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Nowadays technology keeps advancing very quickly. You can have a new version of your favorite iPhone every year, get a ride from an autonomous car, or get your groceries delivered by a drone. These changes are making our lives easier but it also makes people more vulnerable to scammers.
One of these scams is the Geek Squad Scam, which targets folks looking for help with their tech. Read on to understand this scam, find out how it works, and how you can avoid falling for it in 2024.
What is Geek Squad?
Geek Squad is a subsidiary technology company based in the U.S. that helps people fix the electronics that they bought at Best Buy. It provides diagnostic and repair services for consumer devices and appliances.
You can get assistance with your electronics on-site, in-store, or reach Geek Squad remotely online and through a call center 24/7.
This makes Geek Squad customers very sensitive to cyber criminals who can take advantage of online and telephone services. As once this company was just a regular helping hand to people in need, now is the center of a popular phishing scandal.
How does the Geek Squad Email Scam work?
Cybercriminals pretend to be Geek Squad employees and send people emails that look almost identical to real company emails.
They use made-up numbers and details from orders to make the emails seem legit. Then, they try to trick people into clicking on bad links or downloading harmful software.
A more trained eye could spot a fake email before it does any damage. But for many of us, it will take time and conscious effort to learn all the telltale signs of a scammy email.
The Most Common Types of Geek Squad Scams
We already covered how the Geek Squad email scam works, now let’s dive deep into the types of these criminal emails. The more you know about this possible digital threat, the easier it will be to keep your sensitive data and money safe.
Membership Auto-Renewal Scam
One of the most popular ways hackers try to get access to customer bank accounts is by asking to renew their costly membership that’s about to expire. They urge you to cancel it by clicking a special link and putting in all your details on a real-looking Geek Squad website.
As most of us have numerous subscriptions we don’t think about on a daily basis, a Geek Squad Subscription email could put you in a stressful state and you’d try to sort it out quickly. Scammers like to take advantage of human nature to forget small things and they successfully steal large amounts of money.
Protect yourself from the Geek Squad renewal scam by reading the emails very carefully and don’t let the scammer steal your data.
Password Reset Scam
In this type of phishing attack, you receive an email asking you to change your Best Buy password immediately. The email might state that you must reset your password now as a safety measure due to suspicious activity on your account.
If you click on the link to reset your password, you'll go to a page where you're asked to enter your password to reset it. But since this is a Geek Squad scam, giving your password will just give scammers access to your bank details and other sensitive data stored on your Best Buy account.
Fake order confirmation
If you ever got an order confirmation without making an order, you became a part of the Geek Squad invoice scam method. Yes, someone might have mistyped their email address when creating a profile, but most likely you should report it as phishing.
If it was a genuine mistake, the person will sort it out with the company themselves, and receive their order. So be careful not to trust the emails you get and don’t dismiss them thinking it’s just human error.
Fake Antivirus Program Scam
Another common way that cybercriminals get access to your data is by sending fake emails that offer free antivirus software for your device. As Geek Squad is known as a helping hand when you have trouble with your device, it would seem fair that they also offer a great deal on an antivirus program.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you click the link in the email and download the software, you’ll be installing a malware program that will help hackers access your device. From there they’ll be able to get all sorts of sensitive data to steal your identity or empty out your bank accounts.
How to Spot the Geek Squad Phishing Email
There are many types of mistakes that are common in phishing emails in general. Consciously search for these signs and train your eye to spot them quickly. Here are the most common red flags to look out for:
- Grammar or spelling mistakes. It’s really rare that official communication emails from companies like Best Buy or Geek Squad would have spelling mistakes as they have a team of experienced writers working for them. So look for typos and spelling errors to indicate that it’s not a real company email.
- Strange sender address. This is one of the best ways to tell if the email you got is a scam. As the official email address of a company is always the same, scammers usually can’t get access to the official name. if the email address is something very generic or has nothing to do with the company itself - it’s probably a scam.
- Clickbaiting. If your email sounds scammy it probably is. If the email lacks personal details and pushes you to take immediate action by offering a deal that sounds too good to be true, be careful. Take your time to examine other signs and be sure that it’s legit.
- Fake customer support email address. Take a closer look at the customer support email and see if it matches the one on the official website exactly. Scammers can use this tactic to communicate fake information to you pretending to be a trusted source.
- Currency mismatch. Check your transactions to see if the currency in the email you got matches with the one you used to purchase products or services. Cybercriminals use large batches of email addresses to send standardized letters. For example, some scam emails can contain signs that it was meant to reach UK citizens instead.
Still not sure? Here is an example of the Geek Squad Phishing Email:
How Do I Report a Fake Geek Squad Email?
If you've received a Geek Squad phishing email, you must report it to your email provider. Look for a 'Report spam' or 'Report phishing' button in the email settings. This helps your email service flag the sender’s email and filter out similar emails for you and other customers.
Also, reach out to the real Geek Squad customer service and let them know about the phishing attempt. Contact the team by going through their official website and not by clicking a link in the email.
The customer service team will know what is happening and can take safety measures to stop it from spreading. For instance, warn other Geek Squad users about these scams to save more people from being tricked.
But be smart about receiving such a letter yourself. Check the sender address, the grammar mistakes and errors, and be sure you’re changing your password on the official site!
How to Avoid the Geek Squad Phishing Email Scam
Even if you take all the possible steps to avoid clicking on malicious links, there are additional things you can do to take yourself off the scammers’ radar.
Now that you know how to identify false emails such as Geek Squad spam, you can take additional safety measures. Here are the best tips to help you protect your privacy from cybercriminal activity.
