Tech support
A Pop-Up Says Your Computer Is Infected. Older Americans Lost $1 Billion Believing It
Fake tech support is the second-most expensive scam for seniors in the FBI's data. It starts with a single scary screen.
A warning fills the screen. It says your computer is infected, your bank details are exposed, and you must call a support number immediately. Sometimes an alarm sound plays. The browser seems frozen.
It's a fake — and it is extraordinarily profitable. Americans aged 60 and over reported $1.04 billion in losses to tech and customer support scams in 2025, the second-largest category for that age group in the FBI's annual report.
What happens when you call
The "technician" asks for remote access to your computer, then "finds" problems that need fixing for a fee. In the more damaging versions, they claim hackers have reached your bank account and pass you to a fake bank or government agent, who tells you to move your money to a "safe" account, buy crypto or withdraw cash.
The FBI says cryptocurrency was a primary way scammers laundered money from tech support scams in 2025.
Once a scammer has remote access, they can see everything on your screen, including online banking.
What to do
- Never call a number shown in a pop-up. Real companies don't put phone numbers in virus warnings.
- Close the browser. If it won't close, restart the computer.
- If you gave someone remote access, disconnect from the internet, change your passwords from another device and call your bank.
- Report it at ic3.gov.