Geek Squad, the tech support service team has earned a strong reputation for the repair and services it offers for electronic devices bought from Best Buy. They have a proven record of assisting millions with their devices. However, with this rise in their reputation, scammers have exploited this trust by scamming users in many ways, largely known as the Geek Squad Scam.
In this type of fraud, scammers take advantage of the earned trust of users in their brands by making them click on disguised malicious links. The Geek Squad scam comes as a fake phone call requesting subscription renewals and acquiring personal information or access to the victim’s device. With an increase in the scam rate, understanding their tactics and scamming methodologies is essential to stay alert and safe from these fraudulent activities.
This article will help readers understand a Geek scam, its common scamming techniques, how to identify it early, and what to do if they are targeted or fall victim.
What is the Geek Squad Scam?
Table Of Contents
Simply put, Geek Squad scammers impersonate Geek Squad agents by sending fake emails, calls, or invoices. They utilize these phishing tactics to make users fall for their words like, there is a refund waiting for you, asking for bank account details, sending fake billings, subscription renewal, or as simple as asking you to click on a link. The ultimate goal of these criminals is to trick people and exploit them financially. Scammers utilize the brand’s credibility and they employ techniques like creating urgency or provoking fear, pushing users to do things quickly without letting them think logically.
Here are some of the common techniques used by Geek Squad Scammers:
1. Fake Subscription Renewals
It is one of the most common tactics used by the scammers. In most cases, they may call to inform you that your Geek Squad Subscription is set to auto-renew. While they mimic the renewal, they may add a higher price to evoke victims to act in panic, which makes it very effective for any scam.
They might ask you to share your credentials like:
- Asking for your credit/debit card details
- To share your CVV or security number
- Call a given phone number
- Click on the links to stop auto-renewal.
2. Refund Claims
Here, the scammers approach you by offering a refund for a product or a service. They confuse users with dates and say, refunds can only be processed after verification. Individuals will be asked to share their banking details or click on links to redeem. They also create a fake urgency by saying the refund expires within 1 hour.
3. Technical Support Calls
Scammers impersonate Geek Squad tech support to call and scare individuals about malware infections or viruses on your system. They attempt to get access to your data by pretending to fix the issue. Once they get access to your system, they steal your sensitive information or banking details for threatening and asking for a ransom.
4. Fake Invoice
You may receive invoices or messages saying you have been billed for purchasing a product or service you likely haven’t ordered. It may randomly appear in your inbox or even arrive as a postal mail.
5. Password Reset Scam
Criminals send fake emails letting you know your attempt to reset your Best Buy password has failed. They will probably attach a link with the message that looks like a legit Best Buy Website. But once you click the link, scammers can access your data.
6. Phishing Email scam
Cybercriminals may send scam emails with links attached, which gives direct access to your device and sensitive data. The links can be malware-infected, posing a threat to your device.
Cybercriminals use these tactics to create a false emergency without allowing the victims to make an informed decision. Victims fall for their claims and likely disclose their personal information or settle with money.
What are the types of Geek Squad Scams?
1. Email Scams
Scammers carefully structure a draft of an official email with the logo and branding of Geek Squad. They make sure that the fake email exactly matches the original branding. The emails usually mention a subscription renewal or offer a refund. The subscription amount will be very high with the link or a customer service number to terminate the subscription. As there is a steep increase in the renewal package, individuals tend to click on the link or call, it opens the door for the scammers to loot you.
The links are mostly phishing links where victims may have to reveal their personal and financial information. Sometimes clicking the link automatically installs malware in your system that steals your data or demands a huge amount of money.
2. Phone scams
Scammers fake themselves as technical support assistants from Geek Squads asking to take quick actions to protect your device and data. The fake expert alerts individuals that there are security issues, or threats to your device, which need quick action. They ask for financial information like credit card details or may try to install remote access software.
They carefully spoof the caller ID so that victims easily misunderstand the scammers as real Geek Squad members.
