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Microsoft tech support scam: is that call real?

Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. Microsoft never calls you out of the blue about a virus on your computer.

Exhibit · Phone call

Incoming call
(800) 555-0192
maybe: Microsoft Support
Voicemail transcript

“This is Microsoft technical support. We have detected a serious virus on your computer that is sending out your personal data. To prevent permanent damage, do not turn off your device. Please stay on the line so a certified technician can help you remove it now.”

Illustrative phone call · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: A pop-up that fills your screen with a warning and a “support” number to call, an email “renewal receipt” for antivirus you never bought, or a follow-up call asking you to install remote-access software like AnyDesk or TeamViewer.

What to do right now

  1. Hang up. Don't stay on the line, don't call back, don't follow any instructions they give.
  2. Never give remote access. Don't install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or any app a caller asks for — that hands them your computer.
  3. Don't pay anything — no gift cards, wires, or crypto, and never read out card or bank details to a caller.
  4. Report it. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov and report the scam to Microsoft.
  5. If you already let them in or paid, disconnect from the internet, run a security scan, change your passwords from a different device, and call your bank to stop or reverse the payment.

Reduce the risk of another scam

If you gave remote access, disconnect the affected device, remove the access software, and run a security scan. Use a different trusted device to secure important accounts, and contact your bank or payment provider promptly if money or payment details were exposed. These steps reduce risk but do not guarantee every compromise has been removed.

● Public service · free steps first

Reduce unwanted calls

Start with call blocking and your phone or carrier's filtering options. The Do Not Call Registry covers sales calls from companies that follow the rules; it does not block scammers.

Decide what protection you need

Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.

Compare free and paid protection →

No purchase needed. How we use evidence.

Frequently asked

A full-screen security warning says Microsoft found a virus and gave me a number to call. Is it real?
No. There is one rule that settles it, and Microsoft states it flatly: “Microsoft error and warning messages never include phone numbers.” A real Windows error never asks you to call anyone. What you're looking at is a web page dressed up as a system alert — Microsoft describes exactly this move, where scammers “display fake error messages on websites you visit, displaying support numbers and enticing you to call,” and “put your browser in full screen mode and display pop-up messages that won't go away, apparently locking your browser.” The frozen screen is theatre. The number is the trap.
How do I get rid of the pop-up without calling the number?
Do not call the number in a suspicious pop-up. Close the tab or browser; if necessary, use Task Manager to end it and reopen without restoring that page. A fake alert does not establish whether the device is otherwise clean. Update security software and run a scan, especially if you downloaded anything or granted access.
I already called the number, or let them into my computer. What now?
Move on the access and the money, in that order. If you installed remote-access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or whatever they had you add), disconnect from the internet, uninstall it, and run a full scan with Windows Security. Then change your passwords — the FTC's rule is plain: “If you gave your username and password to a tech support scammer, change your password right away. If you use the same password for other accounts or sites, change it there, too.” Do it from a different device if you can. If you paid, how you paid decides the move — gift card, wire, crypto, or payment app are the methods the FTC says scammers insist on “because it's like using cash,” so contact the card issuer, wire company, or app immediately and ask to reverse it. Microsoft never charges for support in “cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, or gift cards,” so a payment like that is proof, not a receipt. Report it at microsoft.com/reportascam and reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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Sources

  1. 01Protect yourself from tech support scams— Microsoft
  2. 02How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams— Federal Trade Commission
  3. 03What To Do if You Were Scammed— consumer.ftc.gov
  4. 04How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams— consumer.ftc.gov

Pass it on

Help protect someone else

If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.