Tech support scams are now one of the most common cybercrimes reported in Scotland, and at our Edinburgh workshop we see at least two or three victims a week — usually from Leith, Morningside or Portobello — who've handed remote access to a stranger after a convincing phone call or a frightening browser pop-up. The scammers are polished, patient, and very good at sounding like Microsoft, BT or Apple. This guide will help you spot tech support scams in Edinburgh before they catch you out.
If you suspect your machine has already been compromised, stop using it for banking and book a professional check with our virus and malware removal team straight away.
What a Tech Support Scam Actually Is
A tech support scam is a confidence trick where a criminal pretends to be from a trusted tech company — Microsoft, Apple, BT, Sky, or sometimes "your antivirus" — and persuades you that your computer is infected, hacked, or sending out spam. The goal is always one of three things: remote access to your PC, your card details, or a bank transfer disguised as a refund. Almost every variant we see in Edinburgh fits one of the patterns below.
1. The Cold Call from "Microsoft" or "BT"
This is the classic. The phone rings, a calm voice with a faint call-centre echo says they're from Microsoft Technical Department, and they've detected serious errors on your computer. They'll ask you to open Event Viewer to "prove" it, then talk you through installing AnyDesk, TeamViewer or UltraViewer so they can "fix it".
The tell: Microsoft, Apple and BT will never cold-call you about your computer. Ever. If anyone phones unannounced and asks you to install remote-access software, hang up. If you're not sure, ring the company back on a number from their official website — not a number the caller gave you.
2. The Browser Pop-Up You Can't Close
You're reading the news or shopping online and suddenly a full-screen pop-up appears: "Windows Defender Alert — Trojan Spyware Detected. Do not turn off your computer. Call Microsoft Support on 0800…" There may be a siren noise and a robotic voice. The page hijacks your keyboard so the Escape key seems to do nothing.
The tell: No real operating system warning ever asks you to phone a number. Close the browser using Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), don't ring the number, and don't click anything inside the pop-up. Our post on signs your PC has a virus explains how genuine malware tends to behave, which looks nothing like these dramatic warnings.
3. The Fake "Subscription Renewal" Email
An invoice lands in your inbox: "Your Norton/McAfee/Geek Squad subscription has renewed. You have been charged. Call this number to cancel." Customers in Corstorphine and Liberton bring us these every week, panicked because the amount looks plausible. The "cancellation" line is the scam — phoning it puts you straight into the same remote-access script as the cold call.
The tell: Check your actual bank statement and your real antivirus account directly, not via any link or number in the email. If nothing's been charged, the email is a scam. Our phishing scams guide covers the wider email side of this in detail.
4. The Refund Scam (Where It Gets Expensive)
This is the variant that ruins people. Once a scammer has remote access, they'll claim they accidentally refunded a huge amount instead of the small one you were expecting — and that you need to "send the difference back". They show you a faked bank screen with an inflated balance, and pressure you into transferring real money to an account they control. They sometimes weep down the phone, saying they'll lose their job if you don't pay.
The tell: No legitimate company will ever ask you to transfer money out of your account to correct a refund. If you're on the phone and someone is rushing you towards a bank transfer, end the call. Then phone your bank's fraud line on the number printed on the back of your card.
5. Fake Search Adverts and Marketplace Listings
Search "HP printer support Edinburgh" or "Sky helpline" and the top result might be a paid advert for a scam call centre. The same trick appears on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, where "computer repair" listings in Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Musselburgh sometimes route through anonymous mobile numbers with no physical address.
The tell: Always check for a real Edinburgh street address, a registered business name, and reviews on Google. Scroll past the sponsored adverts to the organic results. A genuine local repair shop will be happy to give you a workshop address before you part with a single piece of information.
What to Do If You've Already Been Caught
If you've installed AnyDesk, TeamViewer or any "support" software at a stranger's request, act quickly:
- Disconnect from the internet — unplug the Ethernet cable or switch off Wi-Fi from the keyboard.
- Uninstall the remote-access app, but assume the scammer also left other tools behind.
- Change every important password from a different, trusted device — email first, then banking.
- Ring your bank if you've shared card details, transferred money, or had the scammer "log in" to online banking.
- Report it to Police Scotland on 101 and to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
- Get the machine professionally cleaned — a remote-access intruder may have planted a keylogger or backdoor that survives a basic antivirus scan. Our virus removal service and software troubleshooting team cover Edinburgh, Penicuik and Linlithgow.
How to Stay Safe Going Forward
Tech support scams rely on shock and time pressure. The safest reflex is to slow down. Hang up calls, close pop-ups via Task Manager, and never install remote-access software at a stranger's request — even if they say they're already inside your bank account. Pair that with strong passwords and the steps in our ransomware protection guide and you'll close almost every door these criminals try to walk through.
Worried About Your Edinburgh PC?
If you think you've been targeted, or you want a thorough health check after a near-miss, bring your machine to our workshop or use our home and office callout service across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Book a repair online and we'll make sure no quiet visitors are still hanging around inside your computer.