Geek Squad scams continue to be one of the most dangerous and widespread phishing attacks in 2025, tricking thousands of people into revealing personal information, granting remote access to their devices, or sending money to criminals. Scammers exploit the trusted Geek Squad brand — a legitimate tech support service owned by Best Buy — to deceive victims through fake emails, invoices, texts, and phone calls.
This detailed guide will help you understand how these scams work, how to identify red flags, and what steps to take if you’ve already fallen victim.
Introduction
In recent years, phishing scams have grown more sophisticated — and few brands are abused more frequently than Geek Squad. What makes this scam particularly effective is the trust people have in Best Buy’s popular tech support service. Scammers impersonate Geek Squad representatives using fake emails, invoices, and phone numbers, convincing victims that they owe money for services they never purchased or that their devices are at risk.
In 2024 alone, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 52,000 reports of scams impersonating Geek Squad or Best Buy — making it the most impersonated company that year. And in 2025, the trend has only escalated.
Understanding these scams is the first step to protecting yourself.
Scam Overview
What are Geek Squad scams?
Geek Squad scams are impersonation scams where criminals pretend to be Geek Squad representatives. They may send:
Fake invoices or subscription renewal emails
Phishing links to malicious websites
Phone numbers leading to scam call centers
Fraudulent refund or billing notifications
Their ultimate goal is to trick victims into:
Revealing personal or financial information
Granting remote access to their devices
Downloading malware or spyware
Making fraudulent payments
These scams are not affiliated with Best Buy or Geek Squad in any way. Geek Squad itself is a legitimate service — scammers are merely exploiting the brand’s reputation to deceive victims.
Why Geek Squad is a prime target for scammers
Scammers choose Geek Squad for several reasons:
Brand recognition – Many people know Geek Squad and associate it with trusted tech support.
Existing customer base – Millions of customers have purchased Geek Squad services over the years, making scam emails more believable.
Tech support urgency – Technical problems create a sense of stress and urgency, making victims more vulnerable to manipulation.
Financial transactions – Subscriptions and service renewals are common with Geek Squad, giving scammers a believable pretext to request money.
Realistic spoofing techniques
Modern scammers don’t just send a poorly written email anymore. They use:
Lookalike domains (e.g., support@geeksquadd-support.com instead of @geeksquad.com)
Professional email templates that mimic the official branding
Phone spoofing to make calls appear as if they’re from Best Buy
Fake order confirmations and invoices
Social engineering scripts to sound legitimate on calls
They may even create fake refund pages, fake payment portals, or phishing websites to harvest your credit card information.
Scope of the problem
52,000 reports to FTC in 2024
Losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars across North America
Victims include individuals of all ages, especially seniors and less tech-savvy users
Scams are evolving to bypass traditional spam filters and impersonation checks
Most Common Types of Geek Squad Scams in 2025
Scammers are constantly evolving their techniques, but many Geek Squad scams follow recurring patterns that make them easier to identify once you know what to look for. In 2025, these scams have become more sophisticated — often mimicking official branding, logos, and language used by Best Buy and Geek Squad. Below are the most common types of Geek Squad scams circulating this year, each designed to trick victims into giving away personal information, money, or access to their devices.
1. Fake Tech Support Scams
This is one of the oldest and most effective forms of Geek Squad scams. Scammers pose as certified Geek Squad technicians and claim your computer or device has a virus, suspicious activity, or performance issues.
They typically reach out via:
Email with fake alerts claiming your system is infected
Phone calls pretending to be Geek Squad support
Pop-up warnings designed to look like legitimate antivirus notifications
Once they make contact, the scammer pressures the victim to:
Download remote access software like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or UltraViewer
Provide payment information to fix the fake problem
Grant full access to their device, allowing them to steal files, passwords, or install malware
This type of scam is especially dangerous because victims believe they are getting legitimate help. Once remote access is granted, the attacker can remain hidden and continue to exploit the device even after the initial call ends.
