Tech support scams: the one key that closes a fake virus warning, and what to do next

Tech support scams begin with a fake warning, a phone call or a message saying your computer has a problem. Then they ask you to call a number, pay for a fix or let a stranger into your device. Microsoft and Apple do not work this way. On a laptop or desktop using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, pressing and holding the Esc key closes a full-screen fake virus warning, according to Microsoft. If it does not, close the browser. Never call the number on the screen.

What is a tech support scam?

A tech support scam is a con in which someone poses as technical support for a company you trust, such as Microsoft or Apple. They say your computer or account has a problem that they can fix. What they want is your money, your passwords or remote access to your device.

In the United States alone, people aged 60 and over reported losing about $1.04 billion to tech and customer support scams in 2025, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

How do you get out of a fake virus warning?

Press and hold the Esc key until the page leaves full screen. Microsoft says this always closes a full-screen scareware page, even though such pages try to hide the way out. In Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, holding Esc ends full screen even when a site tries to capture the key, according to Chrome’s developer documentation.

Fake warnings are built to frighten you. They fill the screen, may play an alarm or a recorded voice, and may seem to lock your computer. Do not click anything inside the warning, and do not call the number.

If Esc does not work on Windows

Microsoft’s advice is to close the browser. If the mouse does not respond, press Alt and F4 together. If the browser still will not close, restart the computer.

If Esc does not work on a Mac

Press Option, Command and Esc together, select the browser and choose Force Quit. You can also pick Force Quit from the Apple menu. If that fails, restart from the Apple menu, as Apple explains.

On a phone or tablet

Close the tab or leave the page. Apple’s advice for a pop-up that warns of viruses applies here too: do not call the number or follow its links.

How do tech support scams reach you?

Microsoft says its genuine error messages never include a phone number. Real security warnings never ask you to call one either, says the Federal Trade Commission. Keep that test in mind as you read the three common ways in.

A fake virus warning on your screen

Most fake warnings come from a harmful or hacked website. You can land on one by clicking a misleading advert, for example while searching for a product manual. Scammers also place their phone numbers in search results and online ads. If you need help with a device, go to the company’s own website and use the support details listed there.

A call from someone saying they are Microsoft or Apple

Microsoft never contacts you out of the blue to offer technical support. Scammers can also fake the caller ID, so a call can show Apple’s real number and still be a scam. Apple’s advice for an unexpected call claiming to be Apple is to hang up.

A fake renewal invoice or a fake security check

Some scams arrive as an email or text saying you were charged for a tech support renewal, using names such as Geek Squad, McAfee or Norton. It asks you to call within 24 hours to dispute the charge. Check your card or bank statement instead. If there is no such charge, delete the message. If you think it might be real, contact the company on a number you know is real, not the one in the message.

Another version looks like the familiar box asking you to prove you are not a robot. It tells you to press Windows and R, then Ctrl and V, then Enter. Doing that runs hidden malware on your computer. The FTC warns that real checks never ask you to run commands. On a Mac, the same trick asks you to paste something into Terminal.

What should you do when Microsoft or Apple calls you?

The caller may tell you that you are free to call Apple back, but that the fraud will continue and you will be liable in the meantime. Apple says this is false, and designed to stop you hanging up. The pressure is part of the scam.

If you are unsure, the FTC suggests talking it over with someone you trust, such as a friend, a family member or a neighbor. Talking about it can help you see it for what it is. Then follow these rules.

• Hang up. You do not need to give a reason.
• Call back only on a number you find yourself, on the company’s own website or on your bill.
• In the UK, call 159 to reach your bank safely. The number is run by Stop Scams UK.
• Never install software because a caller asked. Microsoft’s security team says to let a helper use its built-in Quick Assist tool only if you contacted Microsoft Support or your own IT support first, and never for someone who claims an urgent need to get into your device.
• Never read out a password or a verification code. Apple never asks for these to give support.
• Treat any request for gift cards, a bank transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app as a sign of a scam. Scammers ask for these because the money is hard to get back.

What if you already gave a scammer remote access?

Once a scammer has remote access, they can control your screen and open your files and any apps you have open, according to Australia’s Scamwatch. South Africa’s banking crime centre, SABRIC, reports that in 2025 victims were talked into installing remote-access or screen-sharing software under the pretence of technical support. You can still limit the damage. Act in this order.

1. Turn off the computer and disconnect from the internet. Switch off your Wi-Fi router at the wall too. This cuts the scammer’s access.
2. Call your bank or card provider straight away. Ask them to stop any transactions and to reverse any card payment. The FBI says that once you find a fraudulent transfer, time is of the essence. A card payment is usually easier to dispute than a bank transfer, as we explain in our guide to paying by card instead of bank transfer.
3. Change your passwords on a different device. Do banking and email first. If you used the same password anywhere else, change it there too. Turn on two-factor sign-in where you can.
4. Delete the remote-access software and run a full security scan. Scammers often leave a back door so they can get in again.
5. If you are still unsure, ask an IT specialist to check the device. Back up your files before anything is reinstalled.
6. Expect follow-up calls. Scammers contact earlier victims to offer a refund or to demand money for the fake service. Hang up on these too.

Where do you report tech support scams?

Report it even if you lost nothing. Your report helps these services track the scam and warn others. If you lost money, call your bank first.

Where you live	Who to contact
United Kingdom	Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. It replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
Australia	Your bank first. Then IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for a free recovery plan, and report to Scamwatch.
New Zealand	Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz/report. IDCARE also helps New Zealanders.
Canada	The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on 1-888-495-8501, or online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.
South Africa	Your bank first, then the SAPS. You can also report to the SAFPS scam service Yima on 083 123 7226.
Anywhere	Tell Microsoft at microsoft.com/reportascam. Forward a fake Apple email to reportphishing@apple.com.

Our Scam Recognition Guide covers this scam and other common frauds, including travel booking scams, in one place.

For more step-by-step help with your phone and apps, see our Tech for Travelers guides.