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Geek Squad renewal email scam: the fake invoice that says "call to cancel"
Updated . By the AskBeforeYouSend editorial team (how we fact-check). Fact-checked against the official sources listed at the bottom.
Key facts
- More people reported Geek Squad impersonation to the FTC in 2023 than impersonation of any other company.
- The fake email gives a phone number and a 24-hour deadline to "cancel".
- The FTC says: if there's no such charge on your card or bank statement, the message was a scam.
What it looks like
A made-up example in the usual style. These often arrive with a PDF "invoice" attached.
How the scam works
- An email or text says you were, or will be, charged hundreds of dollars for a Geek Squad, Norton or McAfee renewal.
- To cancel or get a refund, you must call a number within 24 hours.
- On the call, they ask to connect to your computer and have you log in to your bank to "process the refund".
- They claim they refunded too much and demand the difference back by gift card, wire, crypto or a payment app.
Red flags
- A renewal for something you don't remember buying
- A phone number to call to cancel
- A 24-hour deadline
- A request to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer or another remote-access app
- "We refunded too much, please send it back"
What to do now
- Don't call the number, click links, or open the attachment.
- Check your card and bank statements. If the charge isn't there, delete the message.
- If you're unsure, contact Best Buy through its official website or app, or a number you already know (BBB lists 1-888-BESTBUY).
- If you let them into your computer: disconnect it from the internet, run your security software, change passwords from another device, and call your bank.
- Report it to the FTC and BBB Scam Tracker.
Report it
Questions
I opened the PDF invoice. Did I get a virus?
It's possible. BBB warns that downloading attachments or clicking links in these emails could put malware on your computer. Run a scan with your security software, keep the computer updated, and change any password you typed in after opening it.
Is Geek Squad itself a scam?
No. Geek Squad is Best Buy's real tech support service. Scammers borrow the name because so many people recognize it. Check any message by going to Best Buy yourself, not through the email.
Sources
- FTC consumer alert: How to recognize a fake Geek Squad renewal scam (Oct 25, 2022)
- FTC Data Spotlight: Impersonation scams: not what they used to be (Apr 2024)
- FTC consumer alert: Three ways scammers try to steal your money (Oct 2024)
- FTC: How to spot, avoid, and report tech support scams
- BBB Scam Alert: Invoice scams posing as the Geek Squad or PayPal
Example messages are made up to show the pattern unless we say otherwise. Phone numbers in examples use the fictional 555 range.
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