2. Subscription Renewal Scams
In these scams, the victim receives a fake invoice or renewal notice claiming their Geek Squad subscription is about to renew for a large sum (commonly $349.99 or $499.99).
The email looks legitimate and typically includes:
A fake invoice number
A specific amount to make the email more believable
A customer service number to “cancel” the subscription
When the victim calls, the scammer:
Pretends to process a refund or cancellation
Requests banking or credit card information
Sometimes “refunds” too much money and pressures the victim to return the difference (a common tactic)
This is currently one of the most widely reported Geek Squad scam variations in 2025.
3. Fake Invoice and Billing Scams
Scammers send an email that looks like an official Best Buy or Geek Squad billing notice, claiming the victim owes money for a product or service they never ordered.
These fake invoices often:
Include realistic branding and layout
Reference “services rendered” or “subscription renewals”
Provide a phone number or link to resolve the issue
The goal is to panic the recipient into calling the number or clicking the link without questioning the legitimacy of the invoice. From there, the scammer begins their social engineering process.
4. Refund Scams
Refund scams take the subscription renewal scam one step further. After tricking the victim into believing they were charged for a service, the scammer pretends to issue a refund.
The scammer then claims they accidentally refunded too much — for example, $3,000 instead of $300 — and pressures the victim to send back the difference via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
This is a classic overpayment scam, and it’s extremely effective because victims feel obligated to return what they think isn’t theirs.
5. Phishing Emails and Fake Websites
Phishing remains a core strategy for Geek Squad impersonators. Scammers send emails that direct recipients to fraudulent websites designed to look identical to Best Buy or Geek Squad portals.
These sites are built to:
Steal login credentials
Collect personal and financial information
Sometimes install malware through fake downloads or scripts
These phishing pages often use domains that look deceptively similar to the real thing (e.g., geeksquadd-support.com instead of geeksquad.com).
Once the victim enters their credentials, scammers can take over email, PayPal, or bank accounts, or sell the data on the dark web.
6. PayPal Payment Scams
Scammers send fake PayPal receipts for Geek Squad services that were never purchased.
These emails often include:
A fake invoice referencing a Geek Squad plan or protection service
A statement claiming “You will be charged within 24 hours”
A “Dispute this charge” button or phone number
When victims click or call, they’re directed to a scammer posing as a PayPal or Geek Squad representative. This is a clever variation because many people trust PayPal emails, giving the scam more credibility.
7. Order Confirmation Scams
Victims receive an email that looks like a Best Buy order confirmation for a high-value product, such as a laptop or Smart TV. The scammer expects the recipient to panic because they never placed the order.
The email includes:
A fake order number
A large transaction amount
A “contact us” button to cancel or dispute the order
Once the victim calls or clicks, they’re pulled into the scammer’s funnel, where personal and financial information can be harvested.
8. Prize and Giveaway Scams
In this scam, victims are told they’ve won a Geek Squad or Best Buy prize, such as a gift card, laptop, or security service.
The scammer then:
Requests personal data “to verify your identity”
Asks for payment of a small “processing fee”
Directs victims to a phishing website
Because winning a prize is exciting, this tactic lowers people’s guard, making them more likely to comply without verifying authenticity.
9. Account Recovery or Password Reset Scams
Scammers send phishing emails claiming:
“Your Geek Squad account has been locked due to suspicious activity.”
“Please reset your password to continue using your service.”
These emails mimic real account security messages and redirect victims to fake password reset pages. Once credentials are entered, scammers gain full access to the victim’s accounts, including financial services if they share the same password.
10. Vishing (Voice Phishing) and Spoofed Hotline Scams
Not all Geek Squad scams happen through email. Vishing scams use phone calls to impersonate Geek Squad support.
Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make the number appear as if it’s from Best Buy’s official support line. They then:
Pretend to detect “unusual activity” on the victim’s account
Ask for billing information, remote access, or “identity verification”
Attempt to process fake cancellations or refunds
This is particularly dangerous because many people trust phone calls more than emails, making them more likely to comply.
