A blaring alarm fills your screen. A warning that looks like it's from Microsoft or Apple says your computer's been hacked and your information is being stolen — call this number now. It's the tech support scam, and it's consistently one of the top frauds reported by older adults. In this episode, host Mark Sullivan completes the FTC's "three lies" trilogy by dismantling the fake virus alert, the remote-access trap, and the cruel "refund" trick — and teaches you exactly what to do, calmly, when a scary pop-up takes over your screen. Backed by FBI and FTC data.

In this episode: why real tech companies never put a phone number in a pop-up, how a webpage fakes a "virus scan" it can't actually run, the single most dangerous moment (handing over remote access), the "I accidentally refunded you too much — send it back" trick, and a calm, step-by-step plan for getting out of a scary pop-up without losing a thing.

Note: Online Scams — Real Stories of Fraud and How to Identify a Scammer has no partnership, sponsorship, or financial relationship with any organization, website, app, or store mentioned in this episode. Resources are shared purely for listener benefit.

• Tech support scams among top categories for older adults. Tech support scams, along with government impersonation scams, frequently top the list of fraud categories and/or losses affecting older adults; they typically involve unsolicited offers to fix a "problem" with your computer from someone pretending to be from a legitimate software company like Microsoft or Apple. NCOA, "Top Scams Targeting Older Adults" citing FTC/IC3 data (ncoa.org); FTC consumer guidance (consumer.ftc.gov).
• The "three lies" — lie #3. These scams often start with a fake on-screen security alert that looks like it's from Microsoft or Apple, with a number to call, claiming there's a security problem with your computer. FTC press release, "FTC Data Show a More Than Four-Fold Increase…" (ftc.gov), Aug 2025.
• Older adults more likely to lose money to tech support scams. Older adults were much more likely than younger adults to report losing money on tech support scams. FTC, "Protecting Older Consumers" report (ftc.gov), late 2025.
• Remote access and refund-scam mechanics; how to exit a scam pop-up. Reflects long-standing FTC consumer guidance on tech support scams (never call the number, never give remote access, real companies don't send pop-up alerts with phone numbers, restarting won't harm your computer). FTC consumer education (consumer.ftc.gov); confirm current wording before recording.
• Reporting and recovery resources mentioned. FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov, consumer.ftc.gov, and IdentityTheft.gov. FBI: IC3.gov. AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline (free, non-members welcome).