The Federal Trade Commission reports recording 52,000 Geek Squad scam complaints in 2023. These scammers steal over $1 billion annually for scamming people. They use channels like emails, apps, and social media to steal from unsuspecting users. They pretend to provide genuine Geek Squad technical support. Data shows these scammers generate fake invoices, bills, and subscriptions. Every gamer should be aware of these scams. Knowledge about them can save you a lot of money, losses, and reputation ruin.
What is Geek Squad?
Geek Squad was started in 1994 as a Best Buy subsidiary. Its goal was to help technology users set up and repair their devices. The brand is operational to date and helps users with any technology-related technical issues. The company has over 20,000 tech support workers today. Hackers took advantage of its popularity and started scamming people.
Geek squad scams keep changing as scammers get smarter. They develop an attack method and test its viability. Anyone who falls victim to a Geek Squad scam experience financial loss. There are several warning signs you should be aware of. Be on the lookout for whenever you receive a security alert. The message could be warning you about a security breach or settings requirements. This is one of the ways many gamers get hacked. Another security issue you should be aware of is spam risk calls. Criminals record your voice and use it to defraud people. They use AI to record themselves and change the voice to your tone.
A Geek Squad scam is a phishing attack presented as genuine customer support. Attackers target Best Buy brand customers. They target anyone who might require technical support. They also target brands that require subscriptions or do billing and invoicing.
Geek squad scammers reach out to you through emails and text messages. They trick people through social media and app download websites. It is harder to identify these teams since they use advanced and complex tricks. Learn their tricks and stay alert to any warning signs.
How Geek Squad scams work in gaming
Online gamers experience a series of scams. You could be tricked into playing fake online casino games or buying nonexistent games. You can be scammed to play paid games or videos. You could be prompted to subscribe to a platform or install an app.
Geek Squad scams use unique approaches to trick online gamers. The scammers will likely send you an email or social media message/post. The email or message could have a link that you are expected to click. It could have a form that requires your information.
You could be requested to fill in your billing data or banking information. The scammer might promise you free games, vouchers, or paid gaming. These details provide the criminals access to your financial information.
Common Geek Squad scams in gaming
Geek Squad scans are common in the gaming industry. The scammers pretend to be genuine Best Buy technical support teams. These criminals continually improve their tricks to win the trust of more gamers. Their scams may touch on security, payment, or gaming issues. Their common tricks include the following.
- Auto-renewal Geek Squad scam. The scammer set the system to auto-renew. They wait for the gamer to contact them for help. The team asks for credit card information to help cancel the auto-renewal.
- Ransomware and malware scams. The scammers trick you into installing malicious software. They take over your device and demand payment to recover your data. Malware scams help criminals steal your data.
- Password change scam. The attackers may trick you into changing your login data. Before they do this, they link your gaming device to their scamming device. This helps them get your login information in an instant.
- Virus-infected device or gaming account scam. Scammers send a false virus infection alert. They send links to help correct the problem. Clicking the Geek Squad link will install phishing software on your gaming device.
- Fake bills scam. A scammer pretending to be a Geek Squad agent sends you a bill. If you are not careful, you can make the payment to a scammer.
Ways to identify Geek Squad scams
- Spam emails. Spam emails might have suspicious headings or messages. Look out for suspicious promotions and subscriptions.
- Suspicious links and attachments. A message or email with a suspicious link is likely a scam. You might receive a message requesting you to click a click to access games. You could be requested to download an attachment.
- Urgent messages. Be aware of messages with exclamation marks, shouting colors, and urgent notifications. These messages push you to take action and get scammed.
- Subscription or renewal messages. Confirm if you have ever subscribed to the service. Ignore the message if you have never asked for the service.
- Requests for remote gaming account access. Scammers ask you to provide your data to allow them to fix a problem remotely. This could lead to hacking and data theft.
- Messages with grammatical errors. Sometimes, scammers write messages quickly and post them. They forget to scan for errors, which can be an advantage for you. The message tone might look suspicious.
- Request of your private data. Any message or form that requests you to provide your private data could be fake. Treat it with suspicion, and do not take action and provide information.
How to avoid a Geek Squad scam
The main goal of a Geek Squad scam is to steal your private data. Anyone who falls victim experiences many disadvantages. You could lose all the money in your account and never recover it. A hacker could take over your gaming account and control it. They can steal your identity and use it to defraud many other people. Take the following steps to avoid being a victim.
Never open suspicious links and attachments in your inbox. These links can be included in push notifications, text messages, and apps. You can be safer by deleting such messages and emails. If the hacker requests you to fill out a form, do not attempt to do it. Educate yourself about Geek Squad scams and help others learn about them.
You might have accidentally installed a scamming app or software. Remove the software or app from your system. The application might be hidden and hard to find. You can get rid of them by using a system cleaner. Using advanced antivirus software can also help identify and remove such apps.
Never open an email before verifying its source. Scamming emails mainly looks suspicious. These criminals might continue sending you messages even after refusing to respond. Enhance your security by blocking them. Do not share your credit card, contacts, or SSN data with scammers. You may contact your gaming support team for help.
Update the gaming app and other software installed on your device. Scan the device often to remove viruses, cookies, and unwanted software. Confirm any payment request before taking any action. Buy your games from genuine developers or authorized providers. This ensures your account and device are secure.
Conclusion
Geek Squad scams have increased lately and caused more than $1 billion in losses. Scammers pretend to provide genuine help for developers or stores. They trick game users into downloading games. They can be tricked into making payments or subscribing to offers. These actions lead to the hacking of gaming and banking accounts. Block scammers and do not open their messages. Avoid clicking a phishing link or making suspicious payments.
Author’s Bio
Vanessa Keller is one of the top tech bloggers and YouTube vloggers who have carved a space for herself in the competitive market with sheer hard work and dedication. Everything from academic paper gigs to technology blogs stands out. They are informative and well-researched. Some of her top domains include AI and ML, cybersecurity, and coding.
