The “Tech Support” Pop-Up Scam: Why You Should Never Call That Number
What those alarming screen pop-ups are really after, and the one safe way to respond.
A window suddenly fills your screen: a loud warning sound, a message claiming your computer is infected with a virus, and a phone number to call "Microsoft support" or "Apple support" immediately. It looks alarming and official. It is neither.
What's actually happening
This pop-up is not a real virus warning and did not come from Microsoft, Apple, or any legitimate company. It's a webpage designed to look like a system alert, usually triggered by visiting a certain site or clicking something you didn't mean to. The goal is simple: scare you into calling the number on the screen.
What happens if you call that number
The person who answers will "confirm" your computer is infected (it isn't) and offer to fix it — for a fee, and often by asking for remote access to your computer. Once they have that access, they can install real malware, steal files or passwords, or simply charge you for a "repair" that never needed to happen in the first place.
What to actually do when you see one of these pop-ups
- Don't call the number, and don't click anything on the pop-up, including buttons that say "close" or "cancel" — sometimes those are fake too.
- Close the entire browser window or tab. On most computers, this can be done safely through the taskbar or dock without touching anything inside the pop-up itself.
- If the pop-up won't go away, restart your computer — this clears it completely.
- Real security warnings from your actual antivirus software or operating system never include a phone number to call.
If you already called and gave someone remote access
Disconnect your computer from the internet, and don't enter any passwords or account information until the device has been checked. This is exactly the kind of situation our Cyber Safety Assessment is built to sort out — we can check what, if anything, was actually changed.
Not sure if this applies to you?
If a pop-up like this has you worried, don't call the number on the screen — call us instead.