Scamming is an equal-opportunity business, and bogus tech-support services aimed at older adults have become an especially profitable form of fraud. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), people age 60 and older reported approximately $1 billion in losses from tech/customer-support fraud in 2025, making it the second-highest fraud category by reported losses for that age group, behind investment fraud.
How do these scams’ function?
Fake pop-ups suddenly appear claiming that a computer is blocked, infected, or compromised.
A fraudster poses as a technician from a recognized technology company, financial institution, or government or law-enforcement agency and offers immediate help.
The victim is pressured into granting remote access to the device. Once connected, the criminal may view files, observe activity, install remote-management or malicious software, capture credentials, or manipulate what appears on the screen.
Scammers may claim that bank accounts or personal information are connected to illegal activity and use fear or urgency to keep the victim from independently verifying the story.
Some schemes evolve into refund or “overpayment” scams in which the criminal falsely claims too much money was returned and demands repayment by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, cash, or another difficult-to-reverse method.
How to protect yourself from becoming a victim
Never call a phone number displayed in an unexpected pop-up warning.
Never grant remote access to an unknown or unverified technician.
Treat urgent demands, threats, and pressure to act immediately as warning signs.
Independently verify the organization using a phone number or website you already know to be legitimate.
Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash, or banking credentials merely because a caller says your account or computer is in danger
Note: If you suspect that you are being victimized, end the conversation and contact someone you trust.
Tech-Support Tips: What to Do After Remote Access Has Been Granted
Disconnect from the Internet immediately: Turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the Ethernet cable to interrupt the scammer’s remote connection.
Shut down the device: If you believe the attacker still has access, power down the computer to stop the active session and reduce the opportunity for additional changes.
Contact your financial institutions: Use the phone number printed on the back of your debit or credit card or another independently verified number. Explain that your computer may have been remotely accessed and ask what protective steps are appropriate.
Change exposed passwords from a different, trusted device: Prioritize email, banking, financial, and other sensitive accounts, and enable multifactor authentication where available.
Have the affected device examined: A qualified professional should check for remote-access tools, malicious software, altered security settings, and other persistence mechanisms before the device is trusted again.
Preserve evidence: Keep emails, phone numbers, screenshots, receipts, transaction details, and other information that may help investigators or financial institutions.
Where to Report Fraud?
Internet and online fraud should be reported directly to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3). Non-internet fraud should be reported to The Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov / or to your local police agency and the state attorney general. The National Elder Fraud Hotline can be reached at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Be Aware of Other Prevalent Scam Types Targeting Older Adults
Investment & Cryptocurrency Scams: Fraudsters promise unusually high returns or low-risk opportunities, build trust over time, and direct victims to fraudulent investment platforms or accounts.
Government & Business Imposter Scams: Criminals impersonate government agencies, financial institutions, utilities, or well-known businesses and use threats or urgency to demand payment or personal information.
Romance & Confidence Fraud: Criminals create false identities and build emotional relationships before inventing emergencies, investment opportunities, or other reasons to request money.
Grandparent & Family Emergency Scams: Scammers impersonate a relative—or someone supposedly helping that relative—and claim there is an urgent arrest, injury, travel, or other emergencies. Artificial intelligence and voice-cloning can make impersonation more convincing.
Fake Sweepstakes & Lotteries: Victims are told they have won a prize but must first pay taxes, processing fees, shipping charges, or other expenses to receive winnings that do not exist.
Asset Recovery Scams: People who have already lost money are targeted again by criminals posing as investigators, attorneys, or recovery specialists who demand upfront fees to recover the original loss.
A Simple Rule to Remember
Always keep your eyes on the prize and bear in mind that no legitimate technology company, bank, or government agency would ever pressure you into giving an unknown person remote access to your computer. It’s important to remember to never make important decisions when your dust is up and blowing and you are under pressure – take a deep breath and think it through – then make your decision!
About the authors
Anthony Luizzo, PhD, CFE – Investigative Sleuth / Lecturer: Seniors Vs Crime Project (a special program of the Florida Attorney General)
George Motl – Senior Technical Manager, Equifax
