Tech support scams now target your bank account
You search Google for a bank, antivirus company, or online store's customer service number. You click the first result because it looks official. A few minutes later, someone claiming to be a support agent is looking at your screen, telling you that your computer and bank account are in danger.
This is no longer just a scam that asks for a small support fee. The FBI recorded 47,794 tech support complaints in 2025, with reported losses of more than $2.13 billion. Across tech and customer support scams plus government impersonation, call center fraud produced more than $2.9 billion in reported losses that year.
The scam has changed because security software has improved. Instead of trying to break through your computer first, criminals often try to control your decisions. They create fear, give you a fake problem, bring in a second fake authority, and keep you moving until your money is within reach.
How the first trap works
The first step can look harmless.
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You need help with a product or account, so you search for a customer service number. Fraudsters can pay for search advertising or otherwise manipulate search results so a fake support page appears where you expect the real company to be.
The FBI has specifically warned people to be careful with customer support numbers found through online searches. In an earlier warning, the agency noted that numbers shown in sponsored search results could be promoted through search advertising.
The danger is not limited to support numbers. In 2025, the FBI warned that criminals were using search ads to imitate legitimate employee websites and steal login credentials and money. The agency advised people to type a company's known website address directly into the browser or use a saved bookmark instead of relying on search advertisements.
That small habit can stop the scam before the conversation begins.
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If you need help with your bank, go to the bank's official website using an address you already trust. If you need help with software, use the company's official support page. Do not assume the first phone number shown in a search is genuine.
How fear takes over
Once you reach a fraudulent page, the scammer needs to make you stop thinking clearly.
A fake warning may suddenly fill your screen. It can claim that your computer has been infected, your account has been compromised, or your personal information is being stolen.
The page may use flashing messages, repeated pop-ups, full-screen browser settings, alarming sounds, or recorded voices. Microsoft has documented these tactics and warns that genuine Microsoft error messages do not contain phone numbers asking you to call support.
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You might also see a strange error code such as "Error #DW6BD36." The code looks technical, but a code alone proves nothing. A webpage can display almost any text it wants.
That is the trick.
The scammer does not need your computer to have a serious problem. The scam only needs you to believe there is one.
Fear makes people accept instructions they would normally question. A caller who says you have 30 seconds to protect your account can get a very different response from someone who calmly explains what happened and gives you time to verify it.
How remote access changes the scam
The next step is often remote access.
The caller may ask you to install a legitimate remote desktop application such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer. The software itself is not the scam. The problem is giving control of your computer to someone you did not independently verify.
Microsoft warns that remote access can allow criminals to steal information, install malware, or damage a device.
Once inside, the scammer can point to normal computer activity and describe it as evidence of an attack. A routine system process becomes "proof" of a virus. A normal browser window becomes evidence that someone has broken into your account.
The same approach can be used with online banking.
A scammer may manipulate what appears on the screen to make you believe money has been deposited, removed, or transferred. The screen can be made to tell a story that is not reflected in your real bank records.
That distinction matters. What appears on a computer screen is not proof that money moved.
If you are worried about a bank transaction, close the remote session and contact your bank through a trusted phone number or official app. Check the account independently.
Why the second caller is so dangerous
Modern tech support scams often do not end with the first person.
Instead, the victim may be handed to another person who claims to be from a bank, a fraud department, a federal agency, or law enforcement.
The FBI has warned that tech support scams can be combined with refund scams and government impersonation scams.
This hand-off makes the story feel more real.
The first caller may say the computer problem has exposed your banking information. The second caller then claims to be investigating the financial side. The victim hears two different voices confirming the same story and may assume that the situation has been independently verified.
It has not.
The two callers can be part of the same operation.
This is sometimes described as a "Mutt and Jeff" routine, where one person creates the problem and another person appears to take over as the authority who can solve it. The second person may sound calmer and more official. That change in tone is part of the performance.
The goal is to move you from a computer problem to a financial decision without giving you time to step away.
How the attack moves from screen to money
Once the criminals believe you trust them, the request can change quickly.
You may be told to move money to a "safe account." You may be asked to buy cryptocurrency, send a wire transfer, purchase gift cards, buy gold, or hand money to a courier.
The payment method can change, but the story stays similar. Someone claims your money is at risk and says you must move it to protect it.
That is a major warning sign.
The FBI says tech support scammers may pressure victims to pay through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
A legitimate bank does not need you to protect your money by secretly moving it to another account controlled by someone who called you. A legitimate technology company does not need you to pay for support with gift cards or Bitcoin.
If someone tells you not to speak with your bank, family, or another trusted person, stop the conversation.
The warning signs you can spot early
The details change from scam to scam, but the pressure tactics repeat.
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A surprise renewal or invoice. You receive a bill for an antivirus subscription or service you do not remember ordering, followed by a phone number for "billing support."
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An unexpected screen share. Someone you did not contact asks you to install remote access software or give them control of your computer.
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A strange payment request. You are told to use gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, gold, or another unusual payment method.
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A demand for immediate action. The caller says you must act now, stay on the phone, or avoid telling anyone else.
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A fake authority takes over. A second person claims to be from your bank, the FBI, a regulator, or another government agency and confirms the first person's story.
No single sign proves fraud. Several together should make you stop.
What to do if you are on the phone now
If you suddenly realize the person helping you may be a scammer, do not keep talking because you are embarrassed or worried about making the situation worse.
Hang up.
If remote access was given, disconnect the computer from the internet if you can do so safely. Do not continue following instructions from the caller.
Then contact your bank or card company using the number on the back of your card or another trusted source. Tell them exactly what happened and ask what accounts or transactions need attention.
Change passwords that may have been exposed, starting with email and financial accounts. If the same password was used elsewhere, change it there too.
Run your security software and save evidence such as phone numbers, emails, messages, receipts, transaction records, and screenshots. The FBI advises victims to contact financial institutions, change passwords, update security software, and preserve communications related to the scam.
If money was sent, report it to the payment company or bank immediately. Speed matters because some transactions may still be stopped or recovered.
Where to report the scam
For people in the United States, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts reports of internet-related fraud.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
You can also report scams involving Microsoft impersonation through Microsoft's reporting channels.
Microsoft scam reporting information
If money was taken from a bank account, card, or payment service, contact that financial company first. Reporting the incident does not guarantee recovery, but waiting can reduce your options.
The safest response is to slow down
The strongest defense against this scam is not a special security app. It is breaking the sequence.
Do not call the number in a frightening pop-up. Do not give remote access to an unexpected caller. Do not move money because someone says a federal agency or bank employee ordered you to do it.
Close the page. Hang up. Open the official app or website yourself. Call the company using contact information you already trust.
The scam works best when every decision happens quickly. Give yourself ten minutes, and the illusion often starts falling apart.
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