Computer Safety

How to Recognize a Tech Support Scam

Tech support scams often use fear.

A popup may claim that your computer is infected and tell you to call a phone number immediately. A caller may claim to be from Microsoft, your bank, or another trusted company.

Legitimate companies generally do not call random users to announce that their computer has a virus.

Employees should never give remote access to an unexpected caller.

Do not install software simply because someone on the phone tells you to do it. Do not provide passwords, MFA codes, or payment information.

If a warning appears, contact your normal IT support team through a known method.

Scammers rely on urgency and confusion. The safest response is to stop, close the suspicious message, and verify the situation with someone you trust.

Need a practical next step?

If this article reflects a problem your organization is actively dealing with, the next useful step is usually a quick review of your current environment, the systems that matter most, and the business risks that need clearer priority.

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