If you stay on the internet long enough, you are bound to come across browser pop-ups. While many of them are just annoying, ranging from advertisements and paywall restrictions to requests to disable your adblocker, others can be outright dangerous. For this, many browsers disable pop-ups by default, though you can easily allow pop-ups on Google Chrome and others if a site malfunctions. Specifically, beware of pop-ups that claim your device has an issue and urge you to contact tech support via the mentioned phone number. To the unsuspecting user, this might seem like a genuine reminder to get the PC checked. However, they are a gateway to tricking innocent users into losing their money to tech support scams.

While the nitty gritty varies from scam to scam, the basic idea remains the same. Victims call the scammers after seeing the fake pop-ups, after which they are charged money for the fake services. That’s not all, though, as some scammers might steal your personal data and further harass you.

While fake pop-ups are the simplest way scammers trap innocent users, tech support scams can happen in many different ways. Some scammers use sponsored links to rank their fake websites high in search engine results for queries to tech support contact details. Users who don’t monitor the URL closely might believe the contact details on such fake websites and ultimately contact the scammers. In other cases, scammers may also cold-call the victims.

After getting on a call, scammers convince you that they are authorized representatives from Microsoft or other organizations. Next, the scammers ask for access to your computer via remote desktop apps like AnyDesk and TeamViewer so they can better diagnose the issue. Once inside your computer, scammers run bogus scripts to show how your computer has been infected by malware and how they have fixed it. Finally, the scammers ask you to pay them for their services. However, some particularly nasty scammers can steal your personal data or threaten to delete your files in exchange for more money.

In another variation known as refund scams, fraudsters may send you bills for products you didn’t order. Once you contact them for a refund, they trick you into thinking they refunded you much more than they initially owed. In reality, no money has been transferred yet. Scammers then ask you to pay them the remaining amount, and victims who can’t recognize their trickery fall prey to losing thousands of dollars.

As an internet user, your best shot is to stay vigilant and avoid fake pop-ups in the future. Remember, organizations like Microsoft never ask you to call them for tech support. If you have been scammed, your first priority should be getting your money back. For this, inform your bank about the scam payment if you paid via credit or debit cards. You should also block your cards if scammers have gotten hold of your card details. Some scammers may also ask for payments via gift cards to hide the money trail. Nevertheless, you can still contact the issuer of the gift card and ask for a refund.

Next, you should protect your computer by ensuring there is no room for backdoor entry. For this, remove the remote access software that the scammers made you install and scan your computer for malware using any top-rated anti-virus program. Additionally, change all your login credentials that may have been compromised during the scam. Finally, report the incident to the FTC to notify the authorities. Unfortunately, most of the tech support scammers operate from developing countries out of the FTC’s jurisdiction. That’s also why many tech support scammers are almost never caught for duping innocent folks.