Geek Squad scam: how to recognize and remove it in 2024

The notorious Geek Squad email scams are still a prevalent threat in 2024, posing major risks to personal and financial information. This scam, usually associated with Best Buy, involves emails or messages pretending to be Geek Squad technical support and asking for sensitive data under false dangers. If this sounds familiar, then you need to know how to spot the scam and minimize any possible risks or losses.

In this article, I’ll dive into the intricacies of the Geek Squad scam, providing insights into its various forms, how to identify the fraud, and key steps to protect oneself. And if you’re already a victim of the scam, you’ll find a few tips on what to do next.

What is the Geek Squad scam?

The Geek Squad scam is a phishing attack by cybercriminals who impersonate Geek Squad employees, a technical support service associated with Best Buy shops. The scammers send fraudulent emails or text messages, claiming to be from Geek Squad service. The scam usually involves fake invoices, billing notices, and malicious links disguised as legitimate communications.

These messages often use different layouts, but they all include a very visible fake customer support number or a link with urgent timing to induce stress and lower your guard. They’re not dangerous on their own, though, but they lure victims to download malware, and that’s where the actual problems start. In case of calls, scammers request remote access to your computer or demand sensitive information such as bank account details, leading to financial losses or identity theft.

Types of Geek Squad email scams

The Geek Squad scams are not uniform and operate in a few different forms. The 4 most common types include:

• Auto-renewal scams
• Phishing emails
• Tech support requests
• Password reset alerts

Geek Squad renewal scam

In this variation of the scam, victims receive an email warning about a Best Buy subscription renewal, accompanied by the threat of significant costs. The email prompts recipients to click on a link and provide credit card details, social security numbers, or other personal information. This leaves an open door for a Geek Squad scammer to meddle with your bank account or use your identity however they please.

To recognize this scam, watch out for the following giveaways:

• You get an unexpected auto-renewal notice that you didn’t request
• Odd name or domain of the sender’s email address
• Spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors in the email text
• A contact number that doesn’t match one provided on the official website
• Unspecified recipient (Sir/Madam/Customer, but your name or account name is not mentioned)

Geek Squad phishing email scam for free antivirus

These emails warn recipients about supposed malware infections on their devices, so the phishing email offers a free antivirus download on the house. The main catch is they cannot know that and you must click on a provided link. In reality, the link leads to malicious software that can compromise your systems and even personal information.

To identify this scam, be cautious of these details:

• An email or a phone call claiming your device is infected (impossible to know without access to your device)
• Urgent demands for remote access to your device (not used by official support, but abused by scammers)

Geek Squad tech support scam

Just like free antivirus scam, Geek Squad tech support scams often target individuals through phone calls. This method tries to pressure you into paying for services you never actually ordered or trick you into downloading malware onto your devices. To make everything look legit, scammers also create phony websites with fake phone numbers, redirecting calls to their devices.

To spot this scam, remember:

• Tech support almost never reaches out proactively
• Constant pressure to stay on the line and artificial stress. Legitimate support specialists will never induce additional stress, hurry, or beg you to stay on the line

Best Buy password reset scam email

In this format, you receive an email, saying your password reset request was not successful or stating it was already changed. This, of course, urges you to reset the Best Buy account password as fast as possible. The email contains a link that, when clicked, leads to fake websites designed to collect all login credentials you enter. Since most people use the same logins on multiple websites, the collected credentials are used by scammers to try and steal your account on various platforms.

To avoid this scam, check for these points:

• No mention of specific details apart from the email
• The reset link uses HTTP protocol instead of HTTPS
• The website domain is not “bestbuy.com” or uses different characters
• A password reset request for an account you don’t even have

Stop Geek Squad scams with TotalAV

How do I report a fake Geek Squad email?

If you receive a suspicious Geek Squad phishing email, it’s highly recommended to report it promptly and protect yourself as well as others. Firstly, report fake Geek Squad emails to your email service provider using their designated reporting system. This will flag the email address for further investigation by your email provider.

Another useful tactic is to contact the authentic Geek Squad customer service to inform them of the Geek Squad fake email attempts. The current number is 0800 049 6190, but you can always check the genuine Geek Squad customer service phone number on their official website.

How to protect yourself from Geek Squad scams?

Protecting oneself from Geek Squad scams involves several proactive measures you can take. Here are the tested solutions you can employ:

1. Stop the scams with antivirus
2. Remove infected files from Windows device
3. Directly remove the malware from your Mac
4. Remove malicious browser extensions

Get rid of fake Geek Squad email scam with antivirus

The easiest way to safeguard your devices and data from Geek Squad scams is by using advanced antivirus software. These tools take immediate action before any harm can be done to your computer and, thus, are the most effective. To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Choose a reliable antivirus software. We found that TotalAV is the most effective
2. Download and install the app software on your device
3. Run a full system scan to remove any existing malware or malicious files
4. Follow any additional instructions given by your antivirus provider

Stay safe online with TotalAV

Remove Geek Squad scam from Windows devices

If you’re a Windows OS user, this guide will give you step-by-step instructions to manually remove Geek Squad scam from your device.

Step 1: Remove suspicious applications

1. Hold the Windows + R key to open the Run box
2. Type “msconfig” and hit "OK" to open the System Configuration window
3. Go to the "Boot" tab, tick "Safe Boot" and click "Apply", then "OK" to confirm
4. Restart your computer in Safe mode when prompted
5. Right-click on the Start menu and select "Settings"
6. Go to "Apps" section and click "Installed Apps"
7. Look for suspicious apps. If you’re unsure whether specific apps should be there, do a quick Google search on the installed software
8. If you notice malicious applications, click on the three dots on the right and select "Uninstall".

