Geek Squad is well-known for tech support and fixing electronics, especially those bought from Best Buy. Unfortunately, some scammers are taking advantage of this by sending fake emails that look like they’re from Geek Squad. These scams are part of a larger trend of tech support frauds that affected nearly 24,000 people in 2021 alone.
In 2024, the Geek Squad email scam is still a significant threat to internet users. If you receive an email claiming to be from Geek Squad, you need to be careful. These emails are often part of a scam targeting Best Buy customers. In this blogpost, we’ll explain what the Geek Squad email scam is, how to spot it, and how to avoid it if you become a victim.
What Is the Geek Squad Email Scam?
The Geek Squad email scam is a common trick where scammers pretend to be from Geek Squad, the tech support service from Best Buy. They do this to steal your personal and financial information. These fake emails often look very real, with made-up order numbers, billing details, and renewal notices to fool you.
Scammers send emails that look like they are from Geek Squad, saying you need to renew a service or pay a bill. They might ask you to click on a link, download a file, or provide sensitive information like your bank details. Once you respond, they can steal your personal data or infect your device with malware.
For example, you might get an email warning you about a malware infection on your computer. The email will offer a free antivirus download, but the file is actually malware itself. If you download it, scammers can access your device, steal your information, and target your financial accounts.
These scams are designed to trick you into trusting the email and taking action that puts your information at risk. Always be cautious with emails claiming to be from Geek Squad, and never click on links or download files from suspicious emails.
6 Most Common Geek Squad Scams
Cybercriminals use the trusted name of Geek Squad to trick people. Here are the six most common Geek Squad scams they use:
The Renewal Scam
Scammers send emails claiming you have an auto-renewing Geek Squad or Best Buy subscription. Even if you don’t have one, the email tries to scare you into thinking you accidentally signed up and now face a big renewal fee.
The email urges you to click a link to cancel and avoid charges. This link leads to a fake website designed to steal your credit card details and other sensitive information.
The Fake Antivirus Software Scam
You get an email warning about malware infections and offering free antivirus software to download for protection. But the downloadable file is actually malware itself.
It infects your device, giving scammers remote access, allowing them to steal data and target your financial accounts. If you spot these emails, report them to your email provider and delete them.
Geek Squad Tech Support Scam
Scammers pretend to be Geek Squad technicians, claiming your device has a malware infection or that you owe money. They may ask you to allow remote access, download software (which is actually malware), or make payments for fake services.
Sometimes, they create fake websites with fraudulent phone numbers for Geek Squad. When you call, they route the calls to their phones and start their scam.
Password reset scam
You receive an email prompting you to reset your password due to suspicious activity. If you click the password reset link, it takes you to a fake website that looks like the official Best Buy login page.
When you enter your username and password, scammers can capture this information and use it to access your financial accounts and make purchases in your name.
Invoice Scam
Scammers lure users into paying fake invoices. They send phishing emails or hijack Geek Squad employee emails to gain access to clients’ email accounts, previous transactions, banking information, and invoices.
They then send fake invoices, hoping recipients will pay. Some scams include sending alarming emails claiming a costly subscription has been renewed and urging you to call a provided number. The scammer then tries to get your personal and financial information during the call.
The “Protection” Plan Scam
Scammers impersonate Geek Squad technicians and try to sell you worthless antivirus or protection plans. These plans might do nothing, install malware, or give scammers access to your devices.
For instance, they may claim your device is infected and offer fake services or software at inflated prices, or even use malware to lock your device and demand a ransom to unlock it.
10 Tips to Point Out a Fake Geek Squad Email
Identifying a fake Geek Squad email can save you from falling victim to a scam. Here are ten tips to help you spot a fraudulent email:
- Fake email address: Scammers often use email addresses designed to look legitimate. Watch for misspellings or extra numbers/letters in the domain name. For example, [email protected] instead of @geeksquad.com. The address may include the company name but end in a completely different domain like @email-renewal.com. Always hover over or click on the name to reveal the actual email address.
- Logos and branding: Pay attention to the logos and branding in the email. Scammers may use poor-quality images, blurry or pixelated logos, and colors that don’t match the official branding of Geek Squad. Look for outdated designs or unnatural placements, like logos awkwardly overlapping text.
- Grammar or spelling mistakes: Scam emails often contain spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors because many scammers operate outside of the U.S. Look for awkward phrasing, incorrect grammar, misspelled words, and inconsistent font sizes or colors.
- False sense of urgency: Scammers try to create a sense of urgency to spur you into immediate action before you detect their scam. Be attentive to language that demands urgent action, threats of account suspension, or limited-time offers. Legitimate companies usually don’t pressure you this way.