Why These Scams Work So Well
The effectiveness of these scams lies in psychological manipulation and familiarity with the Geek Squad brand. Common tactics include:
Urgency: “Your account will be charged today!”
Fear: “Your device is infected with malware.”
Authority: Scammers use technical jargon and employee IDs to sound official.
Convenience: Fake emails and invoices look like real transactions, making people respond without questioning them.
By understanding these 10 most common types of Geek Squad scams, you can spot the red flags early and avoid becoming a victim.
Staying skeptical of unexpected invoices, renewal notices, or prize notifications is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself in 2025.
How the Geek Squad Scam Works
This scam can appear in different forms, but most follow a similar step-by-step pattern designed to manipulate victims into taking quick action.
Step 1: Scammers obtain your information
Scammers often already know your email or phone number through:
Data breaches
Social media scraping
Data broker lists
Phishing campaigns
Previous scams
This makes their communication look targeted and legitimate.
Step 2: You receive a phishing email, text, or call
The scam begins with a message that looks real. Examples:
“Your Geek Squad subscription will renew for $349.99 today.”
“Suspicious activity detected on your account. Please contact Geek Squad immediately.”
“Your protection plan expires today. Click here to renew.”
The message includes:
A fake invoice or order number
Urgent language to create panic
A phone number or link to “resolve the issue”
Step 3: The scam creates urgency
The email or caller tries to make you:
Believe you’re about to be charged hundreds of dollars
Fear that your account or computer is compromised
Act fast without verifying details
This emotional manipulation is key to the scam’s success.
Step 4: You call or click the link
Victims either:
Call the number in the fake email and speak to a scammer pretending to be a support rep
Click the phishing link, which takes them to a fake website designed to look like Geek Squad or Best Buy
The scammer sounds professional, may use scripted lines, and can even give fake employee IDs to sound legitimate.
Step 5: Social engineering manipulation
The scammer will:
Pretend to verify your identity
Ask for sensitive information such as your name, email, address, and credit card
Convince you to download remote access software like AnyDesk or TeamViewer so they can “fix” the problem
Use scare tactics like “your computer has been hacked”
Step 6: Payment or data theft
Once the scammer has your trust, they’ll push for:
Direct payment for a fake service
Access to your banking app or PayPal account
Remote control of your device, allowing them to steal credentials, install spyware, or monitor your activity
In refund scams, they claim to have “accidentally refunded too much” and pressure you to send money back. This is one of the most common variations of the Geek Squad scam in 2025.
Step 7: Damage and aftermath
Victims may face:
Stolen funds from bank accounts or PayPal
Identity theft from exposed personal data
Malware infections or backdoors on their devices
Unauthorized credit card charges
Scammers often target the same victim repeatedly once they’ve been successful, passing the information to other criminal groups.
How to Identify a Fake Geek Squad Email or Message
Spotting a fake Geek Squad message early can prevent financial loss. Here are the main warning signs:
1. Suspicious sender addresses
Legitimate emails will come from @geeksquad.com or @bestbuy.com. Anything else — especially with added characters or misspellings — is likely fake.
2. Generic greetings
“Dear Customer” or “Dear Sir/Madam” is a major red flag. Official Geek Squad emails use your name or account details.
3. Grammar and spelling errors
Phishing emails often contain mistakes that official companies wouldn’t make.
4. Unexpected invoices or renewals
If you never signed up for a service but receive a bill, it’s likely a scam.
5. Unfamiliar phone numbers
Scammers often use fake hotlines. Always verify Geek Squad’s official contact numbers on Best Buy’s website.
6. Threatening or urgent language
Messages that claim “immediate action required” or “your account will be charged today” are designed to make you panic.
7. Suspicious links
Hover over links without clicking. If the URL doesn’t lead to bestbuy.com or geeksquad.com, it’s not legitimate.
What to Do If You’ve Fallen Victim to a Geek Squad Scam
Even if you’ve already been tricked, you can still minimize the damage. Here are the key steps to take immediately:
1. Disconnect from the internet if remote access was granted
If scammers accessed your computer through AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or another tool:
Immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi
Remove their access
Uninstall the remote access tool
Run a security scan to detect malware
This prevents them from continuing to access your machine.
