Unsolicited calls about your computer are one of the most common scams targeting homeowners and seniors. The caller often sounds professional, knows a little about you, and creates urgency. The single most useful fact to remember: legitimate companies like Microsoft, Apple, and major internet providers do not make unsolicited calls telling you your device has a problem.
Hang up. Do not give remote access or payment.
If someone calls you first about a computer problem, treat it as a scam attempt. Do not let them remotely connect to your computer, do not read them any codes, and do not pay with gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
Signs the call is a scam
- They called you first. You did not contact them.
- They claim to be from Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, your internet provider, or "Windows Support" in general.
- They create urgency: a virus, a hacked account, a refund that needs to be processed immediately.
- They ask you to open a specific website or press specific keys to "prove" there is a problem.
- They ask you to install remote-access software such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, UltraViewer, or Quick Assist.
- They ask for payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a bank transfer to process a "refund."
What to do during the call
- Do not confirm personal information. Do not give your name, address, account numbers, or say "yes" to recorded questions.
- Do not install anything they ask you to. No remote-access app, no "diagnostic tool."
- Hang up. You do not owe a scammer politeness or an explanation.
- Call the company back yourself, if you are unsure. Use a number from your own bill or the company's official website, never a number the caller gave you.
If you already gave access or paid
This happens to careful, smart people. It is not embarrassing, and moving quickly matters more than feeling upset about it.
- If you allowed remote access, disconnect from the internet and have the device checked before using it for banking or email again.
- If you paid by gift card, wire, or crypto, report it immediately - these payment methods are hard to reverse and time matters.
- Change passwords for financial accounts and email from a different, unaffected device if possible.
- Consider a fraud alert on your credit if any financial information was shared.
A quick way to lower how often these calls happen
Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry will not stop every scam call, since scammers ignore it, but it does reduce legitimate telemarketing calls, which makes it easier to notice the ones that do not belong.