Real Tech Support vs Fake Tech Support Scam
Distinguish genuine support from scammers who want remote access to your device.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Genuine tech support exists and is usually unremarkable. You notice a problem, you go to the company's website or app, you open a chat or raise a ticket, and any remote session happens because you asked for one. Fake support reverses that order. Either the phone rings first, or a page fills your screen with warnings, alarm sounds, and a number to call, and the fear of having been hacked pushes you to dial before you have thought about it. The person who answers is patient, technical, and appears to be fixing things, while what they are actually doing is installing remote-access software and watching. The distinction that matters most is who started the contact. If you did not initiate it, nothing should end with software installed or your bank open on screen.
Side-by-side comparison
| Real tech support | Fake tech support | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | You contact them via official channels | They contact you, or a popup tells you to call |
| Remote access | Rare, only when you initiated support | Insists you install remote-access software |
| Banking | Never asks you to log into your bank | Asks you to log into banking while connected |
| Payment | Doesn't demand gift cards | Wants gift cards or odd payments for 'repairs' |
Common red flags
- Unsolicited 'your device is infected' contact
- Requests to install remote-access software
- Asked to log into your bank during the session
- Payment by gift card for 'repairs'
Verification steps
- Reach support only via the official website/app
- Never install remote-access tools for an inbound caller
- Close scary popups; a web page can't scan your device
What not to do
- Don't call popup numbers
- Don't grant remote access
- Don't pay by gift card
A safe response
Hang up, or close the browser tab, restarting the machine if the page refuses to close. A web page cannot scan your computer, and nothing shown on it is a real diagnosis. If you want reassurance, contact your device maker or your usual technician through details you look up yourself. If you already granted remote access, disconnect from the internet, uninstall the remote-access tool, change passwords from a different device starting with email and banking, and have the machine checked or scanned. Tell your bank that you allowed remote access so they can monitor the account. Falling for a convincing screen full of warnings says nothing about your competence.
Frequently asked questions
I let them onto my computer. What could they have reached?
Assume anything visible during the session, including saved passwords, files, email, and anything you logged into while connected. Disconnect the machine from the internet, remove the remote-access software, and change important passwords from a different device, starting with email and banking. Turn on two-factor authentication where you can. Tell your bank you granted remote access so they can monitor the account, and consider having the computer checked by someone you trust.
They say they refunded me too much and want the difference back. Is that real?
It is a standard part of this scam. While connected, they alter what you see in your browser so a small refund looks like a large one, while your actual balance has not changed. Sending the difference means sending your own money, usually by transfer or gift card, which was the goal all along. Do not send anything, end contact, and ring your bank on the number on your card to check what genuinely arrived.
Does Microsoft or Apple call about viruses?
No. Major tech companies don't cold-call about device problems or request remote access. Treat any such contact as a scam.