2. Change your passwords
If you shared credentials or typed them on a fake site:
Change your email, bank, and PayPal passwords
Use unique, strong passwords for each account
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible
3. Contact your bank or credit card provider
If any financial information was shared:
Inform your bank immediately
Freeze or cancel compromised cards
Dispute unauthorized transactions
Banks can often reverse fraudulent charges if reported quickly.
4. Report the scam to authorities
Reporting helps protect others and may assist in recovering stolen funds:
Your email provider (mark the message as phishing)
5. Run a malware scan
If you clicked a link or downloaded anything:
Use a reputable antivirus or antimalware tool
Remove any detected threats
Reset your browser if necessary
Update your operating system and apps
6. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
Scammers may not act immediately. Watch for:
Unknown transactions
Password reset requests
Suspicious logins
New accounts opened in your name
You can also consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit report if identity theft is suspected.
7. Educate friends and family
Scammers often target the victim’s contacts next. Warn those around you to ignore similar emails or calls. This can stop further harm.
How to Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware
If you have accidentally downloaded unwanted programs or malware from a pop-up scam, you can find below a full malware removal guide.
This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the number of steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubts at any point, stop and ask for our assistance.
Browser hijackers, unwanted apps, and adware can infect Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices, so we’ve covered below all these operating systems. Depending on which operating system is installed on your device, please click on the operating system icon below and follow the displayed steps.
In this first step, we will manually check if any unknown or malicious programs are installed on the computer. Sometimes adware and browser hijackers can have a usable Uninstall entry that can be used to remove them.
Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8Windows 7
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
First, open Windows Settings by pressing Windows+I on your keyboard. You can also right-click your Start button and select “Settings” from the list.
In the Settings app, click on “Apps” and then “Apps & features”.
When Settings opens, click “Apps” in the sidebar, then select “Apps & Features”.
Find the malicious program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”. Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a malicious program, click the three dots button beside it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read them closely.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. You can also ope the Settings app by clicking the Start button on the taskbar, then select “Settings” (gear icon).
In the Settings app, click on “Apps”.
When the “Windows Settings” window opens, click on “Apps“. By default, it should open “Apps and Features” but if it doesn’t, select it from the list on the left.
Find the malicious program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”. Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a malicious program, click on it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Go to “Program and Features”.
Right-click on the Start button in the taskbar, then select “Programs and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
Search for malicious program and uninstall it.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any unknown or suspicious program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall malicious program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Open the “Control Panel”.
Click on the “Start” button, then click on “Control Panel“.
Click on “Uninstall a Program”.
When the “Control Panel” appears, click on “Uninstall a Program” from the Programs category.
Search for malicious programs and uninstall them.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any suspicious or unknown program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall malicious program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
If you are experiencing difficulty while attempting to uninstall a program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove the unwanted program from your computer.
Now that the malicious programs have been removed from your computer, we can proceed with the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this step, we will remove spam notifications, malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. Please note that this method will remove all extensions, toolbars, and other customizations but will leave your bookmarks and favorites intact. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the browsers tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
ChromeFirefoxMicrosoft EdgeInternet Explorer
Reset Chrome for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Chrome browser settings to their original defaults. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Open the Chrome menu
In the top-right corner of Chrome, click the three-dot (⋮) icon to open the menu.
Go to Settings
From the menu, select Settings.
Select “Reset settings”
In the left sidebar, scroll down and click Reset settings.
Choose “Restore settings to their original defaults”
Click the Restore settings to their original defaults option.
Confirm the reset
In the dialog that appears, click Reset settings to restore Chrome to its default state. Bookmarks, history, and saved passwords will remain, but extensions will be disabled and temporary data cleared.
Reset Firefox for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Firefox browser settings to their default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and then click on “Help”.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “More troubleshooting information”.
From the Help menu, click on “More troubleshooting information“.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
When the “Troubleshooting Information” page opens, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button.
