Geek Squad is a widely known tech support service operated by the electronics retailer Best Buy. They offer computer repairs, installations, and general technical help both remotely and in-store. With Geek Squad’s reputation as a leading computer help service, scammers frequently impersonate them in phishing emails and calls to deceive victims. One common Geek Squad scam is an email stating they will be deducting funds from your account for a Geek Squad subscription renewal. This “Funds Will Be Deducted” scam message is completely fraudulent, but designed to trick recipients into providing money or sensitive information.
What is the Geek Squad ‘Funds Will Be Deducted From Your Account’ scam?
This scam starts with an email pretending to come from Geek Squad Billing Department. Here is an example of the scam email:
Geek Squad
DEAR MEMBER,
Thank you for Your Year-Long Support of the Geek Squad Pc Security.
A 12-Month Subscription Costs $255.58 The Funds Will be Deducted From Your Account Within 24 Hour Of Our Attempt To Contact You At The Registered Phone Number.
You Have Any Questions or Want To Cancel Your Renewal, Please Contact Us Within 24 Hours.
Would You Like Some Help? +1 (844)-(675)-(1977).
You Are Unable To Access Your Security Software Account. You Have 24 Hours From The Time You Get This Confirmation Email To Cancel.
Greeting
Billing Department
Geek Squad”
The email claims that the recipient has an active Geek Squad subscription for PC security that is about to automatically renew for another year. It states that a charge of $255.58 will be withdrawn from their account within 24 hours for this subscription renewal.
The email goes on to say this is a confirmation message about the upcoming payment. It provides a customer service phone number to call in order to cancel the alleged renewal if the recipient does not want to continue the subscription. Some versions of the scam email also include fake account details to make it seem more realistic.
However, everything about this email is a scam. Geek Squad does not automatically renew subscriptions without consent in this manner. They also do not threaten or promise to withdraw funds from customer accounts. The email address, phone number, and any other details included are all fraudulent. The scammers simply impersonate Geek Squad in order to elicit panic and trick victims into providing money or sensitive information.
How does the Geek Squad ‘Funds Will Be Deducted From Your Account’ scam work?
This scam preys on people who may already be Geek Squad customers and tricks them into thinking an unwanted charge is about to go through. The phony renewal notice is intended to get recipients to call the number out of fear of a $255+ dollar charge hitting their account.
When a victim contacts the number, the scammer pretends to be a Geek Squad customer service agent. They claim they need to cancel the “renewal” to stop the charge from being deducted. To do this, they try to get remote access to the victim’s computer and/or ask for credit card details to process a cancellation.
Providing remote access allows the scammer to covertly install malware and spyware that can steal financial information, log keystrokes, or take control of the computer. Giving credit card information directly enables them to make fraudulent purchases. The scammers may also try to get the victim to pay a fake cancellation fee via wire transfer or gift cards.
Essentially, the scammers utilize the urgent nature of the scam email to impersonate Geek Squad representatives and trick terrified recipients into willingly handing over money or means to access accounts and funds. This gives the scammers what they need to drain bank accounts, steal identities, and commit various types of fraud.
What to do if you have fallen victim?
If you realize you were fooled by the “Funds Will Be Deducted” scam, it is important to take action quickly to secure your accounts and protect your identity. Here are important steps to take if you fell victim and gave up personal information:
Contact your bank and any credit/debit card providers used in interactions with the scammer. Report fraudulent charges and request replacement cards with new card numbers.
Change account passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible. This includes email, financial, retailer, and social media accounts.
Download Malwarebytes Free to scan your full computer for viruses, keyloggers, or other malware installed if remote access was given. Remove any infections.
Call the real Geek Squad and inform them scammers are impersonating them and provide details about the scam interaction. You can look up official contact info on BestBuy.com.
Place fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus. Also request a copy of your credit report to identify any signs of identity theft.
File reports with the FTC and FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center documenting the scam. Provide any details you have about the scammers.
Contact your local police department to file an official incident report about the fraud. This creates a paper trail in case of future identity theft.
Taking quick action helps limit damages and prevents scammers from destroying your finances and credit. Be extremely cautious of anyone calling out of the blue claiming to be from Geek Squad. Never provide remote computer access or sensitive data to unsolicited contacts.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Conclusion
The “Geek Squad Funds Will Be Deducted” phishing scam is intended to instill fear and urgency to trick victims into giving up access or information. If you receive a suspicious email or call about an alleged Geek Squad subscription renewal, regard it as a scam attempt. Do not interact with the scammers at all. Legitimate renewal and billing processes will never involve surprise charges or threats. Contact the real Geek Squad directly if you need to verify the validity of a notice received. Stay vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams impersonating trusted brands.
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