- Suspicious links: Never click on links in an unsolicited email without verifying them first. Hover over each link to check if the URLs match the business. Watch for misspellings or odd domains unrelated to the company. Scammers often use these to redirect you to fake websites.
- Requests for personal information: No legitimate company will request sensitive data like passwords, Social Security numbers, or banking details over email. If the sender asks for this information, it’s a scam. Always contact the company directly through their official channels to verify.
- Generic greetings: Legitimate businesses will address you directly using your name. Scammers use impersonal greetings like “Dear customer” or “Valued member” because they send these emails in bulk to many recipients. This is a red flag that the email is a scam.
- Incorrect currencies: Check if the currency of the transaction matches one that you would have used to order a Geek Squad service. If not, the email is likely from a scammer. For example, if you see a charge in euros when you usually pay in dollars, it’s suspicious.
- Using a public email domain: Established businesses do not send emails from public domains like @outlook, @gmail, or @yahoo. If you receive an email from an address that isn’t affiliated with Geek Squad, it’s a scam. Always verify the domain name.
- Unsolicited phone calls: Be cautious of unexpected phone calls claiming your device is infected with a virus. Legitimate companies cannot detect viruses on your devices without prior access. If you receive such a call, do not provide any personal information or allow remote access to your device.
How To Do If You’ve Fallen Victim to Geek Squad Scams?
If you suspect that your personal details have been compromised due to a Geek Squad scam, you can take several important steps to help mitigate the risk and prevent further misuse of your information:
- Change your passwords: Update passwords for your accounts immediately, focusing on email and financial accounts. Use strong, unique passwords, and enable two-factor authentication for extra security.
- Run a full antivirus scan: Using antivirus software to identify and remove any malware. This step can help prevent potential data breaches from malware that might be running undetected.
- Report the scam to Geek Squad: Contact Geek Squad through official channels (such as Best Buy customer service) to report the incident. Reporting helps alert the company to new scams, allowing them to warn other users and improve preventive measures.
- Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity: Regularly check your financial accounts, email, and other sensitive accounts for unusual activity. Look for unauthorized transactions, login attempts, or changes to account information.
- Alert your contacts: Notify close contacts if you suspect they could be targeted. Scammers might use your identity to reach out to friends or family, attempting further phishing schemes under the guise of familiarity.
- Watch for identity theft: Pay close attention to signs of identity theft, such as unexpected account openings, unauthorized purchases, or credit report anomalies. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file if you notice any suspicious activity.
How to Avoid Geek Squad Scam
Keeping yourself and your family safe from Geek Squad scams involves following these best practices:
Don’t Respond to Unsolicited Messages or Calls
If you didn’t initiate the contact, be skeptical of any unsolicited emails or phone calls. Scammers often use unexpected communication to catch you off guard. If you receive a suspicious message, do not respond or provide any personal information.
Install Antivirus Software
Having reliable antivirus software on your computer can help flag malicious attachments and websites, preventing your device from being infected. Programs like Malwarebytes or Norton can provide an extra layer of security by identifying and blocking potential threats.
Never Click on Links in Suspicious Emails
Always check the URL by hovering over the link before clicking. If it doesn’t lead to an official “BestBuy.com” domain, it’s likely a scam. Avoid clicking on any links unless you are sure they are legitimate.
Don’t Supply Sensitive Information
Legitimate tech support agents will never ask for passwords, 2FA codes, or other sensitive information through email or over the phone. Be wary of any request for personal data and verify the identity of the requester through official channels.
Recognize Phishing Signs
Most email scams have telltale signs, such as poor grammar, spelling mistakes, generic greetings, and urgent language. Familiarize yourself with these indicators to spot phishing attempts easily.
Double-Check Phone Numbers
If you need to contact Geek Squad or any other company, use the phone numbers listed on their official website. Scammers often provide fake numbers to direct your call to them. Verifying the contact information can prevent you from falling into their trap.
Use a VPN
Consider using a VPN to encrypt your online traffic and hide your IP address. TurisVPN can provide strong encryption and privacy. We also recommend using antivirus software and ad-blocking tools alongside TurisVPN for comprehensive protection against online threats.
Bottom Line
The Geek Squad email scams trick people into giving away personal and financial information by pretending to be Geek Squad. To avoid these scams, recognize fake email addresses, suspicious links, poor grammar, and urgent messages. Use antivirus software, never share sensitive info via email, and verify contact details through official websites.What’s more, using a VPN like TurisVPN can help protect your online privacy and block malicious sites, adding an extra layer of security to keep you safe online.
