How to Spot a Tech-Support Scam Call (and What to Do About It)

If your phone rings and someone says they're from "Microsoft", "BT", or your bank's "security team" warning you about a problem with your computer, take a breath. There is almost certainly nothing wrong with your computer — but there may be something wrong with the call.

Tech-support scams are one of the most common ways people in the UK lose money, and they're deliberately designed to frighten you into acting quickly. The good news is that once you know what to look for, they're surprisingly easy to spot. Here's everything you need to know, explained simply.

What a tech-support scam actually is

A scammer gets in touch — by phone, a pop-up on your screen, or an email — claiming there's a virus, a hacker, or a "suspicious payment" on your account. Their goal is to scare you into one of three things:

• Letting them onto your computer using remote-access software, so they can "fix" the problem.
• Handing over card details or passwords to "secure your account" or pay for fake support.
• Buying gift cards or moving money into a "safe account" (it isn't safe — it's theirs).

Once they're on your computer or have your details, they can take your money or lock you out. No genuine company will ever contact you out of the blue and do these things.

The warning signs

Real companies don't behave like this. Be on your guard if a call, email, or pop-up has any of these signs:

• It arrived unexpectedly — you didn't contact them first.
• They create panic and urgency: "Act now or your computer will be locked."
• They ask you to install software so they can connect to your screen.
• They ask for passwords, PINs, card numbers, or one-time codes.
• They want payment in gift cards, vouchers, or a bank transfer to a new account.
• The pop-up has a phone number to call and won't let you close it.

Any one of these is a red flag. Two or more, and you can be confident it's a scam.

What to do if you get a scam call or pop-up

If you think a call or pop-up is a scam, here's exactly what to do — in order:

1. Don't panic and don't act quickly. Scammers rely on rushing you. It's completely fine to hang up.
2. Hang up or close the message. You don't owe a cold caller a conversation. If a pop-up won't close, shut the browser down or restart the computer.
3. Never give remote access to anyone who phoned you, no matter who they claim to be.
4. Don't read out any codes, passwords, or card numbers, even if they say it's to "verify" you.
5. Check directly with the real company using a phone number from their official website or a letter — never a number the caller gave you.
6. Tell someone you trust what happened. Talking it through helps, and there's no shame in it — these scams fool thousands of careful people every year.
7. If you've already given money or details, contact your bank straight away and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

"But it looked so real…"

Modern scams can be convincing. They may know your name, show official-looking logos, or make your screen flash with fake warnings. None of that proves anything — names and logos are easy to fake. The simplest rule of all:

A real company will never phone you unexpectedly and ask to take control of your computer or be paid in gift cards.

If you remember nothing else, remember that one line.

Still worried? We're happy to check

If you've had a suspicious call, clicked something you're unsure about, or just want peace of mind, we're glad to take a look — with no judgement and no jargon. We help people across Boston and the wider Lincolnshire area every week with exactly this.

We can often check things over remotely in a few minutes with our Remote Fix service, or come to you for a home visit. And if you'd like to feel more confident online in general, our friendly one-to-one lessons are a relaxed way to learn at your own pace.

If in doubt, give us a call on 01205 625001 for a friendly chat — we'd far rather you checked than worried.