Geek Squad ‘Funds Will Be Deducted From Your Account’ Scam [Explained]
Written by: Stelian Pilici
Published on:
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.
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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 It states that a charge of $255.58 will be withdrawn from their account within 24 hours for this subscription renewal.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? 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.
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.
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.
Meet Stelian Pilici
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.