3. Text Scams
This is a higher level of scamming, the criminals send fake invoices, text messages, or rarely through physical mail. They may alert you of auto-renewal or bonus rewards, generally huge amounts. They may instruct the recipient to call or click on a link to redeem, cancel, or enquire about it. Their ultimate goal is to make you call them so that they can phish for personal details or ask for ransom.
How do scammers operate?
Knowing how they operate through manipulation helps to spot scammers and avoid getting trapped. After analyzing the psychology of individuals, scammers have developed three primary techniques– Social Engineering, Phishing Techniques, and Malware access.
Social Engineering is used to manipulate victims by their emotions. Cybercriminals create urgency or panic to keep victims under pressure to act quickly without thinking further. They deliberately instill fear by claiming an unauthorized charge or a fake malware infection. Phishing is a type of e-scam where individuals are tricked through email, links, or fake websites into revealing sensitive information. Attackers send messages that appear to be from a legitimate brand or source by keeping their original logo and official tone.
The websites may ask for your financial details, credit card details, login credentials, and other sensitive information. Scammers offer technical support claiming a virus attack or a malware infection to get remote access into your system. Once they get remote access, they access your files, install malware, and even restrict your access to your device, demanding a ransom. The situation worsens when scammers request unconventional payment methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gifts making it hard to trace and recover the funds.
Original Geek Squad never asks for payments in these forms. Understanding the differences and recognizing a scam can save you from fraud. Here are some tips to follow when you receive any suspicious emails.
Identify Red Flags in Emails and Calls
Scammers use email addresses that resemble the original brand and not the exact email address. When in doubt, search for the brand’s original email address to ensure the message’s credibility. This prevents you from clicking the attachment or sharing sensitive information.
Identify urgency
Scam emails or messages typically create an urgency without allowing them to think twice. Check for words like “check immediately”, ‘your charge will be processed today’, or “refund expires today”. This is to force you to respond faster without any further cross-checking.
Lack of Personalization
Emails from original companies will be personalized, they will address you by your name whereas fake emails will be general like, “Dear Customer”.
Request for personal details
None of the legitimate brands request sensitive information or financial details or request payment through unsolicited calls or emails.
Public email Domain
Established business firms like Geek Squad would not send you an email from an address ending with @gmail, @outlook, or any other public domain.
Suspicious attachments
Scammers always attach a link to malicious websites. If you doubt the authenticity of a link or attachment, it is better not to click on it.
Incorrect Currencies
Check the currency mentioned in the transaction with previous emails from the legitimate Greek Squad team. If there is a mismatch then email is likely from a scammer.
Check for errors
Spelling errors and grammatical typos are common in scam emails. Check for these errors and if you find any, it could be a fake email.
Scammers can’t reach out from the source, so they make slight spelling mistakes or add extra characters to get a resemblance. Always be cautious while answering unknown calls, check URLs by hovering over the link before clicking, carefully read or listen to the message, and never act spontaneously.
What to do if you receive such messages?
You may receive scam messages at some point in your life, if you find it suspicious, here’s how you can handle it:
Verify Authenticity
If you doubt the authenticity of an email or a message, visit Geek Squad’s official website or call them directly. Never click on the links or dial the number in the suspicious email as it may lead to complications.
Dont take Action
If you doubt the authenticity, it is best to avoid taking any action. Never click on any links provided or call any number. You can simply ignore the email or message. You can also consider visiting the official website or directly calling them to enquire about the message.
Report the incident
Report the incident to the officials or organizations concerned to help others avoid similar scams. This will also help authorities investigate, take action, and crack down on these networks.
But, what to do if you have been scammed?
If you have already interacted with the scammers by attending a call or clicking on the links attached, try to follow these steps. It may prevent the loss of data and money:
Change your Password
Update passwords for all your accounts such as email, net banking, and any other accounts at risk. This reduces the probability of scammers extracting data.
