Beware the FAKE Geek Squad “Subscription Renewal” Email Scam
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Imagine opening your email inbox and discovering a message that says your Geek Squad subscription renewal was successful, charging you nearly five hundred dollars for services you never requested. Your immediate reaction might be panic, confusion, or frustration—and that’s exactly what scammers are counting on. The Geek Squad Subscription Renewal email scam is a widespread and deceptive phishing scheme designed to trick unsuspecting victims into handing over sensitive information or money. Keep reading to understand exactly how this scam works, how to recognize it, and what actions to take if you’ve fallen victim to it.
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Scam Overview
The Geek Squad Subscription Renewal Successful email scam is a classic tech support phishing scam that leverages trust and fear to manipulate victims into giving away personal and financial information. This type of deception is becoming increasingly common and sophisticated, posing a significant risk to internet users, particularly older adults who may be less familiar with recognizing fraudulent communications.
What is the Geek Squad Subscription Scam?
This email scam involves sending fake subscription renewal notices to random individuals, claiming to represent the Geek Squad, a widely known and respected tech support service provided by Best Buy. Victims typically receive an email that appears official, indicating that a hefty charge—often ranging from 200to200 to 200to600—has been successfully processed for subscription renewal to various tech support or computer protection services. The email includes realistic-looking invoice details, transaction IDs, and even customer support phone numbers.
Why Does it Work?
The reason this scam is so effective is straightforward: it instills panic and urgency. When recipients see a substantial amount charged to their accounts, their immediate reaction is often to resolve the issue quickly by calling the provided customer service number listed in the email. Unfortunately, this number doesn’t connect victims to legitimate Geek Squad representatives but instead routes them directly to scammers.
Technical Elements of the Scam
Scammers often use email spoofing techniques, making the email appear as if it originated from a legitimate Geek Squad email address. They use graphics, logos, and branding identical to legitimate companies, making detection more challenging. The emails frequently include multiple elements that seem legitimate:
Genuine-looking Geek Squad logos
Detailed and official-sounding invoice numbers
Legitimate-sounding transaction IDs
Professional language and grammar
Fake privacy policy and terms and conditions links
Psychological Manipulation
Scammers exploit human psychology effectively, using tactics to trigger emotional responses. They employ urgency (the threat of losing money), authority (posing as a reputable company like Geek Squad), and trust (providing seemingly helpful customer support numbers). Victims, under stress about possibly losing money, act impulsively, bypassing their normal cautiousness.
The Real Objective
The ultimate goal of these scammers is to gain remote access to your computer or device, under the pretext of either providing a refund or removing malware. Once scammers gain access, they search your computer for sensitive information such as passwords, banking details, and personal identification information. Alternatively, they may prompt victims to purchase gift cards, falsely claiming it is necessary for processing refunds or removing non-existent viruses.
Who is Targeted?
While anyone can become a victim, scammers often target elderly individuals or people less familiar with online scams and cybersecurity measures. These individuals may lack awareness about phishing techniques and can be easily frightened or manipulated by threats of financial loss.
Financial Impact of the Scam
The financial consequences for victims can be significant. Not only could the scammers immediately drain bank accounts or credit card balances, but they can also use stolen identities and financial details to commit further fraud, resulting in long-term and costly damage.
Signs of a Scam Email
Common indicators of a Geek Squad scam email include:
Unsolicited subscription renewal notices
Charges for services you’ve never purchased or subscribed to
Urgent instructions to call a phone number immediately
Poor grammar or spelling mistakes (though increasingly scammers correct these to appear legitimate)
Email addresses that appear suspicious or unrelated to Geek Squad or Best Buy
How The Scam Works
Understanding the detailed mechanics behind this scam is crucial for prevention. Here’s how the Geek Squad Subscription Renewal Successful email scam typically unfolds:
Step 1: Receiving the Fake Email
Victims receive an unsolicited email saying their Geek Squad subscription has been renewed automatically, specifying an amount charged, typically several hundred dollars. The email looks official, complete with logos, transaction IDs, invoice numbers, and dates.
Step 2: Immediate Panic and Reaction
Upon seeing the email, victims panic, believing they have been wrongly charged. This panic prompts immediate action without careful thought or verification.
Step 3: Calling the Fake Customer Support Number
The scam email includes a prominently displayed phone number, supposedly for customer support. Victims call this number to dispute or clarify the transaction.
Step 4: Interaction with Fake Tech Support
Scammers posing as Geek Squad representatives answer the call. They speak professionally, calmly, and convincingly, further building trust. They reassure the victim that they can resolve the issue quickly.
Step 5: Remote Access Request
The scammers ask victims to download remote access software (like Anydesk or TeamViewer), claiming they need to verify the transaction and process a refund or secure their computer from supposed threats.
Step 6: Installation of Remote Access Software
Victims unknowingly grant scammers remote access to their devices. Scammers now have full control to browse, copy, and download sensitive information from the victim’s device.
Step 7: Fake Security Scan or Refund Procedure
Scammers perform fake security scans or pretend to process refunds. They manipulate screens or bank statements to suggest the victim mistakenly received too much money, creating another layer of urgency.
Step 8: Requesting Payment via Gift Cards
Scammers ask victims to rectify the fake “overpayment” by purchasing gift cards from popular stores (such as Amazon, Target, or Walmart). They instruct victims to provide the gift card numbers, effectively stealing money instantly.
