Tech Support Scams in Australia: The Fake Virus Warning
You are reading the news on your computer when the screen fills with a red warning. “Your computer is infected. Do not turn it off. Call Microsoft support now.” A number flashes up, and a voice may even start talking. It is alarming, and that is the whole point.
This is a tech support scam, and it is one of the most common ones aimed at older Australians. Here is the reassuring part: the warning is fake, your computer is almost certainly fine, and nothing bad happens unless you call the number or let someone in. Let’s walk through how it works and exactly what to do. You will find more advice like this in our main guide to staying safe online.
Quick answer
A real virus warning never gives you a phone number to call. If a pop-up or a caller tells you to ring tech support, it is a scam. Do not call, do not let anyone connect to your computer, and never pay with gift cards. Close the pop-up, or shut the browser, and the panic disappears with it.
The two ways it starts
A pop-up on your screen
You land on a dodgy website, or click a bad ad, and a full-screen message appears using the Microsoft or Windows name and logo. It claims a virus has been found, sometimes with a countdown or an alarm sound, and it urges you to call a number right away. It looks like it is coming from your computer, but it is just a web page putting on a show. Microsoft does not work this way, and its real messages never include a phone number.
A phone call out of the blue
The other version starts with a call. The person claims to be from Microsoft, or from a name you know like Telstra, the NBN or Google, and says they have spotted a problem with your computer or your internet. They might warn that your connection will be cut off if you do not act. None of these companies ring people out of the blue about a virus. If you get a call like this, you can simply hang up.
What they are really after
The pop-up and the phone call are just the hook. The real damage is done in two steps. First, they talk you into installing a remote access program, often with a name like AnyDesk or TeamViewer, that lets them control your computer from wherever they are. Once they are in, they can open ordinary system screens and present perfectly normal messages as proof of a terrible infection.
Then comes the payment. They offer to fix the fake problem for a fee, or to sell you protection you do not need, and they want paying in ways that are hard to undo: gift cards, a bank transfer, or cryptocurrency. While they have access, they may also be quietly copying passwords and banking details in the background. No genuine company asks for any of this.
The red flags
It is a scam if any of these happen
- A warning on your screen gives you a phone number to call. Real ones never do.
- Someone rings claiming to be Microsoft, Telstra, the NBN or Google about a problem you did not report.
- They want to connect to your computer remotely to “fix” it.
- They ask you to pay with gift cards, a bank transfer or cryptocurrency.
- They push hard and create urgency, telling you not to turn the computer off.
What to do when the pop-up appears
Do not call the number, and do not click any button inside the pop-up, including the one that says close. Instead, close the whole browser window. On most computers you can do that by clicking the X in the top corner. If the page will not let go, restart the computer, which clears it completely. When you open the browser again, the scary message is gone.
If you want peace of mind that your computer really is clean, open the antivirus you already have and run a scan. On a Windows computer, the built-in Windows Security does this well, and you do not need to buy anything extra or call anyone. Our guide on how to keep a Windows laptop safe covers the simple habits that keep things tidy.
If the contact came by phone, the answer is even simpler. Hang up. You do not owe a cold caller a conversation, and you will not miss anything important, because the call was never genuine. The same calm approach works for the phone call scams pretending to be the ATO, Centrelink or your bank.
If you have already let someone in or paid
If you let a caller connect to your computer, do not feel foolish. They are practised, and they do this all day. Act calmly and work through these steps:
- Disconnect from the internet to cut their access. Turn off the Wi-Fi or unplug the cable.
- Remove any program they had you install, then run a full virus scan.
- Change the passwords for your email and banking, ideally from a different device. Our guide to creating a strong password can help.
- If you paid or shared bank details, ring your bank straight away on the number on your card.
- If you are not sure the computer is clean, take it to a trusted local computer shop for a proper check.
Then report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, which is free and confidential. If a scammer got into your computer or you lost money, you can also report it to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au. Reporting will not undo it, but it helps warn others.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: tech support scams
Could the virus warning ever be real?
A real warning from your antivirus will appear quietly inside the program, and it will never give you a phone number to ring. If there is a number to call, it is a scam, every time.
The pop-up will not close. What do I do?
Restart the computer. Hold the power button until it turns off, then switch it back on. When you reopen the browser, do not let it reload the same page, and the message will be gone.
Does Microsoft, Telstra or the NBN ever ring about my computer?
No. They do not make unexpected calls to tell you about a virus or a connection problem. If someone rings claiming to, hang up.
I let them connect to my computer. Is my money at risk?
It could be, so act now. Disconnect from the internet, change your banking and email passwords from another device, and ring your bank. Then have the computer checked by a trusted shop.
Why do they want gift cards?
Because gift cards are almost impossible to trace or reverse. No real company will ever ask you to pay for support with gift cards, so that request alone tells you it is a scam.
