In a tech support scam, criminals pretend to work for a trusted technology or security company. They claim there is a problem with your device, software, subscription, or account, then try to persuade you to pay them, share personal information, or give them remote access to your computer.
These scams used to rely mainly on browser locks and fake virus warnings. Now, scammers use many more ways to reach people, including websites and platforms they trust.
How tech support scams reach you
As well as copying the websites of reputable brands, tech support scammers abuse sponsored search results, hijack on-site searches, create fake listings on trusted platforms, and use renewal scams, fake calendar invites, Apple Pay notifications, and many other methods to persuade people to call them.
Once someone makes contact, the scammers may demand payment, ask for personal information, or try to persuade them to install remote access software.