Step 2: Remove registries created by Geek Squad

Registry items are a common spot to hide malware by Geek Squad scammers. To clear up your registries, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Window.
2. Type “regedit” and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Browse Registry Editor to the following directories:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
4. Look for any suspicious files and delete them by right-clicking and selecting Delete.

Remove Geek Squad scam from macOS

Like most scams targeting Mac computers, the Geek Squad scam also infects victim PCs with malware. To minimize any possible damage to your macOS device or data, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Remove odd applications

1. Click on “Go” and select “Applications”
2. Locate any suspicious apps, right-click them, and select “Move to Bin”
3. Click on “Finder” and select “Empty Bin” to remove them

Step 2: Remove other suspicious files

1. Click on “Go” and choose “Go To Folder”
2. Type “/Library/LaunchDaemons” in the search bar and click “Go”
3. Look for suspicious files related to Geek Squad and “Move to Bin”

After that, repeat the same steps with the following folders:

• ~/Library/Application Support
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents
• /Library/LaunchAgents

Remove malicious browser extensions

The Geek Squad scam is also known to embed malicious browser extensions. The following guides will help you remove them from the most popular browsers like:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari

From Chrome

1. Launch Chrome and open the three-dot menu in the top right corner
2. Find “Extensions” and select “Manage Extensions”
3. Click “Remove” any recently installed suspicious extension

From Firefox

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu icon at the top right
2. Select “Add-ons and Themes” and click “Extensions”
3. Look for suspicious extensions and select “Remove” to uninstall them

From Safari

1. Click on “Safari” in the top left corner and select “Settings”
2. Go to the “Extensions” tab and search for any suspicious, recently installed add-ons
3. Click “Uninstall” to remove them from your browser

What to do when you become a victim of a Geek Squad scam?

If you’ve been hit by a Geek Squad scam, it’s important to stay calm and take immediate action. Any fraud involving the security of your data or devices can cause more harm by the minutes if you don’t act fast. Follow these steps to minimize any potential damages:

1. Freeze your credit. Contact credit bureaus to freeze your credit and prevent unauthorized access on your behalf.
2. Run an antivirus scan. Get a reliable antivirus tool, if you don’t have one already, and start an in-depth scan of your device to detect and remove any malicious software.
3. Uninstall compromised programs. Remove any suspicious applications or files installed by the cybercriminals to limit the damage.
4. Disconnect from the internet. No one can access your device if it’s not connected to the net. If your computer is already compromised, this will stop any further actions from the scammers.
5. Change passwords and enable 2FA. Change all passwords associated with compromised accounts and enable two-factor authentication to fortify your account security.
6. Report to bank and credit providers. Inform your main financial institutions about the scam to stop any fraudulent purchases or transactions from your account.
7. File a complaint. File an official complaint with relevant authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to document the incident and seek additional assistance and damage control.

Keep scams away with TotalAV

How to avoid a Geek Squad email scam in 2024

The Geek Squad scam is just one among many floating around the internet, but most of them follow the same social engineering tactics. Luckily, protecting yourself from these online scams can be much easier if you know the different digital hygiene techniques you can employ even today. Here are the best online security practices to follow:

• Use antivirus proactively. Modern digital security software does more than simply catch infected files. Best antivirus services, like TotalAV, are equipped with real-time protection to detect and remove threats before they even touch your system.
• Never respond to suspicious emails. Exercise extreme caution when engaging with unrequested emails or messages, especially those asking for personal information or offering unsolicited services.
• Don’t click on suspicious links. Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, as they can often install malware without you even knowing it.
• Block scammers. Blocking features on email platforms or mobile devices prevent further communication from suspected scammers and is an easy and quick way to create distance.
• Never share sensitive information. Sharing sensitive information such as passwords, social security numbers, or financial details with unknown entities is one thing you should never do online.
• Look out for phishing email signs. Train your eye to notice signs of phishing, such as misspelled words, grammatical errors, or suspicious sender addresses.
• Double-check contact information. Visit the official websites and check the official customer support channels in the contact or customer support section. If the information doesn’t match, do not respond.
• Use a VPN. Secure VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) encrypt and conceal your internet traffic and data from malicious actors lurking online.

Final thoughts

The Geek Squad email scam can pose a significant danger by targeting your personal and financial information. The best way to protect yourself is to always stay vigilant, know all the different variations of this scam, and implement proven and tested cybersecurity practices. Also, remember to report suspicious activity and don’t wait to take proactive measures.

One of the easiest solutions to stop these scams (and the malware they bring) is to use reliable digital security tools. Advanced antivirus software, such as TotalAV, keeps your system clean and actively stops any virtual threats before causing any harm to your devices or your data.

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FAQ

Is Geek Squad a scam?

Geek Squad is a legitimate electronics distributor and service provider owned by Best Buy. However, scammers often pose as Geek Squad to trick unsuspecting people into handing over sensitive information. We recommend using a trusted antivirus, like TotalAV, to protect both your data and devices.

Why did I get an email from Geek Squad?

If you haven’t requested help or bought services, then it’s likely you’ve been targeted with a Geek Squad phishing scam. These emails use various social engineering tactics and malware to steal the data or personal information of their victims.

What happens if you accidentally open a Geek Squad spam email?

Geek Squad spam emails can be a phishing attack of the fairly popular Geek Squad scam. These scam emails often lead to fake websites made to steal your information or make you download malware. The best way to protect your devices and data is using a reliable antivirus software like TotalAV.

Where do I report Geek Squad phishing emails?

To report Geek Squad phishing emails, you should first forward them to the official Geek Squad support team for investigation. We highly advise you to file a complaint with the authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local consumer protection agency, to receive additional help.