ever allow remote access from someone you called, from a company or person you already trust. If someone calls or messages you first and asks to remotely connect to "fix" something you didn't report, that's the scam, not the fix.

5. When in doubt, stop and ask someone you trust

The single best defense against these scams isn't technical - it's pausing before you act. Scammers rely on urgency and embarrassment to keep you from checking with someone else first. If something feels off, it's okay to hang up, close the laptop, and call a family member, a friend, or your local tech support person before doing anything else. You will never be in trouble for double-checking.

• Hang up on unsolicited tech support calls - always.
• Restart your computer if a scary pop-up appears; never call the number on it.
• Never pay anyone in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Only allow remote access to people you contacted first.
• Pause and ask a trusted person if something feels off - it costs you nothing.

If you've already clicked something you're worried about, or you just want a second set of eyes on your computer's security, that's exactly what I'm here for. No judgment, no lecture - just a straight answer and a fix if one's needed.