Run a security test
Perform a security check by running a malware scan to ensure your device is safe and secure especially if you have clicked a suspicious link.
Monitor your transaction
Always check your bank statements to report and freeze your bank account to prevent financial loss.
Contact Geek Squad
Reach out to legitimate Geek Squad through their official website, email, or call. They can provide support and help to secure your account. Follow their advice to secure your account and device.
Reclaim your fund
Immediately contact your bank or credit card provider if you have already sent money to scammers. These institutions can follow protocols in case of fraud cases. Quick intervention of financial institutions significantly reduces the chance of recovering lost funds.
How to protect your accounts from scammers?
Install and maintain Security Software
Use software to detect virus attacks and protect your device from phishing and malware attempts. A reliable antivirus software can provide real-time protection and save your personal details and device. Users should regularly update and scan their devices. Some antivirus software includes add-on services like antivirus protection for browsers or extensions that can warn you about phishing websites. This allows users to browse websites without losing sensitive information.
Be cautious with emails
Be mindful when you open a mail with unsolicited emails, messages, or calls. Avoid opening links attached to emails with unknown sender addresses. Even if the mail seems to be from a legitimate sender, hover over the link to check and verify the authenticity of the URL. Enable a spam filter in your inbox settings to restrict suspicious messages from reaching your inbox.
Additionally, avoid repeating passwords across different websites and services. Always use strong and unique passwords using a combination of lower case, upper case, special characters, and numbers with a password manager.
Verify Payment request
Always verify payment requests multiple times before you make any fund transfer. Never make payments in unconventional methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers as it can be difficult to trace. It should also be noted that legitimate companies never request payments in these methods.
Report Fraud
Reporting fraudulent activities protects users from current scams and prevents scammers from targeting others. There are various government and non-government organizations like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Better Business Bureau (BBB) Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and AARP. They allow users to report scams and guidance on how to respond and protect their devices from potential scams.
Also Read: Most Common Cybersecurity Threats And How Hackers Exploit Them
Conclusion
Geek Squad scams are increasing as a threat, scammers have now started to use more complex and sophisticated tactics to fake their identity as trusted brands. Understanding their tactics, and how scammers operate by sending fake emails and phone calls to steal personal data and ask for a ransom, it is essential to protect yourself from these scams. Whenever you encounter suspicious emails, messages, or phone calls, that claim to be from Geek Squad or any similar tech assistance team, it is mandatory to double-check at individual levels and through official channels.
Never fall for unwanted pressure from scammers to make quick payments or share sensitive information or credit card details. Following safe online practices reduces the risk of falling for these scams. Even if you encounter a potential scam, you should act immediately by changing your password, informing officials, and freezing your bank account to prevent loss to an extent.
As you all know, prevention is the best choice. The power of prevention lies in acquiring proper awareness and education. Try to understand the patterns used by scammers so that you can easily identify the techniques used by the scammers. You should also keep your personal data, passwords, account credentials, and other information secure, and stop yourself from sharing sensitive information online.
FAQ
1. How do I know if an email from Geek Squad is legitimate or not?
When you receive an email, check for these signs: official branding, logo, grammar, spelling, and legitimate sender address. Scammers usually use generic email addresses like @gmail, or @ yahoo and lack a personalized conversation with users. If you doubt the legitimacy of the email, visit their official website for confirmation.
Can Geek Squad call me?
No. the original Geek Squad officials usually don’t make direct unsolicited calls. They only call back if you have raised a complaint or initiated a service request. It could be a scam if you receive a call from Geek Squad without any prior contact.
3. What if I accidentally clicked a link?
If you have clicked a fake link or attachment, take immediate action. Run a virus scan on your device, update the passwords of all accounts, contact the legitimate Geek Squad, and report the attack to all officials.
4. Can scammers recover any deleted information if I provide it online?
No. scammers cannot recover deleted information. But as a precaution, you should consider freezing your bank account if sensitive details are shared.