Step 9: Theft of Financial Information and Money
Simultaneously, scammers secretly retrieve sensitive information, including banking credentials, passwords, and personal documents, allowing them to commit identity theft or directly steal funds.
Step 10: Disconnection and Further Exploitation
After the scammers achieve their goal—either obtaining sensitive information, money, or both—they abruptly disconnect the call. Victims are left confused and financially compromised. The scammers may later use the extracted information in further fraud attempts.
What to do if you have fallen victim to this Scam
If you’ve fallen victim to the Geek Squad Subscription Renewal scam, acting quickly is essential:
Immediately Disconnect Devices: Disconnect your device from the internet to prevent further remote access.
Uninstall Remote Access Software: Remove any software scammers instructed you to install (such as Anydesk or TeamViewer).
Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Company: Inform them immediately about the situation. Freeze accounts or dispute unauthorized charges.
Change All Your Passwords: Update passwords for online banking, email, social media, and other critical accounts.
File a Police Report: Report the fraud to local law enforcement for official documentation.
Report the Scam to the FTC: Submit a detailed report to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.
Monitor Your Identity: Check your credit reports regularly for suspicious activity. Consider a credit monitoring service.
Inform Geek Squad: Alert Geek Squad and Best Buy about the scam to help them warn other customers.
Educate Yourself and Others: Share your experience to help others recognize and avoid similar scams.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
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 for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
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.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, 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:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
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.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
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.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Geek Squad Subscription Renewal Email Scam
Q1: What is the Geek Squad Subscription Renewal email scam?
A: The Geek Squad Subscription Renewal email scam is a phishing attempt where scammers send fake emails claiming that your Geek Squad subscription has been renewed successfully, charging you hundreds of dollars for services you never subscribed to. The scammers try to trick victims into calling fake customer support numbers to steal personal information or money.
Q2: How can I identify if the Geek Squad renewal email is fake?
A: Look out for the following signs:
You never subscribed to Geek Squad or initiated any service renewal.
Poor grammar or unusual phrasing.
Urgent demands or threats requiring immediate action.
Suspicious sender email addresses.
The email includes an unfamiliar customer support phone number.
Requests to download remote access software.
Always verify such emails by directly contacting Geek Squad through official channels.
Q3: What happens if I call the fake customer support number provided in the scam email
A: Calling the number connects you to scammers pretending to be Geek Squad representatives. They will attempt to convince you to grant remote access to your device, where they can steal sensitive information, banking details, or demand payment through gift cards.
Q4: I gave scammers remote access to my device. What should I do now?
A: Immediately follow these steps:
Disconnect your device from the internet.
Uninstall any remote access software installed.
Contact your bank to freeze accounts or dispute unauthorized charges.
Change all your passwords immediately.
Report the incident to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the FTC (ftc.gov).
Q5: Why do scammers ask victims to buy gift cards
A: Gift cards are favored by scammers because they’re difficult to trace. Once the victim provides the gift card numbers and PINs, scammers immediately redeem the funds anonymously, leaving victims with little recourse.
Q6: Can Geek Squad or Best Buy help recover my money if I’ve been scammed?
A: Geek Squad and Best Buy are legitimate organizations and are not involved in these scams. They cannot directly recover your money lost to scammers. However, you should inform them about the scam, as they can warn other customers. Your best option is to report to your bank, local authorities, and the FTC.
Q7: What should I do if I received a Geek Squad renewal email scam but didn’t fall for it?
A: Even if you didn’t fall victim, you can help others by:
Reporting the email as spam.
Forwarding the suspicious email to Geek Squad or Best Buy’s official fraud reporting channels.
Informing your friends, family, and colleagues about this scam to raise awareness.
Q8: How can I protect myself from similar scams in the future?
A: Follow these precautions:
Always verify suspicious emails by contacting the company directly through official channels.
Never respond to unsolicited emails asking for personal information or immediate payment.
Avoid downloading remote access software unless you are certain of the legitimacy of the request.
Regularly update your knowledge of common scams and fraud strategies.
Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on all devices.
Q9: Who is most vulnerable to this Geek Squad email scam?
A: While anyone can be targeted, scammers often target older adults or individuals with limited technological experience and familiarity with cybersecurity practices.
Q10: Where can I officially report this scam?
A: Report the Geek Squad Subscription Renewal email scam to:
FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov
Local law enforcement: File a police report for documentation and local support.
Q11: Does Geek Squad ever send renewal emails?
A: Legitimate Geek Squad subscription renewal emails do exist, but they will never pressure you to call immediately, ask for sensitive personal information, or request remote access to process refunds. Always verify authenticity directly through Geek Squad’s official website or customer service line.
Q12: Can scammers access my bank account if I only called the fake number?
A: Simply calling a scammer’s phone number typically won’t grant them access to your accounts. However, if you provided personal information, allowed remote computer access, installed software they recommended, or provided online banking details or passwords, your accounts could be compromised.
The Bottom Line
The Geek Squad Subscription Renewal Successful email scam is a sophisticated and dangerous phishing attempt, exploiting trust, urgency, and fear to defraud victims. Protect yourself by remaining cautious, verifying suspicious emails independently, and never allowing remote access to strangers. If you fall victim, act swiftly by notifying financial institutions, changing passwords, and reporting the fraud. Awareness and vigilance are your best defenses against falling victim to such tech support scams.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
