| The Scam Trap | The Truth & Exact Action to Take |
|---|---|
| Loud Screen Popup With a Phone Number ("VIRUS DETECTED! CALL MICROSOFT / APPLE SECURITY NOW!") |
100% FAKE. Microsoft, Apple, and your bank NEVER put a phone number in a browser popup or lock your screen with an alarm. How to close it in 2 seconds: Hold down Alt + F4 on your keyboard, OR press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to close your web browser, OR hold your computer's physical power button for 5 seconds. |
| Fake Renewal Invoice Email or Text ("Geek Squad / Norton / McAfee / PayPal charged you $499.99 — Call to cancel") |
DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER IN THE EMAIL. Scammers send fake $499 receipts hoping you will panic and call their fake refund desk so they can remote into your computer. Check your actual bank statement directly instead—there is no charge. |
| "Read Me the 6-Digit Code I Just Texted You" | NEVER READ A CODE OVER THE PHONE. If someone calls claiming to be your bank's fraud department and asks for a 6-digit text code, they are logging into your bank account right now using that code. Hang up and call the number on the back of your plastic debit/credit card. |
| "Download AnyDesk / TeamViewer / ConnectWise So I Can Fix It" | HANG UP IMMEDIATELY. Never install remote-control software for anyone who called you or appeared in a popup. No legitimate bank, government agency, or utility company ever asks for gift cards, Bitcoin ATMs, or gold bars. |
You can block known phishing links, fake tech-support popup domains, and malware for free by changing your DNS setting to Quad9 or Cloudflare Malware Blocking:
Settings → Privacy and security → Security → Scroll to Use secure DNS → Choose Quad9 (9.9.9.9) or Cloudflare Malware Blocking (1.1.1.2).9.9.9.9 and Secondary DNS to 149.112.112.112 (or 1.1.1.2 / 1.0.0.2).