Confirm that you want to reset your browser settings.
To finish the reset process, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click “Finish”.
Firefox will now close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on “Finish“.
Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
Reset Microsoft Edge to default settings
We will now reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings to their default. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner and then click on “Settings”.
In the top right corner, click on Microsoft Edge’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Settings“.
Click on “Reset Settings”.
On the left side of the window, click on “Reset Settings“.
Click on “Restore settings to their default values”.
In the main window, click on “Restore settings to their default values“.
Click “Reset”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset” button. Microsoft Edge will now erase all your personal data, browsing history, and disable all installed extensions. Your bookmarks, though, will remain intact and still be accessible.
Reset Internet Explorer to default settings
We will now reset your Internet Explorer browser settings to their default. You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your computer.
Go to “Internet Options”.
Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper-right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
Select the “Advanced” tab, then click “Reset”
In the “Internet Options” dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Reset”.
In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” checkbox, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Close”.
When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. Close your browser and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to remove malware and unwanted programs
In this third step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
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.
STEP 4: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for badware
In this next step, we will scan the computer with HitmanPro to ensure that no other malicious programs are installed on your device.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner that takes a unique cloud-based approach to malware scanning. HitmanPro scans the behavior of active files and also files in locations where malware normally resides for suspicious activity. If it finds a suspicious file that’s not already known, HitmanPro sends it to its clouds to be scanned by two of the best antivirus engines today, which are Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Although HitmanPro is shareware and costs $24.95 for 1 year on 1 PC, there is no limit on scanning. The limitation only kicks in when there is a need to remove or quarantine detected malware by HitmanPro on your system and by then, you can activate the one-time 30-days trial to enable the cleanup.
Download HitmanPro.
You can download HitmanPro by clicking the link below.
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
Install HitmanPro.
When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on “hitmanpro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows) to install this program on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow HitmanPro to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
When HitmanPro starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Click on the “Next” button to perform a system scan.
Wait for the HitmanPro scan to complete.
HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malicious programs.
Click on “Next”.
When HitmanPro has finished the scan, it will display a list of all the malware that it has found. Click on the “Next” button to have HitmanPro remove the detected items.
Click on “Activate free license”.
HitmanPro may now require to activate the free 30-days trial to remove the malicious files. To do this, click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
When the malware removal process is complete, it will display a screen that shows the status of the various programs that were removed. At this screen, you should click on the Next button and then if prompted you should click on the Reboot button. If HitmanPro does not prompt you to reboot, please just click on the Close button.
STEP 5: Use AdwCleaner to remove adware and malicious browser policies
In this final step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove the malicious browser policies that were set by browser hijackers on your computer and delete malicious browser extensions.
AdwCleaner is a free popular on-demand scanner that can detect and remove malware that even the most well-known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to find. This on-demand scanner includes a lot of tools that can be used to fix the side effects of adware. browser hijackers and other malware.
Download AdwCleaner.
You can download AdwCleaner by clicking the link below.
ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download AdwCleaner)
Double-click on the setup file.
Double-click on the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe” to start AdwCleaner. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
AdwCleaner program will now open and you will be presented with the program’s license agreement. After you read it, click on the I agree button if you wish to continue. If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies” to remove malicious browser policies.
When AdwCleaner starts, on the left side of the window, click on “Settings” and then enable “Reset Chrome policies“.
Click on the “Scan” button.
On the left side of the AdwCleaner window, click on “Dashboard” and then click “Scan” to perform a computer scan.
Wait for the AdwCleaner scan to finish.
AdwCleaner will now scan your computer for malware. This process can take a few minutes.
Click on “Quarantine” to remove malware.
When the AdwCleaner scan is completed it will display all of the items it has found. Click on the “Quarantine” button to remove the malicious programs from your computer.
Click on “Continue” to remove the malicious programs.
AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to close any open programs before it starts to clean. Click on the “Continue” button to finish the removal process.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, you may be asked to restart your computer.
