What To Do If You Get A Tech Support Scam Pop-up

Written by: Jay H.

You’re doing your usual browsing, and nothing is amiss. But suddenly, you click on a link and up pops a bright, bold message claiming your computer has a problem and urging you to call a provided phone number immediately. You’ve stumbled upon a tech support scam, which involves cybercriminals using scare tactics to trick you into paying for unnecessary technical support services. Let’s go over what to do if you get a scam pop-up.

What is a tech support scam pop-up?

Scammers impersonate legitimate tech giants like Microsoft and Apple and display fake pop-ups claiming that there is a problem with your computer. The goal is to persuade you to call the provided number to receive support. Should you call these scammers, they will offer fake solutions to your “problems”– for a fee.

As you can guess, these problems are fabricated by scammers to steal your money.

You see these tech support scam pop-ups because either your computer is infected with malicious software or a website you visited has redirected you to a website.

What to do if you get a tech support scam pop-up

If you encounter a tech support scam pop-up, here’s how to safely remove it:

• Windows: Try clicking on the X in the top-right corner to close your web browser. If that does not work, right-click on the Windows Taskbar, then select Task Manager. Under Apps, look for your web browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc.). Select it and hit End task in the bottom-right. If this doesn’t work, restart your computer.
• Mac: Select the Apple menu from the top-left corner, then Force Quit. From the window that opens, select your browser (Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc.), then Force Quit. You’ll be asked if you’re sure– select Force Quit again.
• Download anti-malware software such as Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malicious programs and safely remove harmful files.
• Check your installed programs from Add or remove programs (Windows) or Finder (Mac). Uninstall any programs that you don’t recognize, look illegitimate, or no longer use.
• Check your web browser and ensure that it starts up as normal without any harmful pop-ups. Do not restore your previous session if prompted.

Get real tech support

If you’re still struggling with tech support scam pop-ups and need help, please contact us now. An expert support technician can help you safely remove the pop-ups or any malicious programs that may be on your computer. Contact us now for help.