- Use a trustworthy VPN provider. Using Mysterium VPN can help you hide your personal information from scammers. Virtual Private Networks encrypt your online traffic and conceal your IP address, providing an added layer of security. You can even get a VPN for your mobile and cover all bases.
- Never disclose any sensitive information. Legitimate companies never ask for your passwords or 2FA codes. If someone pressures you to share this information or other sensitive data with them, it's likely a scam.
- Never click on links in suspicious emails. Unless you’re expecting an email with a link in it. For example, if you’ve just requested a password reset, you know you’ll get an official email helping you change your information. But if you’ve never asked for such a service, then you can be transferred to a risky website created by the hacker, intended to expose your data or install remote access malware (or both).
- Never download unknown attachments. Cybercriminals can try to install a harmful program into your device disguising it as a PDF or a JPG file. The second you download the file, the hackers can gather sensitive personal information.
- Don’t respond to unsolicited messages or phone calls. Responding to scam emails or calls is always a bad idea because this can cause you to be targeted again in the future. Even opening a Geek Squad scam email can raise the chances of you being targeted again. There are small elements included within the email that help the sender know whether or not the receiver has engaged with their email.
- Install antivirus software on your computer. No matter how careful you are, you might still end up being infected with malicious software. An antivirus program can help to identify and block malware that might be installed on your device. If it’s too late and your device is already infected, you can use antivirus software to scan your device and delete potential threats.
How to Cancel a Geek Squad Membership Safely
If you have a Geek Squad membership and want to cancel it without compromising security, use the official website. Don’t click on the links that you got in the emails. Rather go to the official website or a physical store yourself and cancel your membership in person.
Also, you can contact customer service through the official communication channels that the company provides and ask for their help. It might take a few minutes more to find a safe way, but it’s worth it to be extra careful now rather than be extra sorry later.
And if you’re thinking about how to cancel Geek Squad emails that you get – unsubscribe from all the communications that they send. This way you’ll be sure that the emails you get are considered Geek squad spam and should be reported.
How to Cancel Best Buy Credit Card
Cancel your Best Buy credit card by reaching out to a representative of the company. You can find the phone number on the back of your card or in your recent invoice.
Call the customer support team and they will gladly help you sort it out. Don’t click on any links that you receive in an email, as that can lead straight to a scammy website. Instead, take the safest route to protect your privacy.
Before you cancel your Best Buy credit card, keep in mind that it’s a legitimate company and it’s safe to trust. Just keep an eye out for suspicious emails. And if you still want to cancel your card – do it in the safest way possible.
What to Do if a Scammer Has Your Email Address
Have you ever found yourself typing “I accidentally opened a spam email on my phone what to do next” into Google search? Don’t worry you’re not alone. If you are sure that a scammer has your email address, but doesn’t have access to your account, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself.
Firstly change all your important passwords to long, difficult-to-guess combinations that are at least 16 characters long. You can use different apps that can generate strong passwords for you and keep them safe.
Additionally, once you change your passwords, add a Multiple Factor Authentication (MFA) method to protect your data. This is important because if the scammers get to your passwords, they won’t be able to access your accounts that only you can authenticate.
If you’re sure that you spotted a Geek Squad fake email in your inbox, don’t hesitate and take all the steps to ensure your safety online immediately.
Other Similar Scams You Need to Watch Out For
Let’s look at similar digital scams that are connected to the Geek Squad scandal that you need to be aware of in the future.
Unrequested Shop Pay Verification Code Text
Have you ever got an SMS that looks like the verification code text you get when you’re trying to purchase something online, but you didn’t request it?
It might be a scam phishing attack that aims to gather people’s information by getting them to click the malicious link in the text. Whatever you do – don’t click that link. And if you have clicked on it, make sure you don’t type in any personal information.
That link might take you to a website that looks so real and official but is actually a replica of the real thing. Instead, just go to the website through your browser and try to find more information this way.
The NortonLifeLock Email Scam
The NortonLifeLock is a legitimate company that provides customers with antivirus programs. If you use this software – be careful!
Cybercriminals also hide behind this brand and create phishing emails to get access to your personal data. If you get suspicious emails urging you to cancel or renew the Norton LifeLock membership, go to the official website or the app and try to find any information there.
Also, you might even get such an email without ever subscribing to Norton LifeLock services. If this happens, contact the customer support team by filling out a Report suspected software piracy form and help them get to the bottom of this before anyone gets scammed.
iCloud Storage Scam
iCloud storage email spam is one of the most popular scams out there as millions of Americans use Apple products and keep data in iCloud storage.
The cybercriminals send urgent text messages and emails calling users to upgrade their iCloud storage subscription. The link sent in the emails will transfer you to a fake Apple login page and scammers then can steal your Apple ID, credit card information, and other sensitive data.
Geek Tech Email Scam
Geek Tech is a software development company that creates software solutions for businesses of all sizes. This company also got on the scammers' radar and its customers can be in danger of losing their sensitive data to criminals.
If you own a business and use Geek Tech services, be extra careful when opening their emails. Look for clues that will help you decide if this communication email is real or if it’s just another phishing attempt.
Watch Out for the Geek Squad Scam in 2024
To sum up, it's important to stay cautious against Geek Squad scams and similar online attacks. By being careful you can keep your personal information safe.
Protect your sensitive data by making sure the emails you get are not phishing attempts. Double-check the sender address, look for grammar mistakes, and don’t click on any suspicious links in the email.
Also, get a free or paid VPN to encrypt all your online activity and use an Antivirus program to make sure your device is clear of malware. If you have got any phishing emails in the past, change your passwords to complex combinations and use an MFA method when logging in to important websites.
Remember, scammers are always changing their tricks, so it's smart to stay informed and proactive. Stay up to date with the new developments in cyber security so you can continue to browse the internet safely.
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