Fake "Your Computer Is Infected" Pop-Ups and Tech-Support Scams

A pop-up or full-screen page warns that your computer is infected, sometimes with alarms or a voice, and tells you to call a phone number “for support.”

Why: This is a tech-support scam, not a real warning. Microsoft will never proactively reach out to offer unsolicited support, and genuine Microsoft error messages never include a phone number to call. The goal is to scare you into calling so a “technician” can take remote control or charge you for fake fixes.

Fix 1: Don’t call, and close the pop-up safely

1. Do not call the number shown in the message, and do not click any “fix” or “scan” buttons on it.
2. If the page is stuck in full screen, press Esc (or F11) to exit full screen, then close the tab.
3. If the tab won’t close, close the whole browser: right-click the browser on the taskbar and choose Close window, or open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select the browser, and choose End task.
4. When you reopen your browser, don’t restore the previous session if it offers to — that reloads the scam page.

Never give a caller remote access to your PC and never pay with gift cards or wire transfers — those are hallmarks of a scam.

Fix 2: Make sure nothing is actually wrong

The pop-up is fake, but check your PC with the protection that’s built in.

1. Select Start, open Windows Security, and choose Virus & threat protection.
2. Select Scan options > Full scan > Scan now and let it finish.
3. If you want to be thorough, also run Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan, which restarts your PC and scans before Windows loads.

Fix 3: Report it (and recover if you already called)

1. Report the scam to Microsoft at microsoft.com/reportascam so they can help shut down the scammers.
2. If you already called and let someone in, treat it as a recovery situation: uninstall any program they had you install (Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps), run a full scan in Windows Security, and change your passwords, starting with your Microsoft account.
3. If you paid, call your credit card provider to contest the charge and explain what happened.

FAQ

How do I know it’s fake? Real Microsoft warnings never include a phone number, and Microsoft never cold-calls you about a PC problem. A pop-up demanding you call a number is a scam.

The pop-up says my files will be deleted if I close it — is that real? No. That’s a scare tactic. Closing the page does nothing to your files.

Should I let them connect to “fix” it? Never. Giving a stranger remote access lets them install malware, steal data, or lock you out. Hang up and run your own scan.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Avoid and report Microsoft technical support scams, Microsoft Support — Protect yourself from tech support scams