Ring, Ring – It’s a Scam Calling (Phone & Tech Support Cons)
Your phone vibrates. The caller ID might even show a local number or a name like “Tech Support.” But is it legit? This issue, we’re tackling phone scams – from relentless robocalls to those fake tech support pop-ups that urge you to call for “help.” Americans endured over 50 billion robocalls in 2024 , and while not all are fraudulent, a hefty chunk are. Let’s silence these scammers and keep you from falling for phone-based tricks.
Robocalls & Vishing (Voice Phishing)
We’ve all gotten those automated calls : “Your car warranty has expired!” … “You’ve won a free cruise!” … “There’s a problem with your bank account!” Most of these unsolicited robocalls are either telemarketing or outright scams. If you don’t recognize the number, it’s often safest to let it go to voicemail. Legitimate callers will usually leave a message; scammers often won’t, or if they do, it’s an obvious script.
Here are some common scam call themes to watch for:
- Bank/Account Problems: A voice claiming to be from your bank or Amazon: “Unusual activity detected, your account will be frozen, press 1 to speak to security.” This is a ruse to get you to reveal login info or credit card numbers. Hang up and call your bank’s real number if you’re concerned.
- Government/Legal Threats: As covered in Issue #3, you might get live or automated calls threatening arrest (IRS, police, court). Again, real authorities don’t operate this way by phone.
- Prize or Lottery Wins: “Congratulations! You’ve been selected for a $5,000 prize – just pay the small processing fee.” If you never entered a contest, you didn’t win anything. And you should never have to pay upfront for a prize .
- Tech Support Scams: You might receive a call (or a computer pop-up asking you to call a number) claiming to be Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider, saying your computer is infected. They’ll ask to remote into your PC or ask for payment to fix an issue that doesn’t exist. Hang up. Real tech companies don’t cold-call you to report viruses.
Defenses Against Unwanted Calls: Start by registering your number on the official Do Not Call registry (in the U.S. or Canada). While it won’t stop criminals, it will cut down legitimate telemarketing. For the scam calls that still get through, consider using call-blocking tools. Your smartphone likely has free features to silence suspected spam calls or send unknowns straight to voicemail. You can also install a robocall blocker app like RoboKiller or Nomorobo , which intercept known spam numbers. Many carriers (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) offer free or low-cost spam-blocking services – check with yours and enable it.
Fake Tech Support
Those alarming pop-ups that freeze your screen and say “ WARNING: VIRUS DETECTED! CALL 1-800-XXX NOW ” are 100% scams . The pop-up (which may have a scary voice reading the warning) is just a browser ad or malware trying to panic you. If you call the number, you’ll reach a scammer posing as Microsoft or Apple support. They’ll often ask to remotely control your computer. Once in, they might plant real malware or show you normal system logs and claim they’re “viruses,” then demand hundreds of dollars to “fix” it.
What to do? Don’t call the number. Instead, press CTRL+ALT+DEL (Windows) or Force Quit (Mac) to close your browser. Run a legitimate antivirus scan if you’re worried. Remember, Microsoft will never proactively pop up and tell you to call them . If you truly need tech help, reach out to a known reputable tech support or local IT professional.
Bottom line: Whether it’s a phone call or a computer message urging you to call, never give control of your device or your money to unsolicited tech support contacts . Always initiate tech help yourself through official channels.
Take back control of your phone. Try using a call blocking app like RoboKiller to drastically cut down spam calls. And make sure your computer is protected too – install a reliable antivirus/anti-malware program (for example, Malwarebytes or Bitdefender ) . These can block malicious pop-ups and keep you safe from the viruses scammers claim you have. A little technology can go a long way in giving you peace from scam calls and fake alerts.
Stay alert, don’t trust your caller ID, and remember: You’re the one in charge of your phone and computer, not random callers. Hang up on fraudsters and carry on with your day!