Your computer should now be free of Unwanted Apps and Malware 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:
Profiles are used by IT admins in businesses to control the behavior of their Macs. These profiles can configure a Mac to do many different things, some of which are not otherwise possible. When it comes to home users, adware and browser hijackers are using the configuration profile to prevent users from removing malicious programs from the computer. This also prevents the user from changing that behavior in the browser’s settings.
In this first step, we will check your computer to see if any configuration profiles are installed. To do this, follow the below steps:
Open “System Preferences”
From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
Search for “Profiles”
When the System Preferences window opens, search for the Profiles icon.
If there isn’t a Profiles icon, you don’t have any profiles installed, which is normal and you can continue with the next steps.
Remove the malicious profiles
If there’s a Profile icon, click on it and select any suspicious profile that you want to remove, and then press the – (minus) button. Click Remove to remove the profile.
STEP 2: Delete malicious apps
In this second step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious apps and files that might be installed on your computer. Sometimes redirects or adware programs can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these programs.
Quit the malicious programs
On the Apple menu bar, in the top-right corner, if you see any unknown or suspicious icon, click on it and then select Quit.
Open “Finder”
Click the Finder application on your dock.
Click on “Applications”
In the Finder left pane, click on “Applications“.
Find and remove the malicious app.
The “Applications” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your device. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious app, right-click it, and then click “Move to Trash”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Here are some known malicious programs: SearchMine, TakeFresh, TopResults, FeedBack, ApplicationEvents, GeneralOpen, PowerLog, MessengerNow, ImagePrime, GeneralNetSearch, Reading Cursors, GlobalTechSearch, PDFOnline-express, See Scenic Elf, MatchKnowledge, Easy Speedtest, or WebDiscover.
Click “Empty Trash”
On the dock, right-click on the trash icon and select “Empty Trash”. Doing so deletes the Trash’s contents, including the program that you just sent to the Trash.
Find and remove the malicious files
Click the desktop to make sure you’re in the Finder, choose “Go” then click on “Go to Folder“.
Type or copy/paste each of the below paths into the window that opens, then click Go.
/Library/LaunchAgents
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/Application Support
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Look out for any suspicious files that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. These are some known malicious files: “com.adobe.fpsaud.plist” “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, or “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”. When you find a malicious file move it to the Trash.
STEP 3: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this third step, we will remove spam push notifications and malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
Safari BrowserChrome for Mac BrowserFirefox for Mac Browser
Remove malicious extensions and settings from Safari
To remove malware from Safari we will check if there are any malicious extensions installed on your browser and what settings have been changed by this malicious program.
Go to Safari’s “Preferences”.
On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Preferences”.
Check Homepage.
This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the “General” tab. Some browser hijackers may change your default homepage, so in the Homepage field make sure it’s a web page you want to use as your start-up page.
Click “Extensions”
Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.
Find and uninstall malicious extensions.
The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Safari. Look out for any suspicious browser extension that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine extension. By default, there are no extensions installed on Safari so it’s safe to remove an extension
Remove spam notifications ads
Click Preferences, click Websites, then click Notifications. Deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications”.
Remove all data stored by websites on your computer.
In the Safari menu, choose “Preferences…”, select “Privacy” at the top of the new window that appears, and then click the “Manage Website Data” button.
In the next dialog box, click “Remove All“. It will ask you if you are sure you want to remove all data stored by websites on your computer. Select “Remove Now” to clear data that could be used to track your browsing.
Empty Safari Caches.
From your Safari menu bar, click Safari and select Preferences, then select the Advanced tab. Enable the checkbox to “Show Develop menu in menu bar“.
From the menu bar select Develop, then click on Empty Caches as seen in the image below.
Remove malware from Chrome for Mac
To remove malware from Chrome for Mac we will reset the browser settings to their default. Doing these steps will erase all configuration information from Chrome such as your home page, tab settings, saved form information, browsing history, and cookies. This process will also disable any installed extensions. All of your bookmarks, though, will be preserved.
Click on the three dots at the top right and go to Settings.
Click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three dots at the top right corner. Now click on the menu option labeled Settings as shown by the arrow in the picture below, which will open the basic settings screen.
In the left sidebar, click on the “Reset and Cleanup” option.
In the left sidebar, click on “Reset and clean up“.
Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.
Now click on the “Reset settings to their original defaults”. link as shown in the image below.
Click “Reset Settings” button.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset Settings” button.
(Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.
In case a malicious extension reinstalls itself even after performing a browser reset, you have an additional option to reset the data sync for your browser. To do this, navigate to chrome.google.com/sync and click on the Clear Data button.
Remove malware from Firefox for Mac
To remove malware from Firefox for Mac we will reset the browser settings to its default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Go to the “Help” menu.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “Troubleshooting Information”.
Next click on the “Troubleshooting Information” option as indicated by the arrow in the image below. This will bring you to a Troubleshooting page.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
Confirm.
To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click on “Finish”.
Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.
Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
STEP 4: Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
In this final step, we will scan the computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to find and remove any malicious programs that might be installed on your Mac.
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 computer should now be free of Unwanted Apps and Malware 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.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android
To remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from your phone or tablet, follow these steps:
In this first step, we will check if any malicious apps are installed on your phone. Sometimes browser hijackers or adware apps can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these apps.
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find the malicious app.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the applications that are installed on your phone. Scroll through the list and look out for any suspicious app that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Most often, cyber criminals hide malware inside video or photo editing apps, weather apps, and camera apps.
Uninstall the malicious app
When you find a suspicious or malicious app, tap on it to uninstall it. This won’t start the app but will open up the app details screen. If the app is currently running press the “Force stop” button, then tap on “Uninstall”.
A confirmation dialog should be displayed to confirm you want to uninstall the app, tap on “OK” to remove the malicious app from your phone.
STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this second step, we will reset your browser to its default settings to remove spam notifications, unwated search redirects, and restore its factory settings
Resetting the browser settings to their default it’s an easy task on Windows or Mac computers; however, when it comes to Android, this can’t be done directly because it’s not an option built-in into the browser settings. Restoring the browser settings on Android can be done by clearing the application data. This will remove all the cookies, cache, and other site settings that may have been saved. So let’s see how we can restore your browser to its factory settings.
Chrome for AndroidFirefoxOperaSamsung Internet BrowserMicrosoft Edge
Remove malware from Chrome for Android
To reset Chrome for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Chrome.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Chrome app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Chrome’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Chrome’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Firefox for Android
To reset Firefox for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Firefox.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Firefox app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Firefox’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Firefox data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from the Opera browser
To reset the Opera browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Opera.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Opera app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Opera’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Opera’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Samsung Internet Browser
To reset the Samsung Internet Browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Samsung Internet Browser.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Samsung Internet Browser app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Samsung Internet Browser’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Samsung Internet Browser’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Microsoft Edge for Android
To reset the Microsoft Edge for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Microsoft Edge.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Microsoft Edge app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Microsoft Edge’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Microsoft Edge’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Android to remove malicious apps
In this final step, we will install Malwarebytes for Android to scan and remove malicious apps from your phone or tablet.
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 Unwanted Apps and Malware 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.
In this first step, we will clean your Safari browser by using the built-in “Clear History and Website Data” feature. “Clear History and Website Data” allows you to delete the browsing history and website data that is stored on your device. This can include information such as the websites you have visited, your search history, and any data that has been stored by websites you have visited, such as cookies and cache.
Do not tap on the malicious browser window or pop-ups. Instead, tap on the tab icon located in the lower right corner of the screen, as shown in the image below.
Tap the X button on the tab or swipe up to safely close it.
Tap the Settings app.
Toggle on Airplane Mode to temporarily disconnect your phone from the internet and block unwanted access.
Scroll down and tap Safari.
Tap Clear History and Website Data.
Confirm that you want to clear the history and data by tapping “Clear History and Data” in the pop-up window.
While in Safari settings, make sure to toggle on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning.
Tap on Settings in the upper-left corner to return to the main Settings menu.
Toggle Airplane Mode back off to re-connect your phone to the internet.
STEP 2: Delete unwanted apps
In the next step, we will remove any potentially unwanted apps that may be installed on your iPhone. If you have downloaded an app after being redirected to the App Store by suspicious websites, it is recommended to delete it.
On the home screen, tap and hold on the app icon until all of the icons start to wiggle.
Tap the “X” button that appears on the top left corner of the app icon.
Confirm that you want to delete the app by tapping “Delete”.
That’s it, your iPhone should be clean and you can continue browsing the Internet. We recommend that you install an ad blocker like AdGuard [recommended] to block the malicious ads.
If you continue to have malware related issues with your device after completing the above steps, we recommend to take one of these actions:
Prevention is your best defense. Here’s how to reduce your risk:
Never click suspicious links or download attachments from unknown senders.
Verify emails and invoices directly through your Geek Squad or Best Buy account.
Bookmark official websites like geeksquad.com and type them manually.
Enable spam filters and security software to catch phishing attempts.
Educate elderly family members, who are frequent targets of tech support scams.
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all sensitive accounts.
Regularly check your credit reports for unauthorized activity.
The Bottom Line
Geek Squad scams are one of the most common phishing and tech support scams in 2025. Scammers exploit a trusted brand to steal personal information, infect devices with malware, and defraud victims of thousands of dollars.
The key to staying safe is awareness. Always verify unexpected invoices or renewal notices directly with Best Buy or Geek Squad through official channels. Never trust unsolicited emails or calls, even if they seem urgent.
If you’ve already fallen victim, act quickly: disconnect devices, change passwords, contact your bank, report the scam, and monitor your accounts closely.
The more people understand how these scams work, the harder it becomes for criminals to succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is Geek Squad itself a scam?
No. Geek Squad is a legitimate tech support service owned by Best Buy. Scammers are simply impersonating the brand to trick people into giving away personal information or money.
2. How can I tell if a Geek Squad email is fake?
Look for suspicious sender addresses, poor grammar, urgent language, fake invoices, or links that don’t lead to official Best Buy or Geek Squad domains.
3. What should I do if I clicked on a fake Geek Squad link?
Disconnect from the internet, scan your device for malware, change your passwords, contact your bank if needed, and report the scam to the FTC and Best Buy.
4. Are Geek Squad scams dangerous?
Yes. Victims may face financial loss, identity theft, and malware infections. Scammers may continue targeting victims once they know a person has fallen for one scheme.
5. Why do scammers use Geek Squad?
Geek Squad is a well-known brand. Scammers exploit this familiarity to make their messages seem legitimate, increasing their success rate.
6. Can scammers really control my computer?
Yes. If you allow remote access, scammers can install malware, steal files, and monitor your activity. This is why it’s crucial to never grant access unless you’re 100% sure it’s legitimate.
7. How do I report a Geek Squad scam?
Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, forward phishing emails to Best Buy, and notify your bank if financial information is involved.
8. What’s the difference between a phishing email and a tech support scam?
Phishing emails typically aim to collect your personal data through fake websites. Tech support scams try to manipulate you in real time — often through phone calls or remote access.
9. Are seniors more at risk for Geek Squad scams?
Yes. Tech support scams disproportionately target older adults. Scammers rely on confusion and urgency to make their schemes believable.
10. Can my antivirus protect me from Geek Squad scams?
Good antivirus software can block malicious links and files but can’t protect you from social engineering. Always use caution and verify sources manually.
Key Takeaways
Geek Squad scams are phishing and tech support frauds that impersonate Best Buy’s service.
They often involve fake renewal invoices, refund scams, or tech support calls.
Victims risk financial loss, identity theft, and malware infections.
Always verify communications through official channels.
If victimized, act quickly to limit damage and report the scam.
By understanding how Geek Squad scams operate and learning to spot red flags, you can protect yourself and your loved ones in 2025 and beyond.
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.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Windows
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Mac
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK
If there isn’t a Profiles icon, you don’t have any profiles installed, which is normal and you can continue with